Neue Energie aus Wuppertal / Real-World Simulation Model for Advanced Analyses and Developments of Trolleybus Systems

This work presents a simulation model that mimics trolleybus systems for reliability assessment in the presence of various modifications and operational requirements necessary for system stability

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Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, and curbing it requires significant efforts from all sectors, including transportation. The city's public transport system is a crucial component of the transport sector. Combining the tried-and-true trolleybus technology with the state-of-the-art battery technology creates the battery-trolleybuses, which offer significant environmental benefits in the fight against fossil fuel pollution in cities.
This work presents s simulation model that considers various factors affecting the performance of trolleybus systems and is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different scenarios. The simulation model takes into account various factors from both the traffic and electrical network parts that can affect the performance of trolleybus systems.
The simulation model tracks the trolleybus system's state over time. As the buses move continuously, the topology of the traction network varies. Thus, a new conductance matrix is determined at each time step. The presence of unidirectional traction substations results in significant voltage rises whenever surplus power is produced. A specific approach is implemented to effectively determine the traction network's steady state.
This work makes a significant contribution to the fields of transportation and electric power engineering by introducing a novel simulation model. This model can help enhance the performance and efficiency of current trolleybus systems, support decision-making processes for public transportation authorities, and promote the transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly public transportation systems, specifically battery-trolleybus systems.