Enhancing Energy Efficiency of 25 kV Traction Power System Due to Balancing Current Decrease

This article is devoted to improving the energy efficiency of the traction power supply system AC 25 kV by reducing the balancing current. The balancing current flows in the traction network at the occurrence of the difference of the vectors of voltages on adjacent substations. The model of traction network is developed in the software complex MatLab/Simulink. This model allows to make calculations of power losses from balancing currents. The article considers the influence of the location of the electric rolling stock on the value of the voltage difference at adjacent substations and power losses. The article analyzes the known devices and methods to reduce the balancing current. The authors proposed a device with a booster transformer located at the post of sectioning the contact network. The device determines the voltage at the substations using phasor measurement unit. The estimated payback period of the proposed device is 2 years.