56,432 research outputs found
An integrated micro-macro approach to robust railway timetabling
No full textWith the increasing demand for railway transportation infrastructure managers need improved automatic timetabling tools that provide feasible timetables with enhanced performance in short computation times. This paper proposes a hierarchical framework for timetable design which combines a microscopic and a macroscopic model of the network. The framework performs an iterative adjustment of train running and minimum headway times until a feasible and stable timetable has been generated at the microscopic level. The macroscopic model optimizes a trade-off between minimal travel times and maximal robustness using an Integer Linear Programming formulation which includes a measure for delay recovery computed by an integrated delay propagation model in a Monte Carlo setting. The application to an area of the Dutch railway network shows the ability of the approach to automatically compute a feasible, stable and robust timetable. Practitioners can use this approach both for effective timetabling and post-evaluation of existing timetables
Analysis of hybrid and plug‐in hybrid alternative propulsion systems for regional diesel‐electric multiple unit trains
No full textThis paper presents a simulation‐based analysis of hybrid and plug‐in hybrid propulsion system concepts for diesel‐electric multiple unit regional railway vehicles. These alternative concepts primarily aim to remove emissions in terminal stops with longer stabling periods, with additional benefits reflected in the reduction of overall fuel consumption, produced emissions, and mon-etary costs. The alternative systems behavior is modeled using a backward‐looking quasi‐static simulation approach, with the implemented energy management strategy based on a finite state machine control. A comparative assessment of alternative propulsion systems is carried out in a case study of a selected regional railway line operated by Arriva, the largest regional railway undertak-ing in the Netherlands. The conversion of a standard diesel‐electric multiple unit vehicle, currently operating on the network, demonstrated a potential GHG reduction of 9.43–56.92% and an energy cost reduction of 9.69–55.46%, depending on the type of service (express or stopping), energy storage technology selection (lithium‐ion battery or double‐layer capacitor), electricity production (green or grey electricity), and charging facilities configuration (charging in terminal stations with or without additional charging possibility during short intermediate stops) used. As part of a bigger project aiming to identify optimal transitional solutions towards emissions‐free trains, the outcomes of this study will help in the future fleet planning
A three-level framework for performance-based railway timetabling
No full textThe performance of railway operations depends highly on the quality of the railway timetable. In particular for dense railway networks it can be challenging to obtain a stable robust conflict-free and energy-efficient timetable with acceptable infrastructure occupation and short journey times. This paper presents a performance-based railway timetabling framework integrating timetable construction and evaluation on three levels: microscopic, macroscopic, and a corridor fine-tuning level, where each performance indicator is optimized or evaluated at the appropriate level. A modular implementation of the three-level framework is presented and demonstrated on a case study on the Dutch railway network illustrating the feasibility of this approach to achieve the highest timetabling design level
Analysis of safe and effective next-generation rail signalling systems
No full textMoving Block (MB) and Virtual Coupling (VC) rail signalling will change current train operation paradigm by migrating vital equipment from trackside to onboard to reduce train separation and maintenance costs. Their actual deployment is however constrained by the industry’s need to identify configurations of MB and VC signalling equipment which can effectively guarantee safe train movements even under degraded operational conditions involving component faults. In this paper, we analyse the effectivity of MB and VC in safely supervising train separation under nominal and degraded conditions by using an innovative approach which combines Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Stochastic Activity Networks (SAN). An FTA model of unsafe train movement is defined for both MB and VC capturing functional interactions and cause-effect relations among the different signalling components. The FTA is used as a basis to apportion signalling component failure rates needed to feed the SAN model. Effective MB and VC train supervision is analysed by means of SAN-based simulations in the specific scenario of an error in the Train Position Report (TPR) for five rail market segments featuring different traffic characteristics, namely high-speed, mainline, regional, urban and freight. Results show that the thresholds of the design variables depend on the considered signalling system alternative and the investigated market segment. In particular, the TPR delay threshold allowed for MB is higher than for VC. This means that to ensure a safe train movement, VC cannot absorb a TPR delay of longer than 1.5 s, which corresponds to the mainline market segment. For MB instead, the results show that the maximum TPR delay can reach 3.9 s for high-speed and freight railways. In addition, results showed that the integration of an FTA in a SAN model can provide a better understanding of the safety-performance behaviour of a system where VC showed a higher number of braking indications with respect to MB for the same TPR error failure rate. This means that for VC to effectively supervise the train separation at the same safety level as MB, we would need to have a much higher reliability of the TPR. The overall approach can support infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, and rail signalling suppliers in investigating the effectiveness of MB and VC to safely supervise train movements in scenarios involving different types of degraded conditions and failure events. The proposed method can hence support the railway industry in identifying effective and safe design configurations of next-generation rail signalling systems
Towards a Fault Tree Analysis of Moving Block and Virtual Coupling Railway Signalling Systems
No full textRailway systems are complex given their interconnectivity with sub-systems wherein each contains multiple components. Virtual Coupling (VC) is a next-generation railway signalling technology that advances Moving Block (MB), also known as European Train Control System Level 3 (ETCS L3). Some pilot implementations exist for MB. However, VC is still a visionary system and involves several safety issues due to the relative braking distance between trains. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the safety of this system to understand whether it is feasible for deployment. This paper performs a preliminary safety and reliability study by introducing a fault tree (FT) model to investigate the possible causes that lead to an unsafe train movement for MB and VC. To this aim, a FT model is initially built for the MB system, considering the system configurations and interactions between wireless devices, onboard and trackside equipment. Then, the FT model of the VC system is derived on top of the one for MB and the differences are highlighted between the FT elements of the two systems
Approach for Al2O3 rear surface passivation of industrial p-type Si PERC above 19%
No full textAtomic layer deposition (ALD) of thin Al2O3 (=10?nm) films is used to improve the rear surface passivation of large-area screen-printed p-type Si passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC). A blister-free stack of Al2O3/SiOx/SiNx is developed, leading to an improved back reflection and a rear recombination current (J0,rear) of 92 +/- 6?fA/cm2. The Al2O3/SiOx/SiNx stack is blister-free if a 700 degrees C anneal in N2 is performed after the Al2O3 deposition and prior to the SiOx/SiNx capping. A clear relationship between blistering density and lower open-circuit voltage (VOC) due to increased rear contacting area is shown. In case of the blister-free Al2O3/SiOx/SiNx rear surface passivation stack, an average cell efficiency of 19.0% is reached and independently confirmed by FhG-ISE CalLab. Compared with SiOx/SiNx-passivated PERC, there is an obvious gain in VOC and short-circuit current (JSC) of 5?mV and 0.2?mA/cm2, respectively, thanks to improved rear surface passivation and rear internal reflection. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
No full textSpectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias have revealed a ?2 h periodic variability that is present in the three strongest emission lines. We tentatively interpret this variability as due to orbital motion, making it the first indication of the orbital period of Ser X-1. Together with the fact that the emission lines are remarkably narrow, but still resolved, we show that a main-sequence K dwarf together with a canonical 1.4 M? neutron star gives a good description of the system. In this scenario, the most likely place for the emission lines to arise is the accretion disc, instead of a localized region in the binary (such as the irradiated surface or the stream-impact point), and their narrowness is due instead to the low inclination (?10°) of Ser X-1
Letter from John P. John to Joseph R. Goodman, 1942
No full textLetter from John P. John to Joseph R. Goodman: "Here are a couple of letters Caleb received concerning the Japanese situation. I have already sent him a condensed record of their general text. Probably more material will be coming in from time to time and we will forward it to you. I guess this is sufficient since Caleb has spoken with you in detail about the problem and where he is to be contacted in the east. Louise Thompson and I are holding things down while Caleb is away and can be contacted here by mail for anything."Personal correspondence, organizational records, government documents, publications, and other papers created or collected by Joseph R. Goodman documenting the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, as well as organized resistance to incarceration. Included in the collection are records of the Japanese Young Men's Christian Association and the Japanese American Citizens' League in San Francisco, including papers of the Japanese YMCA's executive secretary Lincoln Kanai; Sakai family papers; Goodman's correspondence to and from Japanese American incarcerees, organizations opposing forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, the War Relocation Authority, and others; publications, photographs, and ephemera from the Topaz Relocation Center, where Goodman taught high school; War Relocation Authority records and publications; and newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and reports about forced removal and incarceration created by various government, religious, and civic organizations, in California and nationwide
Integration of Al2O3 as front and rear surface passivation for large-area screen-printed p-type Si PERC
No full textAtomic layer deposition (ALD) of thin Al2O3 (<= 10 nm) films is used to improve both front and rear surface passivation of large-area screen-printed p-type CZ Si passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC). As emitter passivation, the SiNx anti reflection coating (ARC) is capped with Al2O3, giving improved hydrogenation during co-firing and a front recombination current (J(0,front)) of 128 +/- 5 fA/cm(2). As rear surface passivation, a blister-free stack of Al2O3/SiOx/SiNx is employed, leading to optimal back reflection and a rear recombination current (J(0,rear)) of 92 +/- 6 fA/cm(2). Internal quantum efficiency (IQE) measurements clearly confirm the improved passivation properties of both Al2O3-based stacks, even compared to passivation stacks based on thermally grown SiO2. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the SiliconPV 2012 conference.The authors greatly acknowledge the support of the IMEC Industrial Affiliated Partner (IIAP-PV)
program and the imec PV support team
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