„After our successful participation at the UK Light Rail Conference 2023, we are excited to present our EFS energy flow simulation again to a pan-European professional light rail audience.“ says Jan Röhl, Kruch-CEO.

The EFS energy flow simulation enables light rail operators to identify and optimise energy savings, system planning operational conditions, technical threats and problem zones, predictive maintenance and much more. 

EFS: Your light rail network in your hands – see you in Sevilla! 

Find here more information about the European Light Rail Congress. 

Kruch is part of a small tram sensation! 

Rotterdam’s public transport operator RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram) is currently testing a “power bank”, a kind of large energy storage unit that stores the energy generated when the trams brake and makes it available for reuse. 

These improvements could only be calculated and modelled using Kruch’s energy flow simulation (EFS) measurements. This allowed meaningful data to be collected, demonstrating the efficient use of braking energy by the Power Bank. As a result, RET was able to significantly increase capacity and save resources in the long term. 

Initial scenario 

Electric trams are supplied with electrical energy from the substations. When the tram brakes, electrical energy is produced via the electric motor in generator mode and fed back into the grid. This energy can only be used if another consumer is in the immediate vicinity and can absorb a large proportion of the energy. 

The ideal situation would therefore be another vehicle that starts at the same time and can thus be driven by the recuperated energy of the braking vehicle. This timing is difficult, requires enormous synchronisation effort and has an impact on the timetable and electrical grid stability. Therefore, in practice, this braking energy is often dissipated by braking resistors located on the vehicle and converted into heat. 

This energy converted into waste heat is lost and can no longer be reutilised. RET was therefore looking for a solution that would utilise the energy fed into the tram network from the substations as efficiently as possible. 

Optimal utilisation of braking energy 

The idea: a “power bank” that stores this energy and makes it available for the next tram. It acts like a transformer station without a power connection. A transformer station that uses batteries and modern high-performance electronics to store electricity and make it available again at the right time. 

RET had the concept calculated and simulated by the Austrian company Kruch Railway Innovations. A recently constructed turning loop in Rotterdam with high vehicle frequency is an ideal place to test this power bank. The modelling carried out by Kruch using energy flow simulation (EFS) shows that a power bank would be a solution here. This allows RET to significantly increase capacity without having to build a new substation. 

Would you like to know more about the EFS energy flow simulation? You can find all the information and further reference examples here.

“United ECM is a solution-oriented team of construction and engineering experts who enjoy challenges, innovative concepts, problem solving and out-of-the-box thinking. We see many parallels to Kruch here and are really looking forward to a good collaboration. A clear goal here is to make our energy flow simulation EFS even more easily accessible to interested parties in the USA,” says Kruch Managing Director Jan Röhl about the new partnership.

United Engineering & Construction Management – new partner in the USA

United Engineering & Construction Management is a dynamic company led by experts in construction management and engineering.

United ECM offers a unique multidisciplinary approach to project planning, engineering, and project and construction management of infrastructure projects and programmes.

Our focal-points 2022 are:

• EFS energy flow simulation, for electrical transport systems
• Trolleybus-Checkpoint for coal-wear-monitoring
• HKL-02 – hanger clamp wihtout thimble, conductive

You want to learn more about InnoTrans2022 or book an appointment with one of our collegues? Contact us!

Many customers take advantage of this opportunity to

• solve an acute problem or a current question quickly and easily
• test EFS for future use
• have a good starting point for further digitization steps

The numerous users of the KRUCH-EFS system are independent of time consuming, external studies that need to be tendered, when it comes to everyday issues. Simply simulate yourself! It’s done quickly and safely with our validated energy flow simulation (EFS)!

We can currently offer a very good and limited “EFS entry package”:

• ~ 5km section
• 2-3 substations
• 2 types of vehicles
• 2 current questions (e.g. cycle compression, n-1 substations, new vehicles, critical points in the network, …)
• full range of EFS services (all modules!)
• including user training

Perhaps you currently have a topic that we fix together still this year?

Contact us at sales@kruch.at.  

EFS is the “mother” of all KRUCH Mobility 4.0 solutions. The tool is already a tested and proven tool for daily work in numerous local transport companies. Here you will find all information as well as references, videos and presentations on EFS.

We are very pleased that VAG Freiburg is also making use of the opportunities offered by EFS. The complete energy flow simulation model from KRUCH already calculates the entire Freiburg TRAM network. The most complex situations can now be set and simulated in a playful way. Together with VAG Freiburg, the EFS experts have defined which parameters should be simply varied and developed the “digital twin”. After completion of the development phase, it now includes 37 km of route network, 85 stops, 26 substations, 63 coupling switches, 2 energy storage systems and a charging station for electrical buses.

DSW21 Dortmund is also starting a first pilot project in route simulation with EFS. We are looking forward to the cooperation!

About EFS:

The energy flow simulation EFS highlights critical points in the electrical network and shows the current and voltage of consumers, such as trams or trolley buses, over each section of the route. The software analyzes substations and energy consumption of the vehicles in detail in all parts of the network.

Variation of numerous parameters of a transport system (electrical parameters, vehicles, timetable, infrastructure, etc.) is super-simple, and thus critical points in the network, timetable change effects on the energy supply or energy-saving potential are easily recognized.

Potentials for how the network can meet the new requirements for CO2 reduction can also be identified in this context.

Here you can find more information about the energy flow simulation.

These customers are already successfully using EFS in their network.

All the benefits at a glance:

• Continuous fleet and network monitoring
• Establishes baseline data for preventive maintenance
• Provides analysis of events, errors and their possible causes
• Reduction of standstill & costs
• Modular, scalable
• Monitor your fleet from any device (computer, tablet, phone)

How does FLATA work?

The experts from KRUCH and its partner METRIOX will install data loggers equipped with GPS antennas and interfaces to the board computer on your vehicles. The attached sensors transmit data – such as temperature, voltage, current condition, position, and activity – to a cloud database.
There is no need for a local SW-installation. All you need is your standard web-browser. Using the dashboard is highly intuitive. Training of your employees is minimal.

You can view and analyse the data on your dashboard in real time and also receive alerts. With the right information, you can respond promptly, anticipate trends and issues, and take proactive action. The transmitted data will inform your vehicle maintenance planning so that you are perfectly prepared and on top of things. What’s more, you’ll be able to clearly identify where certain events – such as emergency braking/sanding, excessive speeds (e.g. at switch points), low catenary voltage, and more – are occurring on your network.

In combination with our proven Energy-Flow-Simulation (EFS) there arise additional possibilities for analyzing and optimizing your network. With FLATA our EFS product family becomes more powerful by a very strong tool.

After successfully completing the test phase on a route some 600 m long, VA Erzberg utilized KRUCH EFS extensively to simulate a broad range of scenarios to determine critical electrical parameters in the run-up to the tender for the roughly 5-km long overhead contact system.

Following this rigorous test phase and successful simulation, the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the catenary system was held on 29 September 2020.

Innovation at Erzberg

In the future, diesel-electric trucks operating on overhead line technology will be used in the iron ore mine – but that’s not all: By converting its transport fleet, VA Erzberg will save a total of 3 million litres of diesel every single year, which translates into an overall fuel reduction of 66%. By utilizing the diesel-electric trolleytrucks, the amount of CO₂ emissions is reduced by roughly 4,200 tonnes every year. In addition, their use also reduces the emission of nitrogen oxides and particulates. This places KRUCH on the cutting edge of innovation in transport at Erzberg. According to Josef Pappenreiter, Technical Director at VA Erzberg, “This newly developed technology is fundamentally different both from the overhead contact line system – in other words, a pole-mounted pantograph similar to a trolleybus – as well as from vehicle technology based on the technologies that have been available on the market up to now.”

It’s clear once again: Energy flow simulation is a resounding success

Obtaining such precise information about the planned network together with test data at this level of detail was only possible by means of the energy flow simulation. After all, “EFS identifies critical points in the electrical network and displays the current and the voltage of the consumer loads, such as streetcars and trolleybuses – or, as in the case of VA Erzberg, diesel-electric trucks – at any point in the network. The software can be used, for instance, to analyse substations and the vehicles’ energy consumption in detail,” says Josef Datzreiter, Managing Director of KRUCH Railway Innovations.

Kruch is working on a solution! Our innovative system, which is currently under development, is intended to optimise the entire network every second and thus make the regenerated braking energy usable, with the aim of saving at least 10% of the traction energy and correspondingly many tonnes of CO2, depending on the circumstances.

Become a tester now!

As a test company, you will not only be supporting us as we continue to expand and develop our solution, you’ll also be able to reap direct benefits! Get in touch with our experts to receive further details about the solution and find out how you can become a test company.

More information: sales@kruch.com.

On the 18th September it is time again. The InnoTrans 2018 starts in a new round. Of course, the KRUCH team is once again a guest at the leading international trade fair for traffic technology this year!

„The KRUCH team will once again be taking the trade fair events from the visitors’ perspective this year. Each year, InnoTrans is the opportunity for us to exchange with industry specialists and introduce our new products. We are looking forward to interesting discussions!“, says KRUCH CEO Jan Röhl.

Since InnoTrans 2014

The „SMA“ signal mast, which was exhibited in full size at InnoTrans 2014, celebrated its „world premiere“ at that time. With the Energy-Flow-Simulation „EFS“, KRUCH presented a tool with which after a few minutes of training the most important situations can be simulated and evaluated in the railway technology every day. The numerous new developments in the field of catenary components underpin the claim of KRUCH to be one of the leading specialists in this product field. This year, the focus will be on the latest KRUCH product: the Trolleybus Checkpoint

Would you like to talk to us at InnoTrans 2018? Contact us at sales@kruch.com.
Find out more about our products and services here.