An ACR-equipped Urbos 3 tram running through central Seville without overhead line, 2015. The supercapacitor batteries are visible on the roof of each end car.

Acumulador de Carga Rápida (ACR) (transl. fast-charging battery) is a battery electric tram system marketed by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain. Trams equipped with ACR are fast-charged while at stops; elsewhere they require no overhead line, which is desirable for reasons of safety, reliability, cost, and aesthetics.[1][2] It also allows regenerative braking where direct current electrification systems cannot return (much) energy to the grid.

Operation

ACR-equipped trams are powered between stops by discharging a rooftop supercapacitor battery, weighing around 1 tonne (2,200 lb), which gives a range of around 2 miles (3.2 km). The battery is partially recharged between stops by regenerative braking; at stops, it is completely recharged in around thirty seconds by current drawn via pantograph from a short section of overhead line.

Marketing

CAF offers ACR as an option on its Urbos 3 tram; for retrofitting on trams built by CAF or other manufacturers; and for standard gauge and metre gauge tram systems.

ACR's most direct competitor is the ground-level power supply (APS) marketed by Alstom; CAF differentiates ACR against APS through its support of regenerative braking. CAF claims that ACR could be useful in rapid transit systems for the same reason.

Installations

Since Seville's MetroCentro tramway opened in 2007, sections of its overhead line around the Seville Cathedral had been dismantled annually to allow Holy Week processions to pass safely. ACR's first commercial installation was aboard Urbos trams supplied to MetroCentro in 2011, allowing the permanent removal of overhead lines around the cathedral.[3]

Line 1 of the Tranvía de Zaragoza has also used ACR since its second construction phase was completed in 2013. The use of ACR avoided the installation of overhead lines in the city's historic centre.[4][5]

ACR was included in the Newcastle Light Rail in Australia and Luxembourg's new tram system.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Andersen, Ulrik (2013-11-05). "Kamerasystem skal advare lokoførere mod svingende køreledninger på Storebælt". Ingeniøren (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  2. ↑ Stewart, Matt (2012-05-21). "Matangi trains 'more susceptible' to frost". The Dominion Post. Wellington. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  3. ↑ Ameneiro, A. S. (2011-04-05). "Adiós a las catenarias en la Catedral". Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Seville. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  4. ↑ "Zaragoza tram Line 1 enters service". Railway Gazette International. London. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  5. ↑ Crespo Roig, María (2011-01-20). "CAF apuesta por que Zaragoza tenga un metro sin catenarias que funcione con la energía que recargue en las paradas". aragondigital.es (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  6. ↑ "Newcastle light rail to be Australia's first 'wire-free' system". 19 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Newcastle Light Rail, Australia | Aurecon".
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