IEC 62888-6:2019

Overview

IEC 62888-6:2019 is a key international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) within the IEC 62888 series. This part focuses on railway applications, specifically the energy measurement systems (EMS) on board trains for purposes other than billing. Its primary aim is to set out requirements for EMS intended for practical industrial applications, including benchmarking, daily energy consumption monitoring, technical research, and system development.

Unlike earlier parts of the standard series that support energy billing, IEC 62888-6:2019 targets use cases such as energy management, energy efficiency improvement, and R&D activities in railway operations. All requirements in this document supplement or amend those specified in IEC 62888-1 to IEC 62888-5.

Key Topics

• Scope and Purpose

  • Applies to EMS intended for non-billing applications, covering Levels 2 and 3 performance as per IEC 62888-1.
  • Aims to enable straightforward, reliable monitoring of energy consumed by railway vehicles in everyday service.

• Industrial Use Cases

  • Daily energy consumption monitoring: allows fleet operators to track and analyze energy usage of train vehicles.
  • Benchmarking: supports performance comparisons between different trains, operators, or technologies.
  • Operational analysis: provides data on influential factors such as driver commands and environmental conditions to help analyze relationships between operations and energy consumption.
  • Energy flow management: aids in controlling the flow of power between vehicles and stationary installations.
  • Research and development: facilitates investigation tests for new technologies or vehicle systems.
  • Energy forecasting: helps in energy cost forecasting and total consumption analysis.

• Applicability

  • Not suitable for legal or commercial billing where highest metrological accuracy is mandatory.
  • Designed to ensure data gathered supports general industrial needs such as improving energy efficiency or supporting sustainability goals.

Applications

Adopting IEC 62888-6:2019 provides significant practical benefits to railway operators, equipment suppliers, and R&D engineers:

• Energy Efficiency: By enabling systematic monitoring, trends in energy use can be identified, leading to targeted energy-saving initiatives.
• Resource Management: Operators can better allocate energy resources and set strategies for operational improvements.
• Technical Evaluation: Provides a framework for testing new components, systems, or operational strategies before commercial deployment.
• Benchmarking Performance: Supports informed decision-making by allowing the comparison of vehicles, technologies, or operational practices based on credible energy data.
• Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Assists organizations in demonstrating their commitment to energy management and sustainable operation, as required by internal policies or external regulations.
• Cost Forecasting: Enables data-driven energy cost estimation to support budgeting and investment planning.

Related Standards

IEC 62888-6:2019 is part of a broader suite within the IEC 62888 series, which together provide comprehensive guidance for on-board railway energy measurement:

• IEC 62888-1: General system-level requirements for on-board EMS.
• IEC 62888-2: Technical requirements for energy measurement functions.
• IEC 62888-3: Requirements for data handling systems.
• IEC 62888-4: Guidance on communication between EMS subsystems and with ground systems.
• IEC 62888-5: Procedures for EMS conformance testing.

Supporting standards and references include:

• IEC 60044-8 (Instrument transformers)
• IEC 60850 (Railway applications - Supply voltages)
• IEC 62236-3-2 (Electromagnetic compatibility)
• IEC 62625-1 (On board driving data recording system)

Conclusion: IEC 62888-6:2019 equips stakeholders in the railway sector with effective tools and requirements for energy monitoring and management, driving operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and supporting industry-wide energy sustainability initiatives. For any operator focused on optimizing rail energy use outside of billing, compliance with this standard is essential.