Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FR8RAIL III (Smart data-based assets and efficient rail freight operation)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-11-01 bis 2021-12-31
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.
The Fr8Rail III consortium was working on various innovations in connection to smart data-based assets and efficient rail freight operations.
Within the reporting period in WP 1 “Condition Based Maintenance” several CBM use cases had been discussed and classified to their benefits with European countries, with a special focus on Poland and France. Furthermore, clustering untapped use cases using a funnel methodology to document their degree of severity and economic impact for European fleets were performed. Monitoring of suspension helical springs and of the transformer oil in electric locos was analysed. In adittion a standard structure for User-centric design of CBM dashboards was generated with the focus on flexibility and user friendliness. A list of potential use cases was defined and can be visualised in Tableau. Information on wayside monitoring systems for wheelsets was collected and a way on the possibilities to reduce the capacity consuming events has been identified.
For the WP 2 “Real Time Network Management” the main activities in 2021 have been to quality improvements of the work. One improvement was to better describe how YCS connects and relates to TAF TSI standard. For the Malmö marshalling yard a decision support demonstrator was developed. This support tool for co-operative planning of the common arrival/departure yard has been tested and finalized on an iterative process between the partners.
Within the WP 3 “Intelligent Video Gates” the installation of Video Gates in Sweden was delayed but with the demogate in Nuernberg the partners could provid enough image data for further analysis. However, also the video gate in Sweden could be successful installed in 2021. For the data exchange a secure server has been created as an centralized tool for further AI and Deep Learning image processing.
In the WP 4 “Extended Market Wagon” the focus was on the concrete definition of the functionalities of the various components and classification into safe and non-safe functions. In addition, the algorithms for data processing were developed in discussions with component suppliers and finally defined in order to lay the foundation for the electrical integration of the components. For the final wagon specification for prototypes of the EMW the work could not be finalized due to dependencies of previous projects. Nevertheless, very good progress were achieved and almost all components of the car specification have been completed.
The work carried out by WP 5 “Telematics and Electrification” were concentrating on the development of intelligent wagon subsystems, i.e. weighting system, wagon intelligence algorithms for localization, freight brakes, etc. Including the collection of wayside data and define a cleaning and quality procedure to refine the data in order to merge the data with wagon on board measurements for wagon CBM. In addition a plan for field tests were developed which includes definition of the test protocol and field test areas for the subsystems and functionalities of the intelligent wagon.
The WP 6 “Freight Loco of the Future” focuses on the finalization of the study about a highly efficient, minimized volume, medium frequency SiC-based auxiliary power supply. For a highly efficient system design with increased dv/dt and Si(C) it could been proofed that a reduction of the total energy consumption of the whole traction chain can be reduced by 2%. In Addition the settings for two small lab demonstrator were defined for further tests in 2022.
Within the reporting period in WP 1 “Condition Based Maintenance” several CBM use cases had been discussed and classified to their benefits with European countries, with a special focus on Poland and France. Furthermore, clustering untapped use cases using a funnel methodology to document their degree of severity and economic impact for European fleets were performed. Monitoring of suspension helical springs and of the transformer oil in electric locos was analysed. In adittion a standard structure for User-centric design of CBM dashboards was generated with the focus on flexibility and user friendliness. A list of potential use cases was defined and can be visualised in Tableau. Information on wayside monitoring systems for wheelsets was collected and a way on the possibilities to reduce the capacity consuming events has been identified.
For the WP 2 “Real Time Network Management” the main activities in 2021 have been to quality improvements of the work. One improvement was to better describe how YCS connects and relates to TAF TSI standard. For the Malmö marshalling yard a decision support demonstrator was developed. This support tool for co-operative planning of the common arrival/departure yard has been tested and finalized on an iterative process between the partners.
Within the WP 3 “Intelligent Video Gates” the installation of Video Gates in Sweden was delayed but with the demogate in Nuernberg the partners could provid enough image data for further analysis. However, also the video gate in Sweden could be successful installed in 2021. For the data exchange a secure server has been created as an centralized tool for further AI and Deep Learning image processing.
In the WP 4 “Extended Market Wagon” the focus was on the concrete definition of the functionalities of the various components and classification into safe and non-safe functions. In addition, the algorithms for data processing were developed in discussions with component suppliers and finally defined in order to lay the foundation for the electrical integration of the components. For the final wagon specification for prototypes of the EMW the work could not be finalized due to dependencies of previous projects. Nevertheless, very good progress were achieved and almost all components of the car specification have been completed.
The work carried out by WP 5 “Telematics and Electrification” were concentrating on the development of intelligent wagon subsystems, i.e. weighting system, wagon intelligence algorithms for localization, freight brakes, etc. Including the collection of wayside data and define a cleaning and quality procedure to refine the data in order to merge the data with wagon on board measurements for wagon CBM. In addition a plan for field tests were developed which includes definition of the test protocol and field test areas for the subsystems and functionalities of the intelligent wagon.
The WP 6 “Freight Loco of the Future” focuses on the finalization of the study about a highly efficient, minimized volume, medium frequency SiC-based auxiliary power supply. For a highly efficient system design with increased dv/dt and Si(C) it could been proofed that a reduction of the total energy consumption of the whole traction chain can be reduced by 2%. In Addition the settings for two small lab demonstrator were defined for further tests in 2022.
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.