Technology comparison of energy recuperation systems for DC rail transportation

Nowadays the needs concerning energy consumption are becoming increasingly demanding. The ever growing requirements for more reliable and cost efficient systems also apply to traction systems. On one hand vehicles have the capability of dynamic braking that allows the energy to be returned to the traction grid and utilized by other vehicles. On the other hand, very often substations are integrated with energy storage systems to manage smooth energy flow in traction grids. Transferring the recuperated energy to the AC grid is also interesting. This paper compares two technologies available for energy recuperation systems: hybrid, which combines diode rectifier with IGBT inverter, and four quadrant converter. Simulation study shows possible efficiency improvements in traction networks.