POWER SUPPLY FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION DRIVES

Abstract

For more than a decade, the railway has experienced a renaissance in many countries after several years of decay. The main reasons for the renewed interest in the railway are environmental, economical, and safety related. This has quite naturally, in turn, increased the interest in railway associated research. Both passenger and freight transports on railway are increasing. In order to cope with this increase, large railway infrastructure investments are expected. An important part of this infrastructure is the railway power supply system – without it, only the weaker and less energy efficient steam and diesel locomotives could be used. The demand depends upon the train speed that in turn is related to a number of factors categorized by system operation conditions. The former includes traction equipment characteristics, track layout, signaling and speed restrictions whilst the latter covers the positions of trains, headway, traffic pattern and drivers‟ behavior. As if it were not complicated enough, a train might become a generator should regenerative braking be possible. As a result, the study of traction power supply system becomes the major focus for many researchers recently.