Optimal Position Finding Algorithm for the Power Sources in the PRT System

The PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system is a computer controlled and light weighted railway vehicle using linear motors. The speeds of vehicles are controlled to be constant, and the distances between vehicles, namely, headway is also strictly controlled to be only 12m at 40km/hr. Thus, the vehicle density of the PRT system is much higher than that of the mass railway train (MRT) system. Moreover, the required power of a PRT vehicle is much smaller than that of the MRT. Therefore, the methodology of the power supply location for the MRT system is thought to be improper to the PRT system. This work proposes a practical method that finds the optimal locations of the power supplies for the PRT system to achieve a balanced load sharing and the total power loss minimization. This method is an iterative algorithm based on a new virtual isolation concept between the power sections. The effectiveness and the feasibility of the method is confirmed by simulation results and case studies.