Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles
Magnetic levitation (maglev) offers unique opportunities for guided transport; however, only a few existing maglev systems have demonstrated their potential benefits. This paper explores the potential of maglev-derived systems (MDS) in conventional rail, focusing on the use of linear motors to enhan...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/863 |
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| author | Jesus Felez Miguel A. Vaquero-Serrano William Z. Liu Carlos Casanueva Michael Schultz-Wildelau Gerard Coquery Pietro Proietti |
| author_facet | Jesus Felez Miguel A. Vaquero-Serrano William Z. Liu Carlos Casanueva Michael Schultz-Wildelau Gerard Coquery Pietro Proietti |
| author_sort | Jesus Felez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Magnetic levitation (maglev) offers unique opportunities for guided transport; however, only a few existing maglev systems have demonstrated their potential benefits. This paper explores the potential of maglev-derived systems (MDS) in conventional rail, focusing on the use of linear motors to enhance freight operations. Such traction boosters provide additional propulsion capabilities by reducing the train consist’s dependence on wheel–rail adhesion and improving performance without needing an additional locomotive. The study analyses the Gothenburg–Borås railway in Sweden, a single-track, mixed-traffic line with limited capacity and slow speeds, where installing linear motors on uphill sections would allow freight trains to match the performance of passenger trains, even under challenging adhesion conditions. Target speed profiles were precomputed using dynamic programming, while a model predictive control algorithm determined the optimal train state and control trajectories. The results show that freight trains can achieve desired speeds but at the cost of increased energy consumption. A system-level cost–benefit analysis reveals a positive impact with a positive benefit-to-cost ratio. Although energy consumption increases, the time savings and reduced CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from shifting goods from road to rail demonstrate substantial economic and environmental benefits, improving the efficiency and sustainability of rail freight traffic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed7fbd1cf36d46df83cbb785018b74a2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1702 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Machines |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed7fbd1cf36d46df83cbb785018b74a22025-08-20T02:53:26ZengMDPI AGMachines2075-17022024-11-01121286310.3390/machines12120863Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and VehiclesJesus Felez0Miguel A. Vaquero-Serrano1William Z. Liu2Carlos Casanueva3Michael Schultz-Wildelau4Gerard Coquery5Pietro Proietti6Mechanical Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, SpainMechanical Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, SwedenNevomo Poland Sp. z o.o., 03-828 Warsaw, PolandTACV Lab, 75014 Paris, FranceItalferr S.p.a., 00155 Rome, ItalyMagnetic levitation (maglev) offers unique opportunities for guided transport; however, only a few existing maglev systems have demonstrated their potential benefits. This paper explores the potential of maglev-derived systems (MDS) in conventional rail, focusing on the use of linear motors to enhance freight operations. Such traction boosters provide additional propulsion capabilities by reducing the train consist’s dependence on wheel–rail adhesion and improving performance without needing an additional locomotive. The study analyses the Gothenburg–Borås railway in Sweden, a single-track, mixed-traffic line with limited capacity and slow speeds, where installing linear motors on uphill sections would allow freight trains to match the performance of passenger trains, even under challenging adhesion conditions. Target speed profiles were precomputed using dynamic programming, while a model predictive control algorithm determined the optimal train state and control trajectories. The results show that freight trains can achieve desired speeds but at the cost of increased energy consumption. A system-level cost–benefit analysis reveals a positive impact with a positive benefit-to-cost ratio. Although energy consumption increases, the time savings and reduced CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from shifting goods from road to rail demonstrate substantial economic and environmental benefits, improving the efficiency and sustainability of rail freight traffic.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/863maglevmaglev-derived systemsupgraded maglev-derived systemslinear motorincline pushertraction booster |
| spellingShingle | Jesus Felez Miguel A. Vaquero-Serrano William Z. Liu Carlos Casanueva Michael Schultz-Wildelau Gerard Coquery Pietro Proietti Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles Machines maglev maglev-derived systems upgraded maglev-derived systems linear motor incline pusher traction booster |
| title | Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles |
| title_full | Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles |
| title_short | Maglev Derived Systems: An Interoperable Freight Vehicle Application Focused on Minimal Modifications to the Rail Infrastructure and Vehicles |
| title_sort | maglev derived systems an interoperable freight vehicle application focused on minimal modifications to the rail infrastructure and vehicles |
| topic | maglev maglev-derived systems upgraded maglev-derived systems linear motor incline pusher traction booster |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/863 |
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