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   Transversal flux motor  evaluated  
Transversal flux machines represent an alternative to asynchronous traction motors. Due to high power density and high efficiency transversal flux motors increase overall energy efficiency of power train.
Technology field: Optimisation of traction technologies
close main section General information
  close sub-section Description
    The rotor of a transversal flux machine consists of permanent magnets arranged in ring-shape. The direction of the magnetic flux is perpendicular to the rotational vector. The transversal flux construction principle permits a very high power density. A motor with 600 mm diameter and 200 mm length (hardly bigger than a conventional disk brake) has a power output of 200 kW.
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: research & experiments
    Research at DB AG and manufacturers.
  Time horizon for broad application: in > 10 years
    (no details available)
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
    (no details available)
    Motivation:
   
  • High energy density
  • Wheel-mounted construction
  Benefits (other than environmental): big
   
  • High energy and torque densities
  • Wheel-mounted construction
  • Low weight: According to DB research, weight/power ratio is reduced by 2/3 compared to asynchronous motor drive including gears (from 2,27 kg/kW to 0.73 kg/kW).
  Barriers: high
    Complexity

Transversal flux machines require more inverter equipment (4 inverter branches) than asynchronous motors. Core design and assembly are complex.

Performance

Torque density is high, but power factor is low.

Asymmetries

Transversal flux machines tend to develop asymmetries due to their non-concentric structure.

    Success factors:
    (no details available)
  Applicability for railway segments: high
    Type of traction:  electric - DC, electric - AC
    Type of transportation:  passenger - main lines, passenger - high speed, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines, freight
    If barriers are overcome, transversal flux machines will have broad application fields in railways: namely the entire electric fleet in both local and main line service.
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: 0 %
  Share of newly purchased stock: 0 %
    Not in use yet.
  Market potential (railways): highly uncertain
    Transmissibility high, but barriers pose doubts on wide-spread introduction.
    Example:
    (no details available)
close main section Environmental criteria
  close sub-section Impacts on energy efficiency:
  Energy efficiency potential for single vehicle: 5 - 10%
  Energy efficiency potential throughout fleet: 2 - 5%
    According to DB AG research efficiency of transversal flux machine couplings is 97 %, compared to 90 % of asynchronous motor gears couplings. That is a relative improvement of ~ 8 %. According to the following elasticity table, this yields traction energy savings of 8 – 12 %.

 

 

Traction

Brake energy recovery

Effect on efficiency of power train

Elasticity with regard to efficiency of power train

Effect on
total energy consumption for traction

High speed train

electric

no

8 %

-1,00

- 8 %

 

 

yes

-1,11

- 9 %

Intercity train

electric

no

-1,00

- 8 %

 

 

yes

-1,12

- 9 %

Regional train

electric

no

-1,00

- 8 %

 

 

yes

-1,33

- 11 %

Suburban train

electric

no

-1,00

- 8 %

 

 

yes

-1,42

- 11 %

Freight

electric

no

-1,00

- 8 %

There is an additional effect through mass reduction. The transversal flux machine is roughly 50% lighter than asynchronous machines. Counting gears as well, transversal flux direct drives are 2/3 lighter than conventional asynchronous motor drives, an absolute mass reduction of  1000 kg for a 500 kW motor. The corresponding energy savings will be small compared to the efficiency gains described above.

 

  Other environmental impacts: neutral
    (no details available)
close main section Economic criteria
  close sub-section Vehicle - fix costs: (no data)
    (no details available)
  Vehicle - running costs: significant reduction
    (no details available)
  Infrastructure - fix costs: none
    (no details available)
  Infrastructure - running costs: unchanged
    (no details available)
  Scale effects: high
    (no details available)
  Amortisation: (no data)
    (no details available)
no data available Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
close main section Overall rating
  close sub-section Overall potential: promising
  Time horizon: long-term
    Transversal flux machines are a promising long-term candidate for replacing state-of-the-art traction motors. More R&D is however necessary to overcome current technological shortcomings.
References / Links:  DB AG 1999;  DB AG, FTZ 1999
Attachments:
Related projects:  High performance motor for direct drive
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-03
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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