Simulation of non-sinusoidal modes in railway power supply systems during movement of high-speed trains

Abstract

Rectifier locomotives have non-linear current-voltage characteristics and generate higher harmonics (HH) in the power supply networks, which is accompanied by the following negative effects: reduced equipment service life, distortion of electricity metering, occurrence of resonant processes, etc. Therefore, the problem of reducing the levels of harmonic distortion in the networks adjacent to the traction substations of the AC railways is of increased relevance. The level of HH generation depends on the design features of electric locomotives. Electric stock with zone-and-phase regulation creates high harmonic distortions, which results in increased losses, increased electromagnetic effects on adjacent power and telecommunication lines and reduced reliability of power supply. Electric locomotives with asynchronous traction motors (ATM) connected via 4q – S converters virtually do not distort the sinusoidality of the current curve. To measure the degree of reduction of harmonic distortion during the movement of locomotives with ATM, simulation modeling of non-sinusoidal modes of a typical 25 kV traction power supply system was carried out for two variants of the locomotives used: 1) VL-80R with DC motors; 2) UTY –1 with asynchronous traction motors. The methodology for determining non-sinusoidal modes is based on the technology of modeling electric power systems (EPS) in phase coordinates; at the same time, the models of EPS elements were formed as lattice schemes characterized by a fully connected topology. The parameters of these circuits can be recalculated to the frequencies of HH. The proposed approach is universal and can be used to study non-sinusoidal modes in existing and future traction power supply systems. The simulation results showed that the problem of increased harmonic distortion in the networks feeding the traction substations can be completely solved by replacing the acting locomotives with new-generation electric locomotives with asynchronous electric drives and four-quadrant converters.