4DImprovement of the EMU control method towards savings in manpower
  • Improvement of the method for controlling the AC EMU main power converter
  • Confirmation of a 1% power saving per train set in running tests
  •    As traction motors were previously controlled with low efficiency in the high-speed range, the RTRI proposed an improved method for controlling the traction motors of existing EMUs to reduce power consumption.
       When a train repeats powering and coasting to maintain approximately the maximum speed (i.e. the speed limit) after finishing powering acceleration between stations, it often uses an intermediate notch. In this state, the machines in the power circuit are operated at a low level of efficiency. The RTRI therefore devised a method whereby each pair of motor cars in the train set uses the main power converter on one car at maximum output and stops the one on the other car when the train is being operated at an intermediate notch (Fig. 1). This principle can also be applied to other machines on motor cars. As a result, the efficiency of the machine in operation is improved, reducing the amount of power consumed by the train.
       In a running test using a narrow-gauge AC limited express train (with a five-car composition, 3M2T) over a distance of 42.8km with two midway stations applied using this control method, power consumption was reduced by approximately 1%, thus demonstrating the validity of this method. To apply this technique to existing EMUs, however, it is necessary to add control command lines between power converters and change the software used to control the converters. The method is now used for narrow-gauge AC limited express EMUs.


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