Module 1 Updated
Module 1 Updated
Module I
Electric Traction
Presented by
Dr. V. Karthikeyan
Assistant Professor
High starting torque : Uses of D.C & A.C series motor- very high starting
torque.
The DC System
In this system, D.C. series motors used for getting the necessary motive power, D.C. compound motors are also used for
tramways and trolley buses where regenerative braking can be utilized.
The operating voltage is from 600 V to 750 V for tramway and suburban railways and from 1500 V to 3000 V for main
line service.
The distribution system consists of one contact wire in case of tramways and two contact wires in case of trolley buses.
The spacing of sub-stations depends upon the operating voltage and the traffic density of the route.
Advantages Disadvantages
1. DC series motor has better speed torque 1. This system has high cost of sub-
characteristics and smooth speed control. station due to converting equipments.
2. It offers high starting torque. 2. More number of sub-stations is
required as they are spaced at shorter
3. It has low maintenance cost.
distance.
4. Smaller weight per kW output.
3. Additional equipments like negative
5. Batter speed control. boosters are also required to maintain
6. Efficient braking system. return voltage within specified limit
V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC 6
Single Phase AC System
In single phase AC system ac series motors are used for getting necessary motive power.
The voltage employed for distribution network is 15 to 25 kV at 6 2 or 25 Hz, which is stepped
down on locomotive to a low voltage suitable for supplying to single ac series motor.
The spacing of substation is 50 to 80 km.
The change of supply frequency become necessary because of Better performance.
Improves its commutation properties, power factor and efficiency.
Reduces the line reactance.
AC single phase system is invariably adopted for main line service
In this system 3-phase induction motor operating at 300 to 3600 V and low frequency are
employed for getting the required motive power
The 3-phase induction motor is Drawbacks:
Simple Low starting torque
In this system single phase high voltage (25 kV) at normal supply frequency is used to
distribute power.
The locomotive which carries a phase convertor which converts single phase AC to three-
phase AC. The three-phase power is then fed to three-phase induction motors for getting
necessary motive force.
In this system only one contact wire of overhead system which is overcome the disadvantage
of 3 phase AC system.
This system was adopted in Hungary in 1932. 9
The kando system (single phase to three phase
system)
In this system of track electrification single phase AC 25 kV at normal frequency is fed to overhead
distribution.
The AC locomotive carries transformer to step down high input voltage and rectifying equipments to
convert AC into DC This system is adopted in India for track electrification.
This system becomes most popular because of various salient advantages over other systems
particularly DC system.
This system has got numerous advantages over dc system.
The line current for a given demand of power is reduced on account of high system voltage
On account of high voltage the substations can be spaced at longer distances (50 to 80 km)
whereas the substations are spaced at 12 to 30 km in case of 3000 V DC system and at 5 to 12
km in case of 1500 V DC system.
Since the dc series motors having ideal traction characteristics are employed in this system for
getting the required propelling power, therefore, this system have got the advantages of the dc
system.
V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC 12
Single Phase AC - DC System
Overhead conductor:
This is the overhead conductor running along the track
through which high voltage AC (22 to 25 kV) is supplied
from traction substation and fed to the locomotive.
Pantograph:
It is a current collecting device mounted on the roof of
locomotive. It collects the required power from overhead
conductor and feds to locomotive.
Circuit Breaker:
The circuit breaker is a protective device for locomotive
equipments. It is mounted on the roof of locomotive. The
function of circuit breaker is to make the supply ON and
OFF both in normal and faulty condition.
On load Tap changer:
The on-load tap changer is a speed regulating devices of
motors. It regulates motor speed by varying voltage from
input side of the transformer.
Transformer:
The transformer is used to step down the line voltage from
25 kV to 1500 V or required voltage to run the traction
motor.
The tap changer is directly built on to the transformer. The tapings of the transformers are
brought out and arranged in circular fashion on an insulated contact plate.
There are two rows of contact segments which are aligned on outer and inner circles of the
contact plate.
An arm which is known as selector arm is driven by shaft at the centre of the contact plate.
Two rollers are situated at the edge of the selector arm. These rings are provided in front of
the contact plate.
The centre shaft which extends outside the tap changer casing is driven by an air servomotor.
The design of the air servo motor is such that once the selector arm begins its movement, it
can be stopped only at the required tap (not in between two taps).
The connection between the inner or outer ring to the transformer is being established by
means of a contactor.
The bow collector is also employed for collecting the current with
tramways.
The bow collector consists of light metal strip or bow 0.6 to 0.9
meter wide pressing against the trolley wire and attached to a
framework mounted on the roof of vehicle.
The contact shoes are usually about 1.2 meter long. There may (i) It can operate in either direction of motion.
be a single shoe or two shoes on each pantograph. (ii) There is no risk of leaving wire junction etc.
(iii) The erection of the overhead network is very simple due
Material used for pantograph is often steel with sometimes,
to absence of points and grooved crossings required for bows.
wearing used plates of copper or bronze inserted.
(iv) Its height can be varied from the drivers cabin by carrying
The pressure varies from 5 to 15 kg. The pantograph is raised out simple operations
or lowered from the driver cab by one of the following methods
or with some modification of it.
. V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC 22
Typical speed-time curve for Main line service
The Curve drawn between Speed and Time, taking Speed in km/hr on Y-axis and Time in Sec or min on X-
axis is known as speed-time curve.
It’s give complete information of the motion of the train. (Distance=Speed × Time)
Speed time curve mainly consists of
Acceleration.
Free Run or Constant Speed Run.
Coasting.
Retardation or Braking.
Coasting
At the end of free running period (t3 to t4), power supply is cut off and the train is
allowed to run under its own momentum.
The speed of train starts decreasing on account of resistance to the motion of train.
The rate of decrease of speed during coasting period is known as coasting retardation.
At the end of coasting period (t4 to t5), the brakes are applied to bring the train to rest.
During this period speedV.decreases rapidly and finally reduces to zero.
Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC 25
Typical speed-time curve for Suburban service
Suburban Service
Crest Speed
The maximum speed attained by the vehicle during the run is known as crest speed.
Average Speed
The distance covered between two stops divided by the actual time of run is known as
average speed.
Schedule Speed
The ratio of distance covered between two stops and total time of run including time of stop is
known as schedule speed.
V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC 28
Calculation by trapezoidal speed-time curve
Co-efficient of adhesion(µ)
Maximum friction force between driving wheel and
track=µW Where, µ=co-efficient of adhesion
between driving wheel and track
W=Weight of train on driving axles
Motion of train without slipping
Depends upon
Friction between wheels and the rail
Co-efficient of adhesion (µ)
track.
Series-Parallel connection of Motor.
Speed of Response of drive.
Co-efficient of Adhesion Smoothness with which torque can be
controlled.
Nature of motor torque-speed
V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, NITC characteristics. 31
Starting and speed control of DC traction
Rheostatic Control motors
A series motor can be started by connecting as external resistance in series with the main circuit of motor. At
the starting instant, since the back emf developed by the motor is zero, therefore, the resistance connected in
series with the motor is maximum and is of such a value that the voltage drop across it with full load rated
current is equal to line voltage.
As motor speeds up, the back emf developed by the motor increases, therefore, the external resistance is
gradually reduced in order to maintain the current constant throughout the starting or accelerating period.
The resistors employed are designed for short-time rating and not for continuous rating as they are required to
carry current only during starting of motors. The motor can, therefore, have only one speed characteristics.
Electrical braking.
Plugging.
Rheostatic or dynamic braking.
Regenerative braking.
Mechanical braking.
Compressed air brakes
Vacuum brakes
Hydraulic brakes
DC Motor
Regenerative braking takes place whenever the speed of the motor exceeds
the synchronous speed. This baking method is called regenerative baking
because here the motor works as generator and supply itself is given power
from the load, i.e. motors.
The main criteria for regenerative braking is that the rotor has to rotate at a
speed higher than synchronous speed, only then the motor will act as a
generator and the direction of electric current flow through the circuit and
direction of the torque reverses and braking takes place.
The only disadvantage of this type of braking is that the motor has to run at
super synchronous speed which may damage the motor mechanically and
electrically, but regenerative braking can be done at sub synchronous speed if
the variable frequency source is available. 43
Practical Braking Structure
AC EMU
Over-saturation of the current network : All the major trunk routes of IR network is saturated beyond the
capacity it can handle. These routes are handling more than 150% of the trains they can handle. For
example, the Mughalsarai-New Delhi section which has a capacity of about 75 passenger trains per day is
operating about 160 trains per day. In such a scenario, there is no way that the trains can run on time. Same
is the case with Howrah-Mumbai, New Delhi-Chennai and other trunk routes.
Reason: Since independence, successive governments have kept on announcing new trains one after
another, but did not pay slightest attention to the expansion of infrastructure. It was necessary that major
trunk routes are augmented for capacity by tripling and quadrupling of lines, but none of the governments
paid attention to it. When the capacity is much more than a system can handle, delays are normal.
No major upgradation in infrastructure : The delays are often caused by multiple TSRs (Temporary
Speed Restriction) that are put on the railway networks due to damages and infrastructural problems. This
is due to outdated technology, poor maintenance and lackadaisical attitude when it comes to repairing
tracks, catenaries or signals. Rather than concrete work that would last long time, railways often indulge in
short term measures which is a typical sarkari ‘kaam-chalau’ attitude.
Congestion and bottlenecks at junctions : At major junctions (and their outskirts) like
Mughalsarai, Allahabad, Barauni, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Sealdah, Howrah, etc where tracks
from multiple sides converge or diverge, trains of only one route is generally given green
signal, and others are held at the outer. This is because of the architecture of how the tracks
have been laid. In developed railway networks, there are multiple bypasses, underpasses,
overpasses and loops to circumvent this problem. For instance, the tracks at railway station in
Berlin are at 3 levels, where trains from different sides enter/exit at different levels. while in
India, tracks are at ground level and all trains cannot be let in/out simultaneously as it will cause
collision at Crossing points (where tracks going to two different directions cross each other).