Simulation of a Hybrid Forest Cableway System with Energy Recovery

This paper deals with the simulation of a new type of funicular with hybrid drive (diesel –electric), which follows the global trend of limiting the use of fossil fuel-based engines and replacing them with electric drive systems. A very powerful Multiphysics simulation software called Amesim is used for the simulation. Amesim provides many tools for electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic parts, which means that the entire system can be simulated with the same software. To guarantee the accuracy of the simulation results for the hybrid electric funicular’s mode of operation, the model built using the Simcenter Amesim simulation tool was improved. By using the nominal data of the hydraulic parts discovered during project activities, the simulation blocks for the hydraulic system were parameterized in this manner. One of them is driven by an electric motor, while the other is propelled by a thermal engine, depending on the situation. Hydraulic fluid is delivered through pipes to the pump driving the funicular drum. The energy flow is reversed in scenarios involving braking and energy recovery, with the drum’s kinetic energy driving the hydraulic pump/motor, which then powers the motor/hydraulic pump coupled to the electric machine’s shaft and functions in generator mode.