Periodic Reporting for period 3 - FR8RAIL III (Smart data-based assets and efficient rail freight operation)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2022-12-31
The objective of the FR8RAIL III project is to further develop technologies which are relevant for the rail freight sector to reach the goal highlighted in the S2R Strategic Master Plan. The work is partly based on results achieved in the previous projects of the AWP 2015/167 (FFL4E, ARCC, FR8RAIL), the AWP 2017 (FR8HUB) and the AWP 2018 (FR8RAIL II) as well as the relevant open calls. Within the challenges highlighted in the IP5 part of the S2R Master Plan, FR8RAIL III further focuses on improving the freight eco system by addressing various challenges in 6 different field:
- Condition based maintenance
- Real-time Network Management
- Intelligent Video Gate Terminals
- Extended Market Wagon
- Telematics & Electrification
- Freight Loco of the future Summarizing, FR8RAIL III focuses on various facets of the freight eco system with one goal: overall improvement and increase of competitiveness of the rail freight transport.
- Condition based maintenance
- Real-time Network Management
- Intelligent Video Gate Terminals
- Extended Market Wagon
- Telematics & Electrification
- Freight Loco of the future Summarizing, FR8RAIL III focuses on various facets of the freight eco system with one goal: overall improvement and increase of competitiveness of the rail freight transport.
Within the Period 2022 the Consortium Fr8Rail III could achieve great progress . The progress for the different work packages are:
The aim of WP 1 was to examine use cases from the previous projects for other EU countries and to discuss new use cases. Among other things, an application for helical springs on wagons and the monitoring of transformer oil in electric locos were examined. The presentation of the CBM results in user-friendly dashboards rounds off the work in WP 1. The dashboards in particular help with the implementation and acceptance of the results in the DB organisation.
For WP2, all deliverables were submitted and some of them have been confirmed. Three methods and tools have been developed, analysed, and demonstrated on real-world operational data. The focus of the work is on the coordination of freight operations at lines and marshalling yards. Real-time network management will improve operational process by improved methods and information support and human interaction. The research will reduce the gaps between timetable planning and operational traffic, and between yard management and network management. IVG will carry on its implementation and improvements in FR8RAIL IV ( Trackside CBM etc) and FP5, and will be exploited as key element in the multimodal freight transport.
The aim of WP3 Intelligent Video Gate (IVG) has been to define, develop and implement the IVG concept. IVGs consist of hardware for the rail gate and software for object capturing, recognition and data processing. The aim of implementing the concept has been achieved though installing gates in Gothenburg and Nuremberg. The demonstration has included processing data from images taken at the gate, and then sharing and exploiting this data. The methods used for image processing are based on OCR and machine learning techniques and for data sharing purposes a platform and a user interface have been developed.
The objective of WP4 is the system integration of all components and subsystems of the fully equipped EMW in all relevant dimensions into the mechanical and electrical design of the wagon and the intended logical and physical structure of the full train set. Following relevant work performed in the predecessor projects this work package is about to finalise the specification and set the basis for realising a full-scale prototype of the EMW for intermodal application.
WP5 deals with two different topics, namely, Telematics and Brakes. By December 2022 all the activities have been completed and the corresponding deliverables, Telematics (D5.1) and Brakes (D5.2) submitted. The activities regarding the brakes were completed in 2021 with the tests of the dynamometer. The Axle Mounted Power Harvester was tested in 2022 during two field test campaigns to reach TRL 6. WP5 showed that it can offer a solution for delivering power in wagons where the electrical link either is not enough or is not present as the wagon has no DAC.
WP 6 Freight Loco of the future carried on the work in 2022. Before 2022, studies on highly efficient medium frequency SiC-based auxiliary power converter and evaluation of applicable SiC elements for usage in high voltage converters have been performed. Preparation activities for the demonstrator have been started, but soon delays in the delivery of essential components due to the covid impact caused delay. All components except the high voltage SiC Semiconductors have been delivered meanwhile and planning has been updated. Investigation if automotive qualified Li-Ion cells can be a candidate for railway traction batteries and energy storage units was performed. Cell module for railway traction batteries was developed and validated.
The aim of WP 1 was to examine use cases from the previous projects for other EU countries and to discuss new use cases. Among other things, an application for helical springs on wagons and the monitoring of transformer oil in electric locos were examined. The presentation of the CBM results in user-friendly dashboards rounds off the work in WP 1. The dashboards in particular help with the implementation and acceptance of the results in the DB organisation.
For WP2, all deliverables were submitted and some of them have been confirmed. Three methods and tools have been developed, analysed, and demonstrated on real-world operational data. The focus of the work is on the coordination of freight operations at lines and marshalling yards. Real-time network management will improve operational process by improved methods and information support and human interaction. The research will reduce the gaps between timetable planning and operational traffic, and between yard management and network management. IVG will carry on its implementation and improvements in FR8RAIL IV ( Trackside CBM etc) and FP5, and will be exploited as key element in the multimodal freight transport.
The aim of WP3 Intelligent Video Gate (IVG) has been to define, develop and implement the IVG concept. IVGs consist of hardware for the rail gate and software for object capturing, recognition and data processing. The aim of implementing the concept has been achieved though installing gates in Gothenburg and Nuremberg. The demonstration has included processing data from images taken at the gate, and then sharing and exploiting this data. The methods used for image processing are based on OCR and machine learning techniques and for data sharing purposes a platform and a user interface have been developed.
The objective of WP4 is the system integration of all components and subsystems of the fully equipped EMW in all relevant dimensions into the mechanical and electrical design of the wagon and the intended logical and physical structure of the full train set. Following relevant work performed in the predecessor projects this work package is about to finalise the specification and set the basis for realising a full-scale prototype of the EMW for intermodal application.
WP5 deals with two different topics, namely, Telematics and Brakes. By December 2022 all the activities have been completed and the corresponding deliverables, Telematics (D5.1) and Brakes (D5.2) submitted. The activities regarding the brakes were completed in 2021 with the tests of the dynamometer. The Axle Mounted Power Harvester was tested in 2022 during two field test campaigns to reach TRL 6. WP5 showed that it can offer a solution for delivering power in wagons where the electrical link either is not enough or is not present as the wagon has no DAC.
WP 6 Freight Loco of the future carried on the work in 2022. Before 2022, studies on highly efficient medium frequency SiC-based auxiliary power converter and evaluation of applicable SiC elements for usage in high voltage converters have been performed. Preparation activities for the demonstrator have been started, but soon delays in the delivery of essential components due to the covid impact caused delay. All components except the high voltage SiC Semiconductors have been delivered meanwhile and planning has been updated. Investigation if automotive qualified Li-Ion cells can be a candidate for railway traction batteries and energy storage units was performed. Cell module for railway traction batteries was developed and validated.
The expected impacts, which are expected to be quantified in the answer to the call, are e.g.:
• A 10% reduction of maintenance operational expenses to increase rail freight business competitiveness
by use of CBM
• A Reduction of the total operating costs for the vehicle and infrastructure by up to 30%, by use of
the Extended Market Wagon
• An enhanced environmentally friendly performance through high energy efficiency
propulsion systems by 10%;
• A 20% punctuality increase for freight trains arrivals/departures to and from yards by use of realtime network management
Social impact:
WP 1 Condition Based Maintenance: Due to continuous surveillance of locomotives and their components, failures and malfunctions may be detected earlier leading to improved safety in train operations. Moreover, improved service quality and more competitive freight rates may contribute to shift larger freight volumes to freight rail services.
WP2 Real-Time Network Management: The role of different organizations and professionals as timetable planners and dispatchers are under development due to digitalization and automation. Competence issues are important, also to understand what competences are needed, as well as the availability of relevant and effective training programs for staff.
WP3 Intelligent Video Gate: With the IVG the working processes of yards and intermodal terminals is digitalized and automated. By this better working conditions for staff are created, such as less manual work and a better interface towards customers.
WP4 Extended Market Wagon: The new extended market wagon concept will improve the noise emission level significantly by using optimised running gears with suspension and damping technology known from passenger trains. The chassis’ fully covered underfloor means aeroacoustical and aero dynamical design which in addition will improve the total acoustical behaviour of wagons and lead reduced noise pollution of the residents.
WP5 Telematics & Electrification: Due to the continuous collection of information from the Wagon Monitoring system part of the wagon intelligence, failures of wagon assets may be detected earlier together with CBM leading to improved safety in train operations. Therefore, Wagon Monitoring System benefits are linked to CBM benefits. The Cargo Monitoring System part of the wagon intelligence will help the logistics chain with information of the cargo status, providing updated info of the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), status of the goods, etc.
WP6 Freight Loco of the Future: Thanks to the improved energy efficiency of the traction chain and the higher operational flexibility thanks to traction batteries, WP6 contributes to the shift of freight transport to rail, improving the overall carbon footprint and sustainability of freight transport.
• A 10% reduction of maintenance operational expenses to increase rail freight business competitiveness
by use of CBM
• A Reduction of the total operating costs for the vehicle and infrastructure by up to 30%, by use of
the Extended Market Wagon
• An enhanced environmentally friendly performance through high energy efficiency
propulsion systems by 10%;
• A 20% punctuality increase for freight trains arrivals/departures to and from yards by use of realtime network management
Social impact:
WP 1 Condition Based Maintenance: Due to continuous surveillance of locomotives and their components, failures and malfunctions may be detected earlier leading to improved safety in train operations. Moreover, improved service quality and more competitive freight rates may contribute to shift larger freight volumes to freight rail services.
WP2 Real-Time Network Management: The role of different organizations and professionals as timetable planners and dispatchers are under development due to digitalization and automation. Competence issues are important, also to understand what competences are needed, as well as the availability of relevant and effective training programs for staff.
WP3 Intelligent Video Gate: With the IVG the working processes of yards and intermodal terminals is digitalized and automated. By this better working conditions for staff are created, such as less manual work and a better interface towards customers.
WP4 Extended Market Wagon: The new extended market wagon concept will improve the noise emission level significantly by using optimised running gears with suspension and damping technology known from passenger trains. The chassis’ fully covered underfloor means aeroacoustical and aero dynamical design which in addition will improve the total acoustical behaviour of wagons and lead reduced noise pollution of the residents.
WP5 Telematics & Electrification: Due to the continuous collection of information from the Wagon Monitoring system part of the wagon intelligence, failures of wagon assets may be detected earlier together with CBM leading to improved safety in train operations. Therefore, Wagon Monitoring System benefits are linked to CBM benefits. The Cargo Monitoring System part of the wagon intelligence will help the logistics chain with information of the cargo status, providing updated info of the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), status of the goods, etc.
WP6 Freight Loco of the Future: Thanks to the improved energy efficiency of the traction chain and the higher operational flexibility thanks to traction batteries, WP6 contributes to the shift of freight transport to rail, improving the overall carbon footprint and sustainability of freight transport.