Improving the Energy Management for LDH-1250HP Locomotive Using Embedded Systems

Abstract

The paper presents the implementation of a new energy management system on LDH 1250HP locomotives and the prototype realized by upgrading and improving the existing old-fashioned voltage regulator and the starting system of the locomotive. The models considered the developed topology as well as the chosen strategy in energy management is described in this article. The approach for this challenge consists of an embedded system, a set of intelligent sensors, and high-power switching to accomplish an optimal energy transfer from supercapacitors and lead-acid batteries, to the DC starting motor of ICE. The solution implemented by us reduces the number of lead-acid batteries to half of the initial and increases the batteries’ lifetime.