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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Energy storage propulsion system for rapid transit cars. Test results and system evaluation. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5419328
The principal objectives of this test program were to evaluate the ability of the Energy Storage (ES) System to: reduce propulsion energy usage; reduce propulsion power demands; and reduce tunnel heating caused by propulsion energy use. This report describes the test and evaluation of the ES system for rapid transit cars. The characteristics of the system were investigated in the real world by installing the novel equipment under two New York City subway cars and operating the cars both under test track conditions and in revenue service on several lines of the New York City Transit System. Tunnel heating effects, power reduction, gyroscopic forces, and other characteristics were investigated and evaluated. Overall propulsion energy reductions of 14-26%, as compared with conventional equipment, were measured in revenue service operations. Further reductions should be attainable by this system, if improvements derived from this test program were to be incorporated into the equipment and control configuration. The authors state that the equipment tested under the two R-32 cars demonstrated that on-board flywheel energy storage is an impressive means for achieving major savings in transit car propulsion energy. Part II of this report describes the methods for applying the energy conservation data to rapid transit systems other than New York's. Appendixes are provided which give specific information on the New York subway routes and on the instrumentation used.
Research Organization:
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York (USA)
OSTI ID:
5419328
Report Number(s):
PB-300918
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English