Download Electric Traction Systems Seminar Report with PPT. The seminar report explains the Electric Traction System which is the most efficient of all other traction systems. The Electric Traction System PPT briefly discusses the Types, supply systems, traction motors, braking systems, advantages and disadvantages, and recent trends.
Electric Traction Systems Seminar Report
A traction system causes the propulsion of a vehicle in which tractive or driving force is obtained from various devices such as diesel engine drives, steam engine drives, electric motors, etc. The system which uses electrical power for traction systems i.e. for railways, trams, trolleys, etc. is called electrical traction. It can be AC or DC or a composite supply. Track electrification refers to the type of source supply system that is used while powering the electric locomotive systems.
Types of electric traction systems
Selecting the type of electrification depends on several factors like availability of supply, type of an application area, or on the services like urban, suburban and mainline services, etc.
The three main types of electric traction systems that exist are as follows:
- Direct Current (DC) electrification system
- Alternating Current (AC) electrification system
- Composite system.
Direct Current (DC) Electrification System
Direct current (DC) traction units use direct current drawn from either a conductor rail or an overhead line. AC voltage is converted into dc voltage by using a rectifier. The choice of selecting DC electrification system encompasses many advantages, such as space and weight considerations, rapid acceleration and braking of DC electric motors, less cost compared to AC systems, less energy consumption and so on. In this type of system, three-phase power received from the power grids is de-escalated to low voltage and converted into DC by the rectifiers and power-electronic converters.
This type of DC supply is supplied to the vehicle in two different ways:
- 3rd and 4 the rail system operate at low voltages (600-1200V)
- Overhead rail systems use high voltages (1500-3000V)
- 300-500V supply for special systems like battery systems.
- 600-1200V for urban railways like tramways and light metro trains.
- 1500-3000V for suburban and mainline services like light metros and heavy metro trains.
Due to high starting torque and moderate speed control, the DC series motors are extensively employed in the DC traction systems. They provide high torque at low speeds and low torque at high speeds.
Advantages of Direct Current (DC) Traction System
- In the case of trains that require frequent and rapid accelerations, DC traction motors are a better choice as compared to AC motors.
- DC train consumes less energy compared to AC unit for operating same service conditions.
- The equipment in the DC traction system is less costly, lighter and more efficient than AC traction system.
- It causes no electrical interference with nearby communication lines.
Disadvantages of Direct Current (DC) Traction System
- Expensive substations are required at frequent intervals.
- The overhead wire or third rail must be relatively large and heavy.
- Voltage goes on decreasing with an increase in length.
Alternating Current (AC) Electrification System
An Alternating Current (AC) traction system has become very popular nowadays, and it is more often used in most of the traction systems due to several advantages, such as quick availability and generation of AC that can be easily stepped up or down, easy controlling of AC motors, less number of substations requirement, and the presence of light overhead catenaries that transfer low currents at high voltages, and so on.
The supply systems of AC electrification include single, three phase, and composite systems. The Single phase systems consist of 11 to 15 KV supply at 16.7Hz, and 25Hz to facilitate variable speed to AC commutation motors. It uses the step-down transformer and frequency converters to convert from the high voltages and fixed industrial frequency.
The Single phase 25KV at 50Hz is the most commonly used configuration for AC electrification. It is used for heavy haul systems and mainline services since it doesn’t require frequency conversion. This is one of the widely used types of composite systems wherein the supply is converted to DC to drive DC traction motors.
A three-phase system uses a three-phase induction motor to drive the locomotive, and it is rated at 3.3.KV, 16.7Hz. The high-voltage distribution system at 50 Hz supply is converted to this electric motor rating by transformers and frequency converters. This system employs two overhead lines, and the track rail forms another phase, but this raises many problems at crossings and junctions.
Advantages of Alternating Current (AC) traction system
- Fewer substations are required.
- A lighter overhead current supply wire can be used.
- The reduced weight of support structure.
- The reduced capital cost of electrification.
- Disadvantages of Alternating Current (AC) traction system
- A significant cost of electrification.
- Increased maintenance cost of lines.
- Overhead wires further limit clearance in tunnels.
- Upgrading needs additional cost especially in case there are bridges and tunnels.
- Railway traction needs immune power with no cuts.
Composite Traction System
Composite System (or multi-system) trains are used to provide continuous journeys along routes that are electrified using more than one system. One way to accomplish this is by changing locomotives at the switching stations. These stations have overhead wires that can be switched from one voltage to another. Another way is to use multi-system locomotives that can operate under several different voltages and current types. In Europe, it is common to use four-system locomotives. (1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC, 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC, 25 kV 50 Hz AC).
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