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Technologies for Railway Transportation Systems Creation of Transportation Systems for Global Energy Conservation
FUJII Nobuo Future Expectations for Railways and Toshiba's Technological Innovations
ISHIBASHI Naoyuki
Railways are considered to be one of the most environmentally conscious transportation systems. With the aim of not only reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions but also solving technological issues related to railways, Toshiba is continuously making efforts to achieve innovations in the field of railway transportation systems such as the development of compact and lightweight equipment, realization of low-maintenance systems, reduction of noise, and so on.
The development of new technologies for both today and tomorrow is our main goal. As a worldwide leader in the production of electronics, we are providing solutions that answer the needs of railway transportation systems. PMSM Propulsion System for Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Trains
KAWAI Hirotoshi / SUNOHARA Teruhiko / UBUKATA Nobuyuki / FUKASAWA Shingo
The demand for high efficiency, low noise, and reduction of maintenance work has been increasing in the field of propulsion systems for rolling stock, accompanying the rising awareness of global environmental issues and the shift to an aging society with fewer children in recent years.
In response to these conditions, Toshiba has developed a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) propulsion system and evaluated this system through running tests on the Ginza Line of Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. As a result, we have confirmed that the PMSM propulsion system has lower noise and greater energy saving compared with the conventional induction motor (IM) propulsion system. Furthermore, we have carried out running tests for more than 11/2 years.
We are providing the system into the renewal of the propulsion system of the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line trains, and are continuing our efforts to establish this technology as an advanced propulsion system through evaluations of maintainability and development of a DC 1,500 V PMSM propulsion system. Eco-Friendly Traction Motors for Rolling Stock
MURAKAMI Satoru / SHIRAISHI Shigetomo / HASEBE Toshio
Induction motors (IMs) used as traction motors in rolling stock have become smaller in size, lighter in weight, and more powerful with the progress of power electronics. These motors are employed in a broad range of rolling stock including streetcars, commuter trains, Shinkansen bullet trains, and locomotives as a stable system in place of direct-current motors. However, 20 years have passed since the first IMs were applied in rolling stock in Japan, and further evolution has become necessary both to achieve additional reductions in size and weight for increased speeds and to meet environmental requirements such as energy conservation, reduction of noise, and minimal maintenance.
To meet these requirements, Toshiba has developed new environmentally conscious IMs and has already begun their commercial production. High-Power Locomotive Systems Supporting Overseas Railway Transportation
HIRAHARA Akira / KANAI Toshinobu / HATTA Moriaki
The recent enhancement of awareness regarding the importance of global warming prevention has led to growing demand for railway transportation. In overseas markets, electric locomotives with high output power are commonly used to pull long, heavy-haul freight trains. These electric locomotives supporting railway transportation must provide not only high power but also high safety, high reliability, and high efficiency.
To realize electric locomotives with higher output power, Toshiba has developed both a forced-circulation type water cooling system with high heat absorption for power conversion units and a high-output-power traction motor for not only 1,435 standard-gauge railways but also 1,067 narrow-gauge railways. We have also developed a train control and monitoring system (TCMS) with high performance and high reliability.
We have delivered these high-output-power electric locomotive systems to China and South Africa. Vehicle Systems and Electrical Equipment for Domestic Shinkansen Trains
MORITA Masatsugu / KOIZUMI Satoshi
The Tokaido Shinkansen (running between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka) was put into service on October 1, 1964, in time for the Tokyo Olympic Games that year. Then, to meet the growing demand for increased transportation capacity and higher speeds on the Sanyo Main Line, it was extended as the Sanyo Shinkansen on March 10, 1975. This firmly established the status of the Shinkansen as a high-speed mass transportation system. The Tohoku, Joetsu, Akita, Yamagata, and Kyushu Shinkansen services were subsequently launched, and there are plans to expand the Shinkansen network to the Hokuriku and Hokkaido regions in the future.
With this as a background, since the division and privatization of Japan National Railways, Toshiba has proposed and supplied optimized vehicle systems for domestic Shinkansen trains based on our experience in responding to the development concepts and required specifications of each of the JR companies. PASPY IC Card Center System for Public Transit Services in Hiroshima
UEHARA Futoshi
The introduction of contactless railway and bus pass cards with built-in integrated circuit (IC) chips has been accelerating in recent years, not only in urban areas but also in local areas, since it is a unique service adaptable to the needs of the residential and business communities and facilitates rapid mutual utilization among multiple businesses.
Toshiba has developed the PASPY IC card center system for PASPY IC cards, which are a contactless IC card system for public transit services operated by multiple public transportation companies in Hiroshima. This center system is playing a pivotal role in the operation of PASPY IC card services, collecting data on the usage history of PASPY IC cards, checking settlements among the transportation companies, verifying the legitimacy of IC card use, and managing the status of IC cards such as issuance, refunds, and reissuance of cards. It can perform settlements among the transportation companies without the need for a host company. TiOS7 Train Information Operating System to Support Safe and Stable Transportation
YASUMOTO Takanori / NAKAJIMA Masayoshi
The information system of Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. has been introduced not only to support inspection work in train depots, but also for the sharing of information between a command center and train depots. To meet the requirements for the opening of the Fukutoshin Line in 2008, it was necessary to update this aging system.
Toshiba and Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. have newly developed TiOS7 (train information operating system 2007), which combines the functions of both information sharing and real-time observation of train running conditions to support safe and stable transportation. Advanced Train Control and Monitoring System Using TEBus
KAMATA Keiichi / SATO Masaki / KAMO Yushi
The performance and functions of railway transportation have recently become increasingly sophisticated. In keeping with this trend, train control and monitoring systems (TCMS) have been realizing various functions including not only control and monitoring but also various other services for train drivers and passengers.
To meet the demand for TCMS with highly advanced functionality, Toshiba has developed a train communication network technology called TEBus (Train Ethernet Bus). We have been promoting the international standardization of a train network standard based on TEBus, and are aiming to realize an advanced TCMS with higher speed, capacity, and reliability of data transmission. Train Control Systems to Meet New Requirements in Railway Transportation Service Field
MORI Minoru / NAKAZAWA Hiroji / SUZUKI Mitsuaki
Train control systems are responsible for ensuring safety and improvement of reliability in the field of railway transportation services. In recent years, demand has been increasing for additional functions such as the preparation of high-density diagrams, enhanced riding comfort, space saving, and energy saving.
In response, Toshiba has developed a digital automatic train control (digital-ATC) system, an automatic train operation (ATO) system, a network signaling system, a traffic control system, and peripheral devices providing a user-friendly human-machine interface, utilizing the latest information and communication technologies. We are continuing our efforts to expand the functions of railway systems aiming at the realization of total systems integration with high added value. Package Type Substation Equipment for Electric Railways
ITO Fusao / KANDA Kouji
Compact type outdoor substation equipment is becoming essential for the replacement of indoor substation equipment for electric railways, to overcome restrictions in terms of work space and construction period.
Toshiba has developed package type outdoor substation equipment to be applied in cases of insufficient work space, and has delivered the first set of equipment to the Miyajima Substation of Hiroshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd. The package type outdoor substation equipment incorporates effective functions for outdoor usage to deal with a heavily polluted environment, and to counteract high temperature of the monitoring control panel through the use of an automatic cooler and a compact rectifier. This equipment satisfies the customer's needs for replacement in a small area and reduction of the total costs including construction costs. Electronic Frequency Converter Feeding Single-Phase Circuit for Shinkansen Trains
KUNOMURA Ken / IIO Naotaka / OTSUKI Midori / AOYAMA Fumio
The Tokaido Shinkansen trains run on 60 Hz single-phase electric power. Therefore, frequency conversion is required when these trains travel in areas east of the Fuji River, where 50 Hz power is used.
To suppress feeder voltage drops, Central Japan Railway Company and Toshiba have developed Japan's first electronic frequency converter feeding a single-phase circuit for the new Numazu Frequency Conversion Substation of the Tokaido Shinkansen. This substation was completed and put into commercial operation in February 2009. Air-Conditioning System with Improved Cooling Capacity for Rush-Hour Commuter Trains
SASAI Yuuta / AMEMIYA Yasuyoshi
Train boarding rates during commuter rush hours have significantly increased in metropolitan areas. The air temperature inside trains often becomes high at such times, despite the operation of air conditioners at full power. As a result, there is growing demand for air-conditioning systems with higher cooling capacity that can provide a comfortable environment during rush hours.
Toshiba Carrier Corporation has newly developed an air-conditioning system that offers both comfort and energy saving by improving the cooling capacity by about 40 % and controlling the air temperature using data such as the boarding rate and door opening and closing signals. In addition to low input power, low noise, and low vibration, the new air-conditioning system also achieves space saving and can be mounted on the existing space when replacing an existing system. |
