Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

SYNOPSIS

Eventual migrations of D.C. tractions system has let the use of

Microprocessor and power electronics devices for starting and control operations

D.C. motors. Motor are afforded in tractions system for superior speed and starting

control. Replacing these D.C. motors by three phase A.C. motor with frequency

and voltage control will reduce the current requirement at good power factor and

better efficiency.

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

1.INTRODUCTION

Act of drawing or state of being drawn propulsion of vehicle is

called tractions. And the system of tractions involving the use of electricity is

called the electric tractions. There are various system of traction prevailing in our

country such as steam engine drive, electric drive. These system of tractions may

be classified broadly in to groups namely

1) The tractions system which do not involve the use of electricity at any stage and

called the non-electric tractions system such as steam engine drive IC engine

drive. etc.

2) The tractions system which involves the use of electricity at same stage or the

other and called the electric tractions. System such a diesel electric drive, electric

drive etc.

Electric tractions was first introduced by British railway in 1890 at

600 V D.C. Using a third rail system. Because of fraught with danger to life this

system was not considered desirable. This operating voltage was increased form

1.5 KV D.C. to 3 KV D.C. and then to 25 KV A.C. up to 1959. Finally 1959 the

first actual train run by using 25 KV A.C. Hence India took the phinge from 600V

D.C. to 25KV A.C. electric tractions up to 1960 which uses D.C. tractions motor.

A step ahead this paper gives use of three phase inductions motor as a tractions

motor.

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

2.ELECTRIFICATION OF TRACTIONS MOTOR

In India first electrifications was under taken during 1925 to 1952.

Transmissions of power through A.C. lines is always along the traction by means

of an over head wire. Overth collector with certain advantages uses the pentograph

collector.

In India electrification are conducted with 4 types of locomotives.

1. Using single phase A.C. series commutator motor.

2. Using D.C. motor from tapped transformer and rectifier.

3. Using grid control on rectifier.

4. Using phase converter and inductions motor.

EXISTING TRACTIONS SYSTEM

Existing tractions system uses D.C. motors. The 25 KV over head

collector is step down to 2000V with the help of step down transformer. Rectifier

rectifies this A.C. voltage to D.C. voltage. This rectified D.C. voltage is used to

operate the D.C. motors in existing system engine are use for the good trains and

the passenger train heavier load on good trains, motor are started at a reduced

achieved with the help of gear mechanisms and thus train gradually.

Also the disadvantages of D.C. series motor used in system.

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

1) D.C. series motor are less costly however for some H.P. more efficient and

requires less maintenance than A.C. series motor.

2) A.C. system has interference than A.C. series motor and A.C. system has high

interference with communications lies than D.C. system.

3) Rail conductor system of track electrifications which is less costly, is possible

with D.C. system than with A.C. system.

4) A.C. system produces unbalanced supply system of two types

a) Current unbalanced

b) Voltage unbalanced

5) D.C. motors commutator which are prove to failure because of vibrations and

shock. This results in lots of sparking and corrosion.

6) It is hard to use a D.C. motor for regenerative breaking and for purpose and

extra switchgear is required, which adds to the bulks and increases the

complexity of the locomotives.

So that’s why it becomes necessary to think on these disadvantages.

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

Generating Grid Sub- Tractions

station Feeding OHE
Substations
Station Post

Pentograph

DJ

Traction Smoothi Rectifi Transf On load tap

s motor ng er ormer changer
chock

Auxilliary
equipment
To neutral

Railway
track

Block diagram of 25KV A.C. locos

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

3.FUTURE TRENDS FOR INDIAN RAILWAY SYSTEM

This short coming from this overcome by using three phase A. C.

motor in locomotive microprocessor technology and availability efficient and

compact power components have give a new technology for A.C. locomotive. In

three phase A.C. locos. The single phase input signal from overhead equipment is

rectified then three phase, A.C. is generated with the help of three phase inverter.

Whose phase voltage and frequency can be manipulated widely. The three phase

induction motor are simple and robust in construction and have a high operating

efficiency and properly of automatic regenerative breaking with requiring

additional equipment.

There are three main stages in power circuit of three phases

locomotive.

1) Input converter

This rectifies AC from catenary to as specified de voltage using

GTO thyristors. A trans- former section stepdown the voltage from the 25 KV

input. It has filter and circuitory to provide a fairly smooth and stable dc output, at

the some time attempting to ensure good power factor. The input converter can be

configured to present different power factor to power supply.

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

25 KV Overhead line

Pantograph

C.B

25 KV/200V Rectifier Circuit

Filler
circuit

Filler
circuit

Axle Brush

Power circuit using D.C. traction motors

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

25 KV overhead line

Pantograph

Main
Auxiliary Inverter
Circuit

Three phase AC motors Main Axle brush A.C.

transformer motor

Power circuit using A.C. traction motors

2) DC link

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

This is essentially a bank of capacitor and inductor or active filter

circuitory to further smooth. The DC from previous stage and also to trap

harmonies generated by drive converter and traction motors. The capacitor bank in

this section provides a small amount of re- serve power in transient situations.

3) Drive converter

This is basically an inverter which consist of three thyristors based

components that switch on and off at precise times under the control of a

microprocessor. The three components produce three phase of A.C. The

microprocessor controller can vary the switching of thyristors and there by

produce A.C. of wide range of frequency and voltage.

4.USE OF INSULATED GATE BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR IN

CONVERTER (IGBT'S)

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

IGBT's provides nigh switching speeds for finer control over the

waveforms generated instead of GTO'S, IGBT is can he used because of following

advantages.

1) It does not need high current for turned "ON" and "OFF".

2) It can handle 1000 Amp. of current and can be used for train application.

3) It can switched faster as compared to GTO'S.

4) Current required for IGBT'S is small and therefore heat generated is smaller

and it uses smaller and lighter unit.

5.ADVANTAGES OF 25 KV A.C. LOCOS

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

1) Three Phase Induction AC motor do not use commutator.

2) Trouble free operation.

3) Less maintenance.

4) High Voltage operation needed reduce amount of current.

5) Automatic regenerative braking is applied.

6) Because of simple construction, the rotor can resist better centrifugal

forces then that of D.C. motors.

7) As it draws small current. Copper less get reduced and more power can be

produced. Hence efficiency in high.

8) Good overall power factor.

CONCLUSION

From the above study it can be conclude that :

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

The performance of A.C. Railway traction system is quite

satisfactory. They offer varies advantages over the other traction system such as

steam engine drive, I.C. engine drive , diesel engine drive etc. As we know that

reservoirs of coal and mineral oils are scantly, the use of steam engine and diesel is

limited and unprofitable considering the fuel cost. So the A.C. railway proves very

precious thing and gives very satisfactory performance as compared to other

traction system.

1) Use of AC locomotives provides a better operation in traction system then

that of D.C. locos.

2) Use of Insulated gate bipolar transistor improves the starting of D.C.

locos.

REFERENCES

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 Future Trends in Technology for Locomotive Traction

1) Modern electric traction - H. Pratab

2) Traction manual book - Bhusawal training institute of railways

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