by josh perry, editor [email protected]
in january, plasser & theurer, an austrian manufacturer of rail track maintenance and track laying machines, announced that its new thermal management system for the hybrid htw 100 e3 tower car passed a test in the climate wind channel at the rail tec arsenal (rta) in vienna.
the htw 100 e3 hybrid motor tower car was put to the test in the climate wind channel. (plasser & theurer)
the hybrid tower car, which is used for maintenance of overhead lines, has a novel thermal management system, designed in partnership with kreisel electric, for its batteries, which are expected to work for two six-hour shifts. the hybrid car is emission-free and quiet.
“there were two reasons for the climate test: to test the new battery technology, and to examine the theoretical values of our suppliers,” explained christian weitersberger, responsible head of engineering, plasser & theurer, in a press release.
more than 200 sensors are placed on the nine batteries to provide constant temperature measurement, according to plasser & theurer. the system alternately warms or cools the batteries to keep them at the optimal operating temperature range of 25-35°c, although the company said the batteries will generate energy between -20°c and 40°c.
siegfried anschuber, software developer at kreisel electric, said, “as a result, external conditions barely affect us anymore. and: when a machine is parked at -20 °c, the next day, the batteries are heated up via the heat pump.”
the recent test in the climate wind channel simulated the temperature extremes that the batteries can operate in, as well as operating functions such as windscreen heating or opening the cabin door.
testing allowed plasser & theurer to determine how long does preheating take using a diesel-powered heating device at -30°c and what level of energy output is required to have all the individual components working at full performance.
it took three days to set the htw 100 e 3 up for testing and the test ran for another four days. the company said that the railway car “passed the ultimate endurance test.”
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