Energy-saving railway systems based on superconducting power transmission

The new railway transmission feeder systems using superconducting materials was proposed. With energy issues becoming increasingly important in this century, it is important to assess the situation in the transportation sector. In recent years, direct current (DC) systems has been progressing mainly in urban areas. Developing superconducting cable for railway power transmission should lead to increased regeneration efficiency, reduced power loss, equalization of load between substations, and fewer substations due to the smaller voltage drop. In order to verify to be formed as a system, it's needed to evaluate the circulation cooling, electrical current, cooling stress, laying through typical line and electrical test of notch operation. The superconducting feeder system was set up along the test track and conducted running tests, and then verified the system on a commercial line for the first time in the world. As the results of energy analysis, it can be 5% energy saving system on average rail line model. When it's converted into CO2 amount of emission, it'll be reduction in 3.6 × 105 ton-CO2/year in the world. As railway lines continue to be built to meet the increasing demand for transport in line, the superconducting feeder system can be the solution to today's electric energy issues.