Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Operation Mode of the Air-Conditioning and Oxygen Supply System on Energy Consumption of Plateau Train

Abstract

Problems of low temperature, low pressure, low oxygen, and high carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the air-conditioning (AC) trains of the Qinghai-Tibet railway can affect the health and comfort of passengers and cause altitude sickness. When the Qinghai-Tibet railway train runs in high-altitude areas, it is necessary to supply oxygen and introduce fresh air to meet the limited oxygen (O2) and CO2 partial pressures (PPs) in the carriage. In this study, a numerical analysis of the correlation between the CO2 PP and O2 PP in AC trains and the air supply parameters (ASPs), fresh air volume (FAV), and oxygen supply volume (OSV) along the Qinghai-Tibet line in summer was conducted. The results show that the influence of the FAV on the energy consumption of the air-conditioning system (ACS) in different running areas is inconsistent, whereas the influence of the oxygen supply system (OSS) on energy consumption is significant. During the oxygen supply period, the FAV had the opposite effect on energy consumption of ACS and OSS. The energy consumption of the OSS was approximately five times that of the ACS. By studying the correlation between the internal environment and ASP of trains running in different regions, the operation modes of ACS and OSS can be reasonably set, which can effectively reduce energy consumption by 20–50%.