Optimization Technique for Reducing Energy Consumption of Rapid Transit Mode

Since the time, our mother earth was created, energy was taken from the universe(System),now energy is being depleted as non-renewable source. Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed as it transforms in one form to another. So researchers came up with renewable source of energy as the solution like solar, wind and tidal waves. The world is experiencing an energy crisis and the prices of petroleum products like petrol and diesel has gone up. So its time to come forward and save the future of our mother earth. The paper deals in reducing energy consumption of rail rapid transit mode i.e. of metro. It shows how driving behaviour can be controlled using optimized speed profile and efficiency can be managed. It states round trip data taken of Mumbai(India) metro from Versova to Ghatkopar and viceversa. Speed data was taken from GPS(Global Postioning System) embedded in Smart watch Software. Time interval was noted and distance, acceleration data was formulated using Newtons Equations of Motion. Energy Consumed was drawn out from tractive effort data. Then efficiency, energy lost and regenerative braking energy was calculated using Work Energy Theorem. Maximum efficiency of 88.27% was obtained between Asalpha to Jagruti Nagar Station while between Western Express Highway to Andheri Station a 72.66% efficiency was analysed. This affects the time interval of metro trains arriving at station, also the amount of boarding and alighting passengers from the train. A model was designed and simulated using results obtained. The paper also deals with the prototype of Regenerative energy which can either be used in braking systems but also for acceleration and cruising purpose. The idea can benefit a developing country like India where 6.3% GDP is from Transportation Industry. Keywords: optimized speed profile, efficiency, regenerative braking energy