Electrification and Power Supply

Andrea NardinocchiTechnological Design Department

Italferr S.p.A., Rome, Italy

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RAILWAY POWER SUPPLY

• Electrification systems in Europe

• Electrification design criteria – Standard ofInteroperability

• Italian High Speed line example

• Power supply for signalling

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Railway power supply: an integrated system to feed the train

HV POWER LINES SUBSTATIONS CONTACT LINE

REMOTE COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM

TO GUARANTEE A GOOD OPERATION

TRAIN

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greater power/locomotive weight ratio;

less pollution; electricity may also beobtained from renewable sources;

lower locomotive maintenance, personneland energy costs;

greater acceleration and therefore fastercommercial speed with the same maximumspeed.

Main advantages: electrical versus diesel traction

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European electrification systems for conventional lines

3.000 V d.c.

1.500 V d.c.

25 kV 50 Hz

750 V d.c.

15 kV 16.7 Hz

Not electrified

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European electrification systems for high speed lines

25kV ac 50 Hz started in France anddeveloped in Belgium, Spain and Italysupplied directly from the high voltagenational provider network at industrialloads frequency;

15kV 16 2/3 Hz developed in Germanyand supplied from dedicated high voltagenetwork at “railway frequency”

Both of these systems are referred to the Technical Specification of Interoperability (TSI) forEnergy Systems issued by the European Union

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Electrification design criteria

TSI of the energy subsystem defines the main features of the electrictraction system in order to be certified as interoperable.

The main aspects to be evaluated in the electrical design should be:

• Quality of the power collection and voltage to thetrain during operation

• Quality of mechanical interaction between contactline and train pantograph at rated speed

• Reliability, availability during operation• Maintainability and management of the electrical

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Quality of the power collectionThe quality of the power collection during operation should be evaluated withthe voltage values calculated by integrated simulation programs based onthe train circulation

Voltage CalculationPower absorbed by Train

Voltage Limits

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Quality of mechanical interactionThe quality of mechanical behaviour of the contact line with the train runs atmaximum rated speed should be simulated and measured before operation

Interaction force between overheadcontact line and pantograph

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Reliability, Availability during operationThe Reliability and Availability of the system have to guarantee normaloperation in case of substation or a part of the supply system fault

Redundancy of the powersupply system architecturein case of one substationout of service

Redundancy of thesubstation plant in case onecomponent is out of service

ESS 1 ESS 2 ESS 3 ESS 4 ESS 5 ESS 6

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