What type of electric brake is most reasonable? - friction and heat free braking of moderately powered, moderately distributed traction system

摘要

Types of service brake for modern traction vehicles can be classified as friction brake and electrical brake; the latter is either dynamic, eddy current or regenerative brake. Initial and running cost of each type of brake is very different and depends sharply upon installed maximum power especially for regenerative braking system. Almost all rail vehicles have friction brake in addition to other types of brake. Installed maximum power of electric brake can be reduced substantially if friction brake is used for service brake, with increased maintenance cost of friction brake especially for high-speed operation. To the contrary, a new concept of brake, "pure electric brake", has been successfully developed which eliminates friction brake from service brake. Comparison has been made of life-cycle cost for urban railways and of installed mass for high-speed trainsets, and moderately distributed traction system with regenerative service brake has been found the best system.