A Potential 15 KVdc Catenary-Fed Rail Induction Motor Drive at 780 kW, 1.5-3 krpm: Preliminary Design and Key Fem Validation

Apart from the three types of rail power supplies in use -16.66 Hz, 15 kV single phase a.c., 50(60) Hz, 25 (27) kV single phase a.c. and 0.5-3 kVdc we hereby suggest, for interurban trains a 15 kVdc power supply in order to increase performance and reduce initial power electronics costs. In essence a 132 kV-15 kV 3 phase transformer and a fully controlled rectifier will directly supply the 15 kVdc catenary on ground to reduce power electronics costs while solving the existent input a.c. phase asymmetries, harmonics at unity input power factor. On the vehicle 1 (or multiple) voltage self-boosting inverter supplied directly from the 15 kVdc an induction motors for traction in units at 780 kW, 1.5-3 krpm are suggested, while for auxiliary a 15 kVdc to 500/300 Vdc insulated d.c.-d.c. converter is suggested. The present paper presents the above suggested scheme and the preliminary electromagnetic design of the proposed 780 kW, 1.5-3 krpm induction motor for traction with key FEM validation. Developments on the proposed system will be approached in subsequent papers.