Modern Locomotive Traction Drive Control Systems

The increasingly strict requirements that are being placed on transportation safety and traction rolling stock automation makes necessary the development of microprocessor-based control systems. Currently, a significant part of the locomotive fleet uses a rheostat–contactor traction motor control system that was developed more than a century ago, and the use of accelerating resistors is leading to significant losses of electricity. This control system functionality does not correspond to the current technological level. This paper considers the use of digital control systems for electric rolling stock and their advantages. It is shown that the use of digital technologies in the design of traction drive power converters will significantly increase the energy efficiency of the converters, reduce the number of components and increase the traction drive reliability.