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Commuter Rail Applications for Ultracapacitors

This paper describes how there have been many times where having just a little more power could have made a big difference in how a situation turned out. While this premise could apply to a number of scenarios, this paper focuses on how backup energy sources can enhance the commuter rail environment. The commuter railroad industry is a very dynamic working environment. Unlike freight operations, commuter rail has customers who can be rather demanding, require various amenities and require something we all refer to as on-time performance. Imagine having access to that often needed “extra power.” It is this concept that the paper discusses. The concept is to envision the various rail car and locomotive applications where an ultracapacitor backup power supply could make all the difference in day to day schedule and cost of passenger car operations. Ultracapacitors offer a very high level of capacitance and have become a practical reality in recent years while opening up new avenues for energy storage in a number of transit applications. With zero maintenance and a low life-cycle cost, ultracapacitors are especially useful where a fast charging capability is required as a supplement to the normal battery installation on a rail vehicle. This paper discusses some of these applications in addition to highlighting several unique locomotive applications which demonstrate the level of energy that can be stored and utilized. Of particular interest is the potential for ultracapacitors to provide a solution to the anticipated mandate from the FRA for emergency lighting to be maintained for a period of four-hours. This is an exceptionally demanding duty for the railcar batteries at the beginning of a service run when they may be at a low state of charge but you will see that with the incorporation of an ultracapacitor pack and some additional lighting technology that this requirement could be met without major modifications.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Audiotape
  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: 6p
  • Monograph Title: 2007 Proceedings Rail Conference

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01051627
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 1931594260
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 18 2007 1:44PM