Iranian Student Presents New Method for Optimal Use of Energy of Braking in Subway Trains
The idea presented by Akbar Barati leads to using the resulting energy from the train’s braking for lighting, escalators, elevators, station battery charging, etc.
“The relatively high wasted braking energy of subway trains is currently wasted or converted into heat in the circuits and boxes installed under the train. The amount of this energy is very high, so we worked on this issue and thought of controlling and using this energy,” Barati said.
He added that the first solution to control and store this wasted energy is the use of supercapacitors which does not have a favorable result because it has a very high weight and occupies a large volume in the wagon, which causes energy losses in the train.
“Therefore, we use the electric circuit of power and transfer this energy outside the train without electrical contact with a circuit similar to a transformer, the primary of which is the train and the secondary of which is the subway station.
Now, when the train is in braking mode, the energy is transferred from the primary coil to the secondary coil and enters the circuit of the stations. The wasted braking energy of subway trains is used after being stored for lighting, escalators, elevators, station battery charging, etc.,” Barati said, adding that the loss of energy and fire of the resistors under the wagons are prevented by this method.
In a relevant development last January, a group of Iranian technologists from Sharif University of Technology succeeded in building a Traction Control Unit (TCU) tester used in the field of rail transportation which increases the reliability of locomotives' operation.
A group of technologists from Semitech company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of Sharif University of Technology developed the device for the first time in Iran and the world which significantly saves time and cost of the TCU test process, increases the accuracy and possibility for quick troubleshooting by using smart and automatic testing and monitoring equipment, and provides the results to the operator in a classified and complete manner.
“The TCU tester device tests Traction Control Unit performance in all cases and conditions through industrial communication protocols and relevant connectors, without the need to be placed in the locomotive or to move the locomotive, by smart simulation of the real conditions from the TCU's point of view,” said Sepehr Hashemian, the executive director of Semitech company.
He added that when the TCU is connected to the tester, it performs exactly the same function as if it were connected to a real and moving locomotive.
“Therefore, it is possible to carry out testing procedures inside the company or workshop without the need to start the locomotive and occupy the rail transportation capacity,” Hashemian said.
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