Computer-aided Design Of ATO Speed Commands According To Energy Consumption Criteria

• Published in: WIT Transactions on the Built Environment 2008-01, Vol.103, p.183
• Main Authors: Domínguez, M, Fernández, A, Cucala, A P, Cayuela, L P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CAD; Coasting; Commands; Computer aided design; Computer simulation; Deceleration; Decision theory; Design; Design criteria; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; On-line systems; Railway stations; Redesign; Software; Software development tools; Subways; Traffic speed; Travel time
• ISSN: 1746-4498; 1743-3509
• DOI: 10.2495/CR080191

Traffic regulation systems of metro lines equipped with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) use a set of pre-programmed speed commands selecting coasting points and brake deceleration. Different speed commands provides different travel times between stations and the regulation system on-line selects and sends to the train one of these commands. Nowadays, speed commands are designed based on time and comfort criteria. In this paper a new approach of speed commands design, which takes into account not only present operational criteria but also energetic ones, is proposed in order to obtain energy efficient ATO commands. Firstly, the travel time and energy consumption of every command is calculated using a simulator that combines all the possible discrete values of the ATO configuration parameters. A set of systematic rules has been defined to include the consumption, operative and comfort criteria in the selection of the speed commands applying decision theory techniques. A software tool has been implemented for a computer-aided design of the speed commands. This tool includes a thorough simulation module of the train movement (ATO, motor and train dynamics), an automatic generator of every possible command and a graphical assistant for the speed commands selection according to the mentioned rules. The methodology described in this paper has been used to redesign the current ATO commands (4 for each station) of Line 1 of Madrid Underground. The results are presented in this paper. According to the simulation results, about 10% of energy savings are expected to be achieved with these new speed commands.