M.Ing. / The principal reasons for the development of a prototype improved control system are the high maintenance costs and unreliability of Spoomet's fleet of class 6E/6E1 resistor technology electric main line locomotives. These factors may largely be attributed to two fundamental shortcomings of the existing locomotive control systems, namely the lack of inherent feedback and application of inconsequent control practices during acceleration from standstill. The improved control system features the application of a rule based fuzzy controller, implementing human skill and experience to control tractive effort of a resistor technology main line locomotive. The aim of the fuzzy controller is to accelerate the train from standstill to approximately 35 km/h, smoothly and safely. The prototype fuzzy controller was implemented with a personal computer using an advanced fuzzy logic development system. A simulation model was developed for the locomotive and the load. This model was used to first test the structure of the controller and the initial rule blocks. Following the verification of the fuzzy rules on the simulation model, a relay interface was developed to implement the operation of the control system in coupled mode with the existing control system on a locomotive. The interactive fine-tuning and evaluation of the fuzzy rules were performed during this phase of the development. The test results include the successful evaluation of the prototype fuzzy controller under a variety of typical and "worst case" operating conditions, as well as under conditions of wheel slip. The industrialisation and long term considerations for continued development of the fuzzy logic controller are described in the conclusion.

M.Ing. / Spoornet currently has a fleet of more than 1500 electric locomotives in service. The majority of electric locomotives are resistor controlled but there are many chopper as well as thyristor controlled locomotives which all incorporate direct current (dc) traction motors. In recent years Spoornet has also bought locomotives employing alternating current (ac) traction motors. Because locomotives are very expensive and the running costs are high it is important that these locomotives must be available and reliable. Most of the newer generation locomotives, which are the semiconductor controlled locomotives, must be in service for at least another 20 years. The availability and reliability are often influenced by delayed design problems as well as problems arising due to changes in the total system configuration. One way of solving these problems, or at least understanding them, is by employing computer simulations. The availability and reliability can also be improved by using new technologies which were not originally employed on the locomotives. By doing computer simulations the optimal solution can be obtained when introducing new technologies on the locomotive. A good example of this type of application within Spoornet is given in [6], where simulation models for high technology locomotives were developed which were suitable to be used in the assessment of electromagnetic compatibility between modern power electronic locomotives and the railway signaling system. However, these models are also suited to be used in other applications. These models make use of the ATP-EMTP simulation program.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Li-Moon Wann. / M.S.

Dans le cadre du transport de marchandises par voie ferroviaire, un certain nombre de verrous limitent les efforts consentis pour un fret plus "propre". Des améliorations doivent être faites afin de limiter le nombre de locotracteurs assurant les charges/décharges de marchandises en bout de ligne. Dans cette perspective, FEMTO-ST et Alstom Transport ont pour objectif de concevoir et développer un système de gestion d'énergie pour locomotive électrique hybride. Composée d'un groupe électrogène couplé à des accumulateurs électrochimiques et des super-condensateurs, la locomotive électrique hybride permet d'accroître la souplesse et l'efficacité du transport ferroviaire électrique, tout en réduisant encore son impact environnemental. Cette étude a consisté dans un premier temps à développer une modélisation macroscopique de la chaîne de traction électrique hybride et à proposer une structuration de la commande avec l'identification des capteurs matériels et logiciels nécessaires au contrôle optimal de la chaîne de traction. La caractérisation expérimentale des moyens de stockage a permis l'amélioration comportementale et dynamique des modèles correspondant. Dans un second temps, le contrôle de la tension de sortie d'un hacheur dévolteur a permis d'étudier l'application de la logique floue de type-2 (intervalle et générale) dans le cas d'applications industrielles (relativement simples). Enfin, une gestion innovante des flux d'énergie au sein d'un système plus complexe: locomotive électrique hybride, a été développée. Mettant en œuvre la logique floue de type-2 et des algorithmes s'inspirant de la théorie de l'évolution, cette gestion d'énergie optimale opère en temps réel et sans connaissance à priori du cycle de conduite. La gestion fréquentielle ainsi que le contrôle des états de charge des sources secondaires du véhicule contribuent également à leur bon fonctionnement. / To achieve a "greener" freight transport, efforts are still needed to overcome some technological barriers. New improvements must be carried at to limit the shunting locomotives' use intended for the goods' load/unload. Considering this aim, FEMTO-ST and Alstom Transport decided to conceive and develop an energy management strategy system for hybrid electric locomotives. Such locomotives include a diesel driven generator set which is coupled with batteries and ultra-capacitors. The architecture aims at improving the flexibility, the effectiveness of the electrical railway transport and at reducing the environmental impact of these activities again. Firstly, the study consists in implementing a macroscopic modelling of the hybrid electric powertrain. Then, the control is optimally designed by identifying the hardware and software sensors of the powertrain. The dynamics and the behavior of the secondary sources' models are improved thanks to their experimental characterizations. Secondly, the use of Type-2 Fuzzy Logic (interval and general) controllers permits to study their efficiency in the control of a very simple industrial system: the output voltage of a buck converter. Lastly, based on the obtained results, an innovative management of the system's energy flows is developed in the case of the hybrid electrical locomotive. The use of the type-2 fuzzy logic and evolutionary algorithms permit to optimally perform a real time energy management strategy without a priori knowledge of the duty cycle. The frequency approach and the secondary sources' state of charge control contribute to their efficient use.