Bächli AG: The Ideal Match

BTOB RAIL MAG 2023

The ideal match

The component composition in a train must be very reliable in order to avoid breakdowns and faults, so that passengers can reach their destination safely and on time. Transformers play a crucial role in this. A transformer is a key component in power networks and the correct selection is crucial to ensure the efficiency, reliability and safety of a system.

We the Bächli AG a Swiss Tech Company Bächli specializes in the development and production of electrotechnical components. The product range includes highly specialized transformers, chokes and winding goods of all kinds. We can look back on more than 70 years of successful partnership with the internationally active industry. With solutions from Bächli, you can draw on many years of experience. The wide range of field-proven products - combined with the innovative strength to develop new solutions - make Bächli the specialist of chokes and transformers for the railroad industry.

The combination of energy efficiency and best possible life cycle costs is the optimal match when selecting a transformer or choke for your train fleet. We would like to explain what we mean by this in the following lines.

The life cycle costs

Life cycle costs are strongly influenced by the lifetime of an electrotechnical product. That is why it is important to pay attention to the service life of a transformer or choke when making a selection. Because on the one hand it means that you don't have to replace the device or component for a long time, and on the other hand it is also better from the economic point of view, because a new device always means a big investment. Because the goal is to achieve the longest possible service life of the winding material.

What exactly is meant by service life?

The life of a transformer is the predicted time that the transformer can function under normal operating conditions before significant degradation of its performance or failure occurs. It can be affected by a number of factors, including the quality of materials used, operating conditions (temperature and humidity), the type of load, and the maintenance and repair of the transformer.

The life of a transformer can itself influence factors. This is because it affects the reliability, safety, efficiency and load capacity of a winding.

The reliability of a transformer refers to its ability to maintain consistent, high-quality performance over time without causing failures or unforeseen problems. A reliable transformer is important to ensure continuous, safe, and reliable operation to avoid operational problems or failures of the transformer or specific functions. Small icon on reliability

The load capacity of a transformer refers to its ability to deliver a specified load current or power for an extended period of time without overheating or being damaged. Load capacity depends on the design of the transformer and the quality of the materials from which it is made. In addition, load capacity is strongly related to reliability. When a transformer is overloaded, this can lead to overheating and damage, which can affect the reliability of the transformer. Small icon to resilience

Safety describes that the device works permanently and smoothly and it does not pose any danger to nature, people and their surroundings. In addition, it also means that maintenance can be performed without any danger. Small icon for safety

Efficiency is a measure of how well a system or process works to achieve a specific goal with available resources. High efficiency means that the system or process wastes few resources and can achieve the desired result with minimal losses. Small icon for efficiency

Energy savings and cost reduction

Energy-efficient winding equipment is designed to minimize energy consumption. In an industry where energy demand is high, even minor savings can result in significant cost reductions. Systems equipped with energy-efficient winding goods use less power, reducing operating costs while reducing environmental impact.

In general, inductive components such as transformers, reactors and filters are already highly efficient. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement, which can positively influence the energy efficiency of a product.

Our engineers are very competent in this field and will help you to design the product according to your design criteria in an optimal way, but also in a very sustainable and resource-saving way. Bächli has its own series for this purpose, the Smart-E-Power® product line. It is the solution approach for maximum efficiency. The products stand out due to the smallest possible efficiency losses. This reduces operating costs to a minimum and massively lowers CO₂ emissions.

No-load losses occur in the transformer when no electrical energy is drawn from the connected loads. The transformer is said to be running or operating at no load. No-load losses are effective 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and just 1W less results in a saving of approximately 8.7kWh. The Smart-E-Power® variant has significantly lower power losses, this can result in up to 40% lower no-load losses per year. This means that with the Smart-E-Power® variant a lot of energy can be saved within one year of operation.

With the help of a calculation example, it is easy to explain why the Smart-E-Power® line makes a lot of sense.

Smart-E-Power® products are characterized by the lowest possible efficiency losses: They achieve an efficiency of over 99%, starting from a design power of 25 kVA for 50/60Hz transformers. This reduces maintenance costs to a minimum.

If you install two 50 kVA transformers in a train, these have 2'000 operating hours per year and are in use for 35 years, this results in a saving in energy costs of CHF 561'600. And a saving in CO2 emissions of 2065 tons of CO2. Considering that not only one train is equipped, but usually a whole fleet, this is a great opportunity to do something good for the environment and to save a lot of money.

The Bächli engineers will also be happy to calculate the savings for your inquiries. You can already try this out on the homepage https://www.baechli.com/nachhaltigkeitsrechner is a sustainability calculator, which can calculate the CO2 savings and the savings in energy costs.

The rail industry is constantly evolving, and future innovations require adaptable technologies. Energy-efficient winding products can be easily integrated into new systems, making them future-proof. They help the rail industry meet the challenges of new technologies and rising energy efficiency standards.

The use of energy-efficient winding materials in the rail industry is an important step towards a more efficient, sustainable and high-performance future. This technology combines cost-effectiveness with environmental awareness and helps the rail industry adapt to the demands. It is not only a benefit for companies, but also for society and the environment.