Optimised advice to drivers of long-haul trains to help minimise
fuel consumption and maintain correct schedules.
The FREIGHTMISER
®
system comprises software that prepares journey data, and an
on-board computer for generating and displaying driving advice.
Product Features:
- FREIGHTMISER's main function is to advise how to achieve, from a
given current location and with a specific destination arrival
time, an efficient usage of fuel while still maintaining the
schedule.
- FREIGHTMISER's control and speed profiles are automatically
adjusted so that the train arrives at the next target location at
the specified arrival time, not just at the earliest time, while
also keeping fuel consumption to a minimum.
- FREIGHTMISER has a simple train interface and does not require
extensive onboard or trackside hardware. Detailed information about
the train is not required to operate FREIGHTMISER.
- FREIGHTMISER minimises energy consumption using a control strategy
based on Optimal Control Theory. The Signalling & Control Group
at the University of South Australia developed the optimal control
algorithms.
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The FREIGHTMISER on-board advice unit installed on a locomotive and
ready to provide energy-optimal driving advice.
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Benefits:
- Fuel and energy costs reduced by up to 20%.
- On-Time arrivals improved by 10%.
- Reduction in braking of 30% leading to reduced wear.
- Smoother train handling due to increased coasting (by up to 30%)
and reduced powering.
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The Man-Machine Interface, as seen by the driver, is used to
communicate the route information, actual versus ideal train speed
and control modes. Here the green speed profile advises the driver
to apply maximum tractive effort (full notch) in order to
accelerate the train up to the folding speed.
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Methodology:
In this example the white speed profile advises the driver to use
zero tractive effort (coast), in order to exploit the
kinetic-potential energy of the train and geography to bring the
train speed down to the lower speed limit ahead. The precise
switching point from powering to coasting can be clearly seen.
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For each type of trip, the optimisation software is used to compute
the speed profiles for six different total journey times. Each
profile is designed to minimise fuel consumption for the given
journey time.
As the time allowed for the journey decreases, the minimum possible
fuel consumption increases, providing drivers with the best
possible strategy to reduce fuel consumption.
Use of pre-computed speed profiles:
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Display of various pre-computed speed profiles over a given
alignment and the associated speed limits. Different control modes
are represented by the variation in the speed profile colours.
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FREIGHTMISER is able to work with pre-computed profiles because, in
practice, if the control mode is changed too early or too late,
switching amongst the different pre-computed profiles will
automatically adjust future control strategies to compensate.
