Interfacing of regulator and rectifier unit with solar charge controller for optimal utilization of solar power on railway coaches

In the world's railway system, innovative technology to tap alternative sources of energy can help in reducing the dependence on fossil fuel and power grid. The self-generating system is absent in most of the LHB coaches based long distance running trains, thus the required power for lighting loads is supplied through power car which becomes mandatory. In all seasons of the year the total amount of energy harvested from the roof top of the trains is to be considered as most important. Basically the main component is the Regulation cum Rectifier Unit (RRU). RRU is fast and reliable switching unit with alternator identifying facilities. The existence of intelligent control system with in the RRU which operates on solar power supply and during the insufficient solar power it controls the action of switch over from solar power to conventional power. With this implemented scheme in all the trains aims to achieve the considerable fuel saving and the reduction of CO₂ emission. The present work concentrates on the implementation of interfacing the solar charge control with the RRU based on the literature study of CO₂ mitigation, load calculation and rating of alternators of railway coaches. The design of solar charge controller with RRU has been simulated using MATLAB SIMULINK and prototype hardware of solar charge controller has been tested.