Infrastructure Design, Signalling and Security in Railway

Railway transportation has become one of the main technological advances of our society. Since the first railway used to carry coal from a mine in Shropshire (England, 1600), a lot of efforts have been made to improve this transportation concept. One of its milestones was the invention and development of the steam locomotive, but commercial rail travels became practical two hundred years later. From these first attempts, railway infrastructures, signalling and security have evolved and become more complex than those performed in its earlier stages. This book will provide readers a comprehensive technical guide, covering these topics and presenting a brief overview of selected railway systems in the world. The objective of the book is to serve as a valuable reference for students, educators, scientists, faculty members, researchers, and engineers

Energy harvesting of track-borne transducers by train-induced wind

A track-borne energy transducer is a smart device for harvesting energy of trains or rail transportation systems. In this paper, the authors extend this application through introducing two scenarios of energy harvesting from train-induced wind. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model considering track-borne energy transducer is constructed and simulated. For rail-borne piezoelectric approach, the voltage and air pressure profile of the piezoelectric transducer are recorded, indicating a peak-peak output voltage of 1 V under condition that the bluff train body (metro line vehicle) travels over the rail-borne device at a speed of 5 m/s. For track-borne wind turbine generator, the simulated results indicate that the optimal position of wind turbine locates at the bottom of (under) the bluff body; whereas it locates at the side for the streamlined train. Wind tunnel tests are conducted for understanding the electric characteristics of the track-borne wind turbine harvester. Different setup configurations are compared by changing the wind turbines’ position, types of blades, and types of train body. For large-scale horizontal-axis wind turbine, an average voltage of 48.8 V and an optimal power of 5 W are achieved at 1:20 scaled model, 10 m/s wind speed, and 470 Ohm resistance. For vertical-axis bottom-mounted wind turbine, an average voltage of 2.48 V and an optimal power of 110 mW are achieved at 1:20 scaled model, 10 m/s wind speed, and 56 Ohm resistance

Control of Energy Storage

Energy storage can provide numerous beneficial services and cost savings within the electricity grid, especially when facing future challenges like renewable and electric vehicle (EV) integration. Public bodies, private companies and individuals are deploying storage facilities for several purposes, including arbitrage, grid support, renewable generation, and demand-side management. Storage deployment can therefore yield benefits like reduced frequency fluctuation, better asset utilisation and more predictable power profiles. Such uses of energy storage can reduce the cost of energy, reduce the strain on the grid, reduce the environmental impact of energy use, and prepare the network for future challenges. This Special Issue of Energies explore the latest developments in the control of energy storage in support of the wider energy network, and focus on the control of storage rather than the storage technology itself

Power Quality in Electrified Transportation Systems

"Power Quality in Electrified Transportation Systems" has covered interesting horizontal topics over diversified transportation technologies, ranging from railways to electric vehicles and ships. Although the attention is chiefly focused on typical railway issues such as harmonics, resonances and reactive power flow compensation, the integration of electric vehicles plays a significant role. The book is completed by some additional significant contributions, focusing on the interpretation of Power Quality phenomena propagation in railways using the fundamentals of electromagnetic theory and on electric ships in the light of the latest standardization efforts

HEAT FROM UNDERGROUND ENERGY LONDON (HEAT FUEL)

Recovering waste heat from urban infrastructures is becoming increasingly important as governments around the world strive to decarbonise heat supply, which remains one of the main challenges in the transition towards net zero. The Bunhill Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) System represents a first-of-its-kind scheme that recovers waste heat from a ventilation shaft of the London Underground (LU) transport network. The system is based upon the installation of a heat recovery heat exchanger that consists of cooling coils and a reversible fan; the coils are connected to a heat pump (HP) that supplies low-carbon thermal energy to a heat network in the London Borough of Islington. One advantage of district-scale HP systems is the possibility of coupling them with thermal energy storage (TES) in order to reduce operating costs while delivering significant carbon savings. Furthermore, depending on the operation of the reversible fan, the WHR system enables the supply of cooled air to the Underground tunnels whilst simultaneously providing heating to the local heat network. This thesis investigates the potential benefits that could be claimed by recovering waste heat from underground railways (URs), based upon the development of a mathematical model of the WHR system. This WHR model, which was validated with operational data, is able to calculate system performance under different heat source conditions, which vary throughout the year and depend on the operation of the reversible fan. The analysis focused on the influence of condensation and air temperatures on the performance of the WHR system, evaluating how these parameters may affect its efficiency and capacity. In order to fully realise the cooling potential when operating in a bivalent heating/cooling mode (Supply Mode), an investigation was carried out using a numerical model of the local LU environment to assess the impacts of cooling provision in terms of alleviating peak temperatures at nearby stations, with reductions of up to 7.2 K being calculated for adjacent stations in 2030. The WHR model was also coupled with a techno-economic model of a heat network, which was applied to assess how different volumes of TES could improve the levelised cost of heat (LCH) and carbon abatement costs (CAC) when compared to meeting the same heat demand with communal air-source heat pumps (ASHPs). Results indicate that, if the WHR system operates in Supply Mode for half the year, savings of approximately 9% and 18% could be obtained for the LCH and CAC, respectively, in comparison with ASHPs. The potential for replicating this technology across the UK was also investigated, focusing on the LU and Tyne and Wear Metro networks, with 30 MW being estimated as the recoverable waste heat, which could be reclaimed to provide 351 GWh of thermal energy annually. The different analyses that were carried out indicate the opportunity for waste heat from railway tunnels to become a key resource for decarbonising heat supply in cities with underground transport systems

A review on available energy saving strategies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning in underground metro stations

Due to the increasing number of underground metro stations worldwide and the great energy consumption of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in underground stations, reducing the HVAC energy consumption while maintaining a hygienic and acceptable environment in underground stations is becoming an ongoing research challenge. This paper presented an overview of the strategies available for HVAC energy saving in underground stations. Firstly, the design features of the HVAC systems are summarized and issues affecting the HVAC systems’ energy efficiency are identified. Then, a thorough review of the energy-efficient HVAC strategies is presented. For each strategy, the principal application and the effect on energy saving are described, and the limitation is also analyzed. Lastly, the strategies are classified and compared from different perspectives and upcoming challenges are proposed. The authors hope that this study can promote the reasonable adoption of different energy-efficient HVAC strategies in underground stations, which could reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC systems in the long run

MULTI‐PHYSICAL MODELLING AND PROTOTYPING OF AN ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM INTEGRATED IN A RAILWAY PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION

The aim of this PhD thesis is the investigation of an energy harvesting system to be integrated in a railway pneumatic spring to recovery otherwise wasted energy source from suspension vibration. Exploiting the piezoelectric effect to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical one, the final scope consists on the use of this system to power supply one or more sensors that can give useful information for the monitoring and the diagnostics of vehicle or its subsystems. Starting from the analysis of the energy sources, a multi‐physical approach to the study of an energy harvesting system is proposed to take into account all physics involved in the phenomenon, to make the most of the otherwise wasted energy and to develop a suitable and affordable tool for the design. The project of the energy harvesting device embedded in a railway pneumatic spring has been carried out by means of using a finite element technique and multi‐physics modelling activity. The possibility to combine two energy extraction processes was investigated with the purpose of making the most of the characteristics of the system and maximize the energy recovering. Exploiting commercial piezoelectric transducers, an experimental activity was conducted in two steps. A first mock‐up was built and tested on a shaker to develop the device and to tune the numerical model against experimental evidence. In the second step a fullscale prototype of an air spring for metro application with the EH system was realized. In order to test the full‐scale component, the design of a new test bench was carried out. Finally, the Air spring integrated with the EH device was tested and models validated

Metrology Infrastructure for Energy and Power Quality in DC Railway Systems

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Research on the System Safety Management in Urban Railway

Nowadays, rail transport has become one of the most widely utilised forms of transport thanks to its high safety level, large capacity, and cost-effectiveness. With the railway network's continuous development, including urban rail transit, one of the major areas of increasing attention and demand is ensuring safety or risk management in operation long-term remains for the whole life cycle by scientific tools, management of railway operation (Martani 2017), specifically in developed and developing countries like Vietnam. The situation in Vietnam demonstrates that the national mainline railway network has been built and operated entirely in a single narrow gauge (1000mm) since the previous century, with very few updates of manual operating technology. This significantly highlights that up to now, the conventional technique for managing the safety operation in general, and collision in particular, of the current Vietnamese railway system, including its subsystems, is only accident statistics which is not a scientific-based tool as the others like risk identify and analyse methods, risk mitigation…, that are already available in many countries. Accident management of Vietnam Railways is limited and responsible for accident statistics analysis to avoid and minimise the harm caused by phenomena that occur only after an accident. Statistical analysis of train accident case studies in Vietnam railway demonstrates that, because hazards and failures that could result in serious system occurrences (accidents and incidents) have not been identified, recorded, and evaluated to conduct safety-driven risk analysis using a well-suited assessment methodology, risk prevention and control cannot be achieved. Not only is it hard to forecast and avoid events, but it may also raise the chance and amount of danger, as well as the severity of the later effects. As a result, Vietnam's railway system has a high number of accidents and failure rates. For example, Vietnam Rail-ways' mainline network accounted for approximately 200 railway accidents in 2018, a 3% increase over the previous year, including 163 collisions between trains and road vehicles/persons, resulting in more than 100 fatalities and more than 150 casualties; 16 accidents, including almost derailments, the signal passed at danger… without fatality or casual-ty, but significant damage to rolling stock and track infrastructure (VR 2021). Focusing and developing a new standardised framework for safety management and availability of railway operation in Vietnam is required in view of the rapid development of rail urban transport in the country in recent years (VmoT 2016; VmoT 2018). UMRT Line HN2A in southwest Hanoi is the country's first elevated light rail transit line, which was completed and officially put into revenue service in November 2021. This greatly highlights that up to the current date, the UMRT Line HN2A is the first and only railway line in Vietnam with operational safety assessment launched for the first time and long-term remains for the whole life cycle. The fact that the UMRT Hanoi has a large capacity, more complicated rolling stock and infrastructure equipment, as well as a modern communica-tion-based train control (CBTC) signalling system and automatic train driving without the need for operator intervention (Lindqvist 2006), are all advantages. Developing a compatible and integrated safety management system (SMS) for adaption to the safety operating requirements of this UMRT is an important major point of concern, and this should be proven. In actuality, the system acceptance and safety certification phase for Metro Line HN2A prolonged up to 2.5 years owing to the identification of difficulties with noncompliance to safety requirements resulting from inadequate SMS documents and risk assessment. These faults and hazards have developed during the manufacturing and execution of the project; it is impossible to go back in time to correct them, and it is also impossible to ignore the project without assuming responsibility for its management. At the time of completion, the HN2A metro line will have required an expenditure of up to $868 million, thus it is vital to create measures to prevent system failure and assure passenger safety. This dissertation has reviewed the methods to solve the aforementioned challenges and presented a solution blueprint to attain the European standard level of system safety in three-phase as in the following: • Phase 1: applicable for lines that are currently in operation, such as Metro Line HN2A. Focused on operational and maintenance procedures, as well as a training plan for railway personnel, in order to enhance human performance. Complete and update the risk assessment framework for Metro Line HN2A. The dissertation's findings are described in these applications. • Phase 2: applicable for lines that are currently in construction and manufacturing, such as Metro Line HN3, Line HN2, HCMC Line 1 and Line 2. Continue refining and enhancing engineering management methods introduced during Phase 1. On the basis of the risk assessment by manufacturers (Line HN3, HCMC Line 2 with European manufacturers) and the risk assessment framework described in Chapter 4, a risk management plan for each line will be developed. Building Accident database for risk assessment research and development. • Phase 3: applicable for lines that are currently in planning. Enhance safety requirements and life-cycle management. Building a proactive Safety Culture step by step for the railway industry. This material is implemented gradually throughout all three phases, beginning with the creation of the concept and concluding with an improvement in the attitude of railway personnel on the HN2A line. In addition to this overview, Chapters 4 through Chapter 9 of the dissertation include particular solutions for Risk assessment, Vehicle and Infrastructure Maintenance methods, Inci-dent Management procedures, and Safety Culture installation. This document focuses on constructing a system safety concept for railway personnel, providing stringent and scientific management practises to assure proper engineering conditions, to manage effectively the metro line system, and ensuring passenger safety in Hanoi's metro operatio