Inductive power supply for heavy rail vehicles

Electrical railway systems are characterized by the energy transfer from fixed installations of the railway energy supply source to the mobile consumers. Today´s conventional versions are always characterized by contact-based energy transfer. In the following, the initial approach for a energy transfercontactless energy transfer for standard gauge railway vehicles is set out. Building on the railway specific requirements of an energy transfer system, a first system draft is outlined. The feasibility for introducing such a contactless transmission system depends on the overall costs arising during the life cycle in comparison with conventional systems. For this reason, the costs of today´s installations are considered, and related pros and cons of the alternative transmission systems are discussed. In addition, the perspectives for the introduction of contactless energy transfer are evaluated.