On-Board Energy Storage Devices with Supercapacitors for Metro Trains—Case Study Analysis of Application Effectiveness

• Main Authors: Petru Valentin Radu, Adam Szelag, Marcin Steczek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: on-board energy storage device; cost-benefit analysis; reduction of CO₂ emission; supercapacitor; train model; sizing distributed energy-storage device
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1291

This paper presents an analysis on using an on-board energy storage device (ESD) for enhancing braking energy re-use in electrified railway transportation. A simulation model was developed in the programming language C++ to help with the sizing of the ESD. The simulation model based on the mathematical description has been proposed for a train equipped with on-board ESD for analysis of effectiveness of its application. A case study was carried out for a metro line taking into consideration train characteristics, track alignment, line velocity limits and a running time table. This case study was used to assess the energy savings and perform a cost-benefit analysis for different sizes of the on-board ESD by applying the proposed approach. It was shown that when additional environmental benefits (reduction of CO₂ emissions) are considered, this may significantly improve effectiveness of the investments due to CO₂ European Emission allowances.