Work

Smart rail power systems: From the local to the centralised control operating paradigm

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Despite extensive scientific literature on the smart grid concept for buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities, the concept of Smart Railway Systems (SRSs) remains only partially explored. As a result, this work lays the foundation for implementing the smart paradigm in traction power systems for urban applications (i.e., metro and light rail transit systems). It introduces a modern control paradigm where the supervisor exchanges data with the sub-systems (i.e., trains, energy storage systems, and substations) and defines local controllers’ set points according to optimisation strategies. Depending on the system’s configuration, two control strategies, framed as optimal power flow problems, are proposed. The effectiveness of these strategies is assessed through a comprehensive numerical analysis, where real data from Naples Line 1 metro serve as a case study. • Local control for railway systems. • Centralised control for railway systems. • Improving the energy efficiency of DC railway systems. • Improving the network receptivity of DC railway systems. • Smart railway system: optimal traction power flow operations.

Source: International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110554

Authors: Antonio Di Pasquale, Mario Pagano

Institution: University of Naples Federico II

Language: English

Topic: Railway Systems and Energy Efficiency

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,920