Work

Solutions for Retrofitting Catenary-Powered Transportation Systems Toward Greater Electrification in Smart Cities

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Catenary-powered networks are expected to play a pivotal role in urban energy transition, due to the larger deployment of electric public transport, in-motion-charging (IMC) vehicles, and catenary-backed electric vehicle chargers. However, there are technical challenges that must be overcome to ensure the successful utilization of existing networks without compromising vehicle performance or compliance with network standards. This paper aims to validate the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) built from second-life batteries as a means of retrofitting catenary-powered traction networks. The objective is to increase the network robustness without creating a negative impact on its overall operational efficiency. Consequently, more electrification projects can be implemented using the same network infrastructure without substantial modifications. Furthermore, a power management scheme is presented which allows the voltage and current range allowed in the catenary network and the BESS maximum charging rate to be controlled from user-defined values. The proposed control scheme is adept at customizing the BESS size for the specific application under consideration. Validation is performed on a case study of the trolleybus system in Bologna, Italy.

Source: Smart Cities

DOI: 10.3390/smartcities7060148

Authors: Rudolf Francesco Paternost, Riccardo Mandrioli, Vincenzo Cirimele, Mattia Ricco, Gabriele Grandi

Institution: University of Bologna

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,273