Assessment of Railway Train Energy Efficiency and Safety Using Real-time Track Condition Information

• Main Authors: Zdenko Kljaić, Mihael Cipek, Danijel Pavković, Tomislav J. Mlinarić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SDEWES Centre 2021-06-01
• Series: Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
• Subjects: weather conditions; wireless networks; hybrid electric locomotive; mountain rail route; modelling; energy efficiency; transportation safety; advanced transportation technologies.
• Online Access: http://www.sdewes.org/jsdewes/pid8.0352

This paper presents the use of track condition data from the virtual remote wireless sensor network within a simulation model of a battery-hybrid diesel-electric locomotive-driven freight train for a realistic mountain railway route simulation scenario. Simulation model includes the point-mass model of freight train longitudinal motion dynamics subject to wheel-to-track adhesion and head wind variations, the model of hybrid diesel-electric locomotive energy efficiency, and the model of real-time information provide to the virtual train driver about railway track conditions based on a narrow-band wireless remote sensor network. Simulation results are used to assess the possible benefits remote wireless sensor data for freight train energy-optimal control and to increase the transportation safety, including prediction of possible delays due to changed weather conditions en route.