CHAPTER 1

1. INTRODUCTION
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from an external
source. Sources include overhead lines, third rail, or an on-board electricity storage
device such as a battery, flywheel system, or fuel cell.
One advantage of electrification is the lack of pollution from the locomotives
themselves. Electrification also results in higher performance, lower maintenance
costs, and lower energy costs for electric locomotive.
Power plants, even if they burn fossil fuels, are far cleaner than mobile sources such
as locomotive engines. Also the power for electric locomotives can come from clean
and/or renewable sources, including geothermal power, hydroelectric power, nuclear
power, solar power, and wind turbines. Electric locomotives are also quiet compared
to diesel locomotives since there is no engine and exhaust noise and less mechanical
noise. The lack of reciprocating parts means that electric locomotives are easier on
track, reducing track maintenance.
Power plant capacity is far greater than what any individual locomotive uses, so
electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they
can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration. Electric
locomotives are ideal for commuter rail service with frequent stops. They are used on
high-speed lines, such as ICE in Germany, Acela in the US, Shinkansen in Japan and
TGV in France. Electric locomotives are also used on freight routes that have a
consistently high traffic volume, or in areas with advanced rail networks.
Electric locomotives benefit from the high efficiency of electric motors, often above
90%. Additional efficiency can be gained from regenerative braking, which allows
kinetic energy to be recovered during braking to put some power back on the line.
Newer electric locomotives use AC motor inverter drive systems that provide for
regenerative braking.

1
 CHAPTER 2

2. ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEM

2.1 Basic definition
(a) Traction System: Propulsion of vehicle is called is traction.
Or
The action of drawing or pulling something over a surface, especially a road or track.
(b) Electric Traction:
The system which use electrical power for traction system i.e. for railways,
trams, trolleys, etc. is called electrical traction. The track electrification refers to the
type of source supply system that is used while powering the electric locomotive
systems. It can be AC or DC or a composite supply.
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 main
line services, etc.
2.2 Ideal traction system
• High starting tractive effort in order to have rapid acceleration.
• Self contained and compact locomotive (train unit) so that it may be able to run
on any rout.
• Equipment capable of withstanding large temporary overloads.
• Minimum wear on the track.
• Braking should be such that minimum wear is caused on the brake shoes, and if
possible
the energy should be regenerated and returned to the supply.
• Equipment required should be minimum, high efficiency, low initial and
maintenance

cost.

• No interference to the communication line running along the track.

• Easy speed control.

• It should be pollution free.

2
2.3 Types of electrification systems
The three main types of electric traction systems that exist are as follows:
1. Direct Current (DC) electrification system
2. Alternating Current (AC) electrification system
3. Composite system.
1. DC Electrification System
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 through two different ways:
a. 3rd and 4 the rail system operate at low voltages (600-1200V)
b. Overhead rail systems use high voltages (1500-3000V)
The supply systems of DC electrification include:
a. 300-500V supply for the special systems like battery systems.
b. 600-1200V for urban railways like tramways and light metro trains.
c. 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.

3
Advantages:
a. In case of heavy trains that require frequent and rapid accelerations, DC
traction motors are better choice as compared AC motors.
b. DC train consumes less energy compared to AC unit for operating same
service conditions.
c. The equipment in DC traction system is less costly, lighter and more efficient
than AC traction system.
d. It causes no electrical interference with nearby communication lines.
Disadvantages:
1. Expensive substations are required at frequent intervals.
2. The overhead wire or third rail must be relatively large and heavy.
3. Voltage goes on decreasing with increase in length.
2. AC Electrification System
An 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 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 main line 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.

4
 Three phase system uses three phase induction motor to drive the locomotive,
and it is rated at 3.3KV, 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;
1. Fewer substations are required.
2. Lighter overhead current supply wire can be used.
3. Reduced weight of support structure.
4. Reduced capital cost of electrification.
Disadvantages;
1. Significant cost of electrification.
2. Increased maintainance cost of lines.
3. Overhead wires further limit clearance in tunnels.
4. Upgrading needs additional cost especially in case there are brigdes and
tunnels.
5. Railway traction needs immune power with no cuts.
3. Composite 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).

5
2.4 Traction Motors

The three main types of traction motors that are in existence are:

1. DC series motor
2. Single phase AC series motor
3. 3 phase induction motor

6
 CHAPTER 3

3. Main Parts of AC Electric Locomotive

The figure below shows the block diagram of an AC locomotive system that
employs single phase supply to drive three phase motor.
The various components of this system include overhead contact wire, circuit
breakers, pantograph, transformer, three phase traction motor, rectifier, inverter,
smoothing reactor, etc.

Pantograph:
The main function of pantograph is to maintain link between overhead conductor and
power circuit of locomotive at different speeds of the vehicle under all wind
conditions. It collects the current from overhead conductor and supplies to rest circuit.
Circuit Breaker:
It protects the power circuit in the event of any fault by isolating it from the supply. It
also isolates the circuit during maintenance.
Transformer:
It receives the high voltage from overhead conductor via pantograph and circuit
breaker and then step-down the voltage to desired level required by the rest circuit.
Rectifier:
It converts a low voltage AC supply from the secondary of transformer to a DC
supply.
DC Link:

It connects the rectifier and inverter circuits. It consists of filter arrangement

(capacitor and inductor arrangement) that filters the output from rectifier (by
removing the harmonics form it) and then supplies it to the inverter.

7
Main Inverter:
It converts the DC power to three phase AC power in order to drive three phase AC
motors.
Axle Brush:
It acts as a return path for the supply. Once the power is drawn to the locomotive from
overhead system, the current complete its path through axle brush and one of running
tacks.
Auxiliary Inverter:
This inverter supplies the power to other parts in the locomotive unit including fans,
motor blowers, compressors, etc.
Battery:
It supplies the necessary starting current and also power up the essential circuits such
as emergency lighting.
Compressor:
It maintains the cooling/heating requirement in the locomotive unit.
Cooling Fans:
These fans maintain the necessary cooling for the power circuits. Modern locomotive
systems use electronically controlled air management systems to keep the desired
temperature.

8
 CHAPTER 4

4. CURRENT COLLECTORS
Current from the overhead wire is collected with the help of sliding contact
collector mounted on the roof of the vehicle is called as Current Collector.
Types of current collectors:
1. Trolley collector
2. Bow collector
3. Pantograph collector
1. Trolley collector:
 The trolley collector is generally employed with tramways and trolley buses.
 This consists of grooved gun metal wheel or grooved slider with carbon insert
carried at the end of a long pole. The other end of this pole is hinged to a
swiveling base fixed to the roof of the vehicle.
 Draw back particularly with trolley collector is that there poor contact between
wheel and trolley wire, it can’t be operated in either direction of motion.
 The trolley collector is suitable for comparative low speed (24 to 32 kmph)
beyond this speed there is every possibility of its jumping off the trolley wire.

2. Bow Collector:
 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.
 In order to avoid jumping off the trolley wire at high speeds, it is desired that
the wire be accurately located above the track and staggered about 15 cm to
each side of center line to avoid the wearing of the groove in the contact strip.

9
3. Pantograph Collector:
 The pantograph is employed in railways for collection of current where the
operating speed is as high as 100 or 130 kmph and the currents to be collected
are as large as 2000 0r 3000 A.
 Pantographs are mounted on the roof of the vehicles and usually carry sliding
shoe for contact with the overhead trolley wire.
 The contact shoes are usually about 1.2 meter long. There may be a single
shoe or two shoes on each pantograph.
 Materials used for pantograph is often steel with sometimes, wearing used
plates of copper or bronze inserted.
 The pressure varies from 5 to 15 kg. The pantograph raised from the driver
cabin by one of the following methods or with some modifications of it.
 Advantages over other types of the collectors:
i) It can operate in either direction of motion.
ii)There is no risk of leaving wire junction etc.
iii)The erection of the overhead network is very simple due to absence of points and
grooved crossings required for bows.
iv)Its height can be varied from the drivers cabin by carrying out sample operations.

10
 CHAPTER 5

CATENARY SYSTEM & BRAKING SYSTEM

5.1 Catenary System:

Trolley Wire or Contact Wire:
Suspended with minimum of sag so that contact between the contact wire and
current collector can be maintained at higher speeds.
Catenary:
A catenary is a system of overhead wires used to supply electricity to a
locomotive that is equipped with a pantograph.
• Two types of catenary construction is used:
1. Single catenary
2. Compound catenary
1. Single catenary construction:
 For speeds upto 120Kmph
 Span of catenary wire:45 – 90m
 Sag of 1 - 2m
 Relatively cheaper
 Less maintenance
2. Compound Catenary :
 For speed ranges upto 190 – 224Kmph
 Intermediate wire is used to increase current carrying capacity.

11
5.2 BRAKING SYSTEM
The process of reducing speed of any moving machine. Braking is classified in
to three types:
1. Plugging
2. Rheostat Braking
3. Regenerating Breaking
From the above three regenerating braking system is mostly used in
electrical traction system.
Regenerating Braking:
The motors become generators and feed the resulting current back into the supply
system.
A train could use its motors to act as generators and that this would provide some
braking effect if a suitable way could be found to dispose of the energy.
Trains were designed therefore, which could return current, generated during braking,
t thr supply system for use by other trains.

12
 CHAPTER 6
6 CONCLUSION
No single motor is ideal for traction purposes, but DC series motors are most
suitable for this work. Power electronics has been restored to in a major way for
conversion and control operations. Regenerative braking is most efficient for electric
traction purpose. The use of electric locomotives primarily came in order to reduce
problems of smoke pollution. Though electric locomotives are more efficient than
other , electrification of railway lines is expensive. For this reason electric
locomotives are used mainly for busy passenger lines.

13