The batteries are on charge all the time that the train is cut in and the pantograph is raised - just like the unit's own 110v auxilliary batteries.
The train spends most of its time powered from the overheads, but when it reaches a gap in the catenary it drops the pan and runs on battery power for a few miles.
There's an article about this in the current Rail magazine (issue 769).
The cells are actually AA sized with an output of 3.2v. 12 cells are lined up in series to form a row of 38.4v. 33 rows are then paralled to form a 38.v 'battery'. 20 batteries are connected in series to form a 768v 'pod'. 2 pods are paralleled to make a 768v 'module'. 3 modules connected in parallel produce a 768v Battery Raft. And finally, 2 rafts in parallel are underslung on the PTSO of the 379, giving 768v 550Ah (425 kWh).
Technologies tried include Lithium Ion Magnesium and hot Sodium Nickel Salt.
HTH, BW
__________________
"Everything was built by men in overalls and destroyed by men in suits" Fred Dibnah
Last edited by Beeyar Wunby; 15th March 2015 at 15:02.
|