Transformers

Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to

reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.
Transformers
Power transmission is most economically performed at high voltage so as to
reduce the current
and hence reduce the size of costly conductors. The standard that has emerged
for AC electrified
railways is 25000V (25kV) at 50 Hz, however this is too high for direct use on a
locomotive or
EMU. An on board transformer is therefore used to step this voltage down to a
more practical
working level. On locomotives, the transformer has most often been mounted
inside the body, while
on Class 91 it is on the underframe, as it is usually found on EMUs. It is this
component that gives
rise to the steady hum on AC vehicles, just as much smaller transformers can
also cause a similar
hum in mains operated domestic appliances.
On early AC stock, the various steps in voltage to control the motors, were
obtained by having a
range of tappings on the transformer. A mechanism known as a tap changer
would then select the
appropriate tap as the driver accelerates the train.
In more recent years, transformer outputs have become fixed with voltage control
being done
electronically (see later) thereby giving significant simplification to the transformer
with consequent
reduction in maintenance requirements and improvements in reliability.