Software for the simulation of electric vehicles and power supply networks

FABEL is a software program developed by ENOTRAC for the operational simulation of electrically-supplied transportation systems (railways, trams, trolley-buses). The tracks and associated electrical network can be highly interconnected and can be worked simultaneously by virtually any number of trains.

FABEL is ideal for the planning of electrification schemes for new lines and extensions, the reinforcements on existing railways, the rating of vehicle propulsion equipment, as well as the design of protection systems. It is also possible, in FABEL, to investigate short circuit currents at any point in the network.

Fabel is a powerful tool for the investigation of ‘what-if’ scenarios. The results provide the sound foundation for crucial investment decisions, resulting in optimum schemes that meet the technical requirements at minimum cost.

The input parameters include:

Track:	Location of stations and platforms, gradient profile, curve radii, speed limit profile, location of tunnels and rack rail sections.
Electrical network:	Comprehensive representation of the electrical network under consideration, including conductors, power sources, bus-bars, switches, insulators, and breakers. All parameters can vary along the route. The network building process is particularly intuitive, using a state-of-the-art graphical user interface. Electric elements with their specific properties (impedance, length, etc.) are connected to each other to form a schematic similar to sectioning diagrams in use in railway engineering departments.
Vehicle:	Mechanical and electrical characteristics of the vehicle, such as vehicle tare mass and length, traction and braking effort characteristics, power limitation as a function of line voltage, losses, power factor, regenerative braking, power requirements for auxiliaries and air conditioning, tractive resistance parameters, limits of maximum acceleration / deceleration and jerk rates etc.
Operations:	Timetable with defined dwell duration and/or arrival/departure times, driving regime (eg. energy-saving driving, electric-only braking), variable payload, variable train consist.

Features:
Powerful graphical user interface minimises errors and increases user efficiency, including libraries of data for various types of vehicles and electrical network components.

• FABEL couples the train movement simulation with the electric network calculations, using a complex iterative process so there is a real mutual influence of power supply and train performance.
• Both AC and DC traction networks and multi-system vehicles can be handled simultaneously in the same simulation
• For DC railways, Fabel can also model the medium voltage AC (MVAC) network to obtain realistic daily load curves on the MVAC feeders to the rectifier substations.
• Fixed block and moving block signalling and train control.

Output processing:

FABEL simulation results are stored in a central database and can be accessed from any computer equipped with a standard web browser. Both graphical and tabulated presentations of results are possible. Powerful reporting functions automatically calculate network voltages and currents for any user-specified time-window (average, minimum, maximum, RMS).

Vehicle and train results include, but are not limited to: time-distance plots, current collector voltage and current,  tractive effort, speed, acceleration, wheel power, energy dissipation in friction and rheostatic braking.. Electrical network results include current, voltage and power at any locations in the network (e.g. substations, contact wires, static loads, etc.), energy consumption, receptivity.

For examples: see pictures below.