Braking Hard

Regenerative braking has the potential to significantly reduce power consumption on third-rail electric trains. This article describes how regenerative braking works and highlights a test of regenerative braking that is being conducted in the UK. When electric trains brake, the rotational energy gets converted back into electricity and dumped into a resistor on the train, which usually converts it to heat and dissipates the energy. In regenerative braking, the energy is returned to the third rail rather than being dissipated. This allows other trains in the surrounding area to draw down that energy. A current test of one electric train is showing positive results. Since 28 3-car Electrostar trains in the UK are fitted with regenerative braking, once the tests are resolve concerns about potential adverse effects on the infrastructure, it should be easy to implement regenerative braking. The aim is to have regenerative braking enabled on all Electrostars within two months.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49957551
• Authors:
  • Clifton, Paul
• Publication Date: 2008-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 14-15
• Serial:
  • Rail Professional
  • Issue Number: 136
  • Publisher: Cambridge Publishers Limited
  • ISSN: 1476-2196
  • Serial URL: http://www.cpl.biz/ourwork/general/rp.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric trains; Energy consumption; Field tests; Regenerative braking
• Identifier Terms: Electrostar trains
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Energy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01109920
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 29 2008 8:05AM