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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ETALON (Energy harvesTing for signAlLing and cOmmunicatioN systems)

Teaser

Summary

ETALON (Energy harvesting for signalling and communication systems) is a Shift2Rail IP2 Open Call project within the Horizon2020 Programme of the European Commission. ETALON will contribute to the enhancement of train integrity functionalities, providing a suitable energy supply for train integrity (particularly targeted at cases where trains do not have any power supply available on the wagons) and a robust radio communication system between vehicles that could be the basis for a train integrity check. On-board Train Integrity checking is a key component of moving block trains, which are necessary to achieve a significant increase in traffic on the existing rail network.

ETALON will also contribute to the reduction of cost, providing an energy harvesting solution for Smart Radio connected wayside objects and implementing an off-board radio communication system with object controllers that could minimise trackside infrastructure, particularly cabling.

The following objectives of ETALON will contribute to Shift2Railâ€™s goals on TD 2.5 and TD2.10. This contribution is materialised by achieving the basic knowledge of the best system architecture for further Train Integrity development and on-board integration, and defining the basic architecture able to power the new Object Controller deployment and testing prototypes that will demonstrate the main outputs of ETALON.

1- To identify, adapt and validate effective solutions for on-board Train Integrity radio communication systems (including antennas suitable to be installed in the queue of a very long train).
2â€“ To identify, adapt and validate effective energy generation solutions for feeding on-board Train Integrity systems.
3 â€“ To identify the most suitable energy harvesting solution for new trackside Object Controllers, considering both a technical and economic point of view.
4 â€“ To demonstrate the efficiency of proposed energy harvesting solutions for trackside Object Controllers, ensuring appropriate safety considerations.

Work performed

In this first period ETALON has specified in the WP2 the Functional and System requirements use as a basis for the design of the On-board Train Integrity prototype and the Trackside Energy Harvesting solution for new Object controller prototypes.
The most suitable solutions for on-board and track-side communication systems have been identified after performing the assessment of the candidates previously defined in the Trade-off analysis of both systems. The identified candidate for the on-board communication solution has been further investigated and a physical prototype has been developed and partially tested inside the laboratory prior to its integration on the OTI prototype within WP5. The physical prototype has been built ensuring a seamless matching of the power constraints arising from the energy harvesting solutions. Finally, the WP3 has performed an analysis of the on-board integrity function and functionality to calculate power requirements and produce an FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).

With regards the other constituent of the OTI prototype, the WP4 has also identified the most appropriate energy harvesting system and described the necessary adaptations of an existing design of vibration energy harvester product for bogie condition monitoring, as well as an adaptation of displacement energy harvester concepts for rail. Although the development/adaptation work for on-board solutions to deliver a prototype to support OTI has started in this period it will be finalised in the second one. WP4 also tackled the energy harvesting solution to feed new trackside object controllers identifying the most suitable solutions for further investigation. A survey that describes the available solutions that meet the combined requirements of reliability, output, cost and maintenance for trackside applications was prepared to identify the possible candidates.

Using as a basis the information with regards the trackside technology and the real data provided by the partners, WP6 has identified the the most important financial variables and defined the methodology for building the economic model. Using the methodology identified in the first task the economic model was performed computing the CapEx and OpEx. It has been done in close collaboration with WP4 that has provided inputs with regards energy harvesting technologies that are considered sufficiently robust for future applications.

Final results

ETALON will provide at the end of the project a tested and validated OTI (On-board Train Integrity) system consisting of radio communication and an energy harvesting on-board prototypes that will contribute to the development of on-board train integrity detection. In addition, this solution will also contribute to the reduction of the installation and maintenance costs through the elimination of the data communication cables and systems used to determine the location of the trains.

The radio communication system based on vehicle to vehicle safety exchange of data can serve as the basis for train integrity check with continuous monitoring of its consistency. The energy harvesting on-board system needs to be compatible with power requirements of the on-board communication solution and the economic constraints for train integrity system to be installed on vehicles. It will be mainly used to power electronic devices normally in freight wagons where no source power is available,

ETALON will also provide a second tested and validated prototype consisting of an energy harvesting system for trackside application mainly focused on powering the new trackside object controllers and their communication. This solution will provide locally generated energy reducing the cabling and the maintenance as well as the amount of theft due to the reduction of copper.