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   Inverter unit for DC substations  evaluated  
By installing thyristor inverters in substations of DC systems, a feeding back of recovered braking energy into the public mains becomes a possibility. This can considerably increase recuperation rates in suburban or regional DC systems.
Technology field: Regenerative braking and energy management
open main section General information
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: in use
    Inverter-enhanced substations are a mature technology that is already in use in some local DC systems, e.g. an inverter unit is run by Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB), Cologne, Germany, in one of its substations.
  Time horizon for broad application: 5 - 10 years
    (no details available)
  Expected technological development: (no data)
    (no details available)
    Motivation:
    Energy savings
  Benefits (other than environmental): none
    (no details available)
  Barriers: high
   

Costs

Investment costs for inverter unit are high. KVB Cologne estimates a payback time of ten years.
    Success factors:
    (no details available)
  Applicability for railway segments: low
    Type of traction:  electric - DC
    Type of transportation:  passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines
   

The installation of an inverter unit will not be economic at all substations in a network. The following local conditions favour the use of inverters (cf. Moninger (no year)):

  • Long headway of trains (low train frequency)
  • Large distances between passenger stations
  • Slopes in track topography
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: < 5%
  Share of newly purchased stock: not applicable
    Systemic measure.
  Market potential (railways): low
    High investment costs currently impede a wide-spread introduction.
    Example:
    Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB), Cologne, Germany
open main section Environmental criteria
open main section Economic criteria
no data available Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:  Moninger, Gunselmann 1998;  Piro (no year);  Moninger (no year)
Attachments:
Related projects:
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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