JUSTIFICATION OF CRITERIA FOR ROPEWAYS ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Abstract

Purpose. The article is aimed to form and justify the energy efficiency indicators of ropeways of traditional design and ropeways with self-propelled wagons based on the determination and comparison of their values. The substantiation of the energy efficiency criteria of ropeway wagons allows us to determine fully the direction of further research in the field of development of alternative transport mode. Methodology. To obtain initial data, the authors reviewed the world trends in the development of ropeway wagons, proposed analytical formulas for determining criteria for ropeways` energy efficiency used to compare traditional ropeways and ropeways with self-propelled wagons. Herewith, we took into account the influence of the loading degree and rated power on the electric motor efficiency. In order to take into account the energy dissipation in the haul rope through its elastic properties, the concept of the efficiency coefficient of the haul rope was introduced. Findings. The authors formed a methodology for calculating the efficiency of ropeways, developed formulas for determining energy efficiency. We assessed the influence of the ropeway characteristics on their calculated values; constructed dependence graphs of the self-propelled ropeway efficiency coefficient on the rated electric motor power and the efficiency coefficient on the ropeway drive loading, as well as compared general efficiency coefficients for ropeways with self-propelled wagons and for ropeways of traditional design. The results are based on the averaged values of the electric motors parameters at their different loads. Originality. The authors first proposed and justified the energy-efficiency criteria for ropeways that make it possible a comparative analysis of traditional ropeways and those with self-propelled wagons. We determined the dependence of these indicators on the ropeway parameters. Practical value. The results of the comparative analysis of traditional construction of ropeways and the ropeways with self-propelled wagons, based on the proposed energy efficiency indicators, can be used to substantiate the feasibility of using certain type of ropeways for the implementation of individual transport processes. The construction diagram of a self-propelled wagon can be used in the development of energy efficient passenger ropeway projects.