Electrical Railway Transportation Systems


Book Description

Allows the reader to deepen their understanding of various technologies for both fixed power supply installations of railway systems and for railway rolling stock This book explores the electric railway systems that play a crucial role in the mitigation of congestion and pollution caused by road traffic. It is divided into two parts: the first covering fixed power supply systems, and the second concerning the systems for railway rolling stock. In particular, after a historical introduction to the framework of technological solutions in current use, the authors investigate electrification systems for the power supply of rail vehicles, trams, and subways. Electrical Railway Transportation Systems explores the direct current systems used throughout the world for urban and suburban transport, which are also used in various countries for regional transport. It provides a study of alternating current systems, whether for power supply frequency or for special railway frequency, that are used around the world for the electrification of railway lines, long-distance lines, and high-speed lines. In addition, this resource: Analyzes multiple railway systems from a theoretical and realizable vantage point, with particular regard to functionality, electromagnetic compatibility, and interferences with other electrical systems Studies electric traction railway vehicles, presenting various types of drives and auxiliary devices currently in circulation Discusses solutions employed to ensure interoperability of vehicles that run along lines powered by different systems (e.g., DC and AC, at different frequencies) Electrical Railway Transportation Systems is an ideal text for graduate students studying the subject as well as for industry professionals working in the field.







Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting


Book Description

The transformation of vibrations into electric energy through the use of piezoelectric devices is an exciting and rapidly developing area of research with a widening range of applications constantly materialising. With Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting, world-leading researchers provide a timely and comprehensive coverage of the electromechanical modelling and applications of piezoelectric energy harvesters. They present principal modelling approaches, synthesizing fundamental material related to mechanical, aerospace, civil, electrical and materials engineering disciplines for vibration-based energy harvesting using piezoelectric transduction. Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting provides the first comprehensive treatment of distributed-parameter electromechanical modelling for piezoelectric energy harvesting with extensive case studies including experimental validations, and is the first book to address modelling of various forms of excitation in piezoelectric energy harvesting, ranging from airflow excitation to moving loads, thus ensuring its relevance to engineers in fields as disparate as aerospace engineering and civil engineering. Coverage includes: Analytical and approximate analytical distributed-parameter electromechanical models with illustrative theoretical case studies as well as extensive experimental validations Several problems of piezoelectric energy harvesting ranging from simple harmonic excitation to random vibrations Details of introducing and modelling piezoelectric coupling for various problems Modelling and exploiting nonlinear dynamics for performance enhancement, supported with experimental verifications Applications ranging from moving load excitation of slender bridges to airflow excitation of aeroelastic sections A review of standard nonlinear energy harvesting circuits with modelling aspects.







Electromagnetic Compatibility in Railways


Book Description

A railway is a complex distributed engineering system: the construction of a new railway or the modernisation of a existing one requires a deep understanding of the constitutive components and their interaction, inside the system itself and towards the outside world. The former covers the various subsystems (featuring a complex mix of high power sources, sensitive safety critical systems, intentional transmitters, etc.) and their interaction, including the specific functions and their relevance to safety. The latter represents all the additional possible external victims and sources of electromagnetic interaction. EMC thus starts from a comprehension of the emissions and immunity characteristics and the interactions between sources and victims, with a strong relationship to electromagnetics and to system modeling. On the other hand, the said functions are achieved and preserved and their relevance for safety is adequately handled, if the related requirements are well posed and managed throughout the process from the beginning. The link is represented by standards and their correct application, as a support to analysis, testing and demonstration.




Contact Lines for Electric Railways


Book Description

Electric traction is the most favourable type of power supply for electric railways from both an ecological and an economic perspective. In the case of urban mass transit and high-speed trains it is the only possible type of traction. Its reliability largely depends on contact lines, which must operate in all climatic conditions with as high availability and as little maintenance as possible. Extreme demands arise when overhead contact lines are required to provide reliable and safe power transmission to traction vehicles travelling at speeds in excess of 250 km/h. The authors have used their worldwide experience to provide comprehensive descriptions of configuration, mechanical and electrical design, installation, operation and maintenance of contact lines for local and long-distance transportation systems, including high-speed lines. In this book, railway company professionals and manufacturers of contact line systems, students and those embarking on a career in this field will find practical guidance in the planning and implementation of systems, product descriptions, specifications and technical data, including standards and other regulations. Special emphasis is laid on the interaction of the individual components of power supply, especially between contact lines and pantographs. Since large sections of the book are dedicated to system aspects, consultant engineers can also use it as a basis for designing systems as well as interfaces to other subsystems of electric railway engineering. The contents of the book are rounded off by examples of running systems.










Solutionary Rail


Book Description

The Solutionary Rail vision draws unlikely allies together. It provides common cause to workers, farmers, tribes, urban and rural communities via the tracks and corridors that connect them. Part action plan and part manifesto, this book launches a new people-powered campaign to transform the way we use trains and the corridors they travel through.