ELECTRICAL

LOCOMOTIVES

Course: DIPLOMA
Subject: Electrical Traction and Control
Unit: I

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by
electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an onboard energy storage device such as a
chemical battery or fuel cell.

INTRODUCTION
Electricity is used to eliminate smoke and take advantage of the high efficiency of
electric motors; however, the cost of railway electrification means that usually only
heavily-used lines can be electrified.
the power for electric locomotives can come from clean and/or renewable
sources, including geothermalpower, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, solar
power and wind turbines.
Electric locomotives benefit from the high efficiency of electric motors, often
above 90%. Additional efficiency can be gained from regenerative braking, which
allows kinetic energy to be recovered during braking to put some power back on
the line. Newer electric locomotives use AC motor-inverter drive systems that
provide for regenerative braking.

BLOCK DIAGRAM

The various components of an ac locomotive

running on single-phase 25-kV, 50-Hz ac supply are
numbered in Fig.
As seen, power at 25 kV is taken via a pantograph
from the overhead contact wire and fed to the stepdown transformer in the locomotive.

The low ac voltage so obtained is converted into

pulsating dc voltage by means of the rectifier. The
pulsations in the dc voltage are then removed by the
smoothing choke before it is fed to dc series traction
motors which are mounted between the wheels.

The function of circuit breakers is to immediately

disconnect the locomotive from the overhead supply in
case of any fault in its electrical system. The on-load
tap-changer is used to change the voltage across the
motors and hence regulate their speed.

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

Electric locomotive of the Baltimore Belt

Line, 1895.

AC locomotive in Valtellina (1898-1902).

Power supply: 3-phase 15 Hz AC, 3000 V.

AC LOCOMOTIVE

TYPES OF ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

Rechargeable energy storage systems, as battery or ultracapacitor
powered mining locomotives.
A stationary source, such as a third rail or overhead wire.
This is in marked contrast to a diesel-electric locomotive, which combines an onboard diesel
engine with an electrical power transmission or store (battery, ultracapacitor) system.

The type of electrical power used, either alternating current or direct current.
The method for store (batteries, ultracapacitors) or collecting (transmission) electrical power.
The means used to mechanically couple the traction motors to the driving wheels (drivers).

DC AND AC CURRENT
The most fundamental difference lies in
the choice of direct (DC) or alternating
current (AC).
Direct current locomotives typically run at
relatively low voltage (600 to 3,000 volts);
the equipment is therefore relatively
massive because the currents involved are
large in order to transmit sufficient power.
Power must be supplied at frequent
intervals as the high currents result in
large transmission system losses.
AC traction seldom uses two-phase lines
in place of single phase lines. The
transmitted three-phase current
drives induction motors, which do not
have sensitive commutators and permit
easy realisation of a regenerative brake.
Speed is controlled by changing the
number of pole pairs in the stator circuit
and by switching additional resistors in the
rotor circuit.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

1. According to O-Keating's The Electric Engine, the major advantage of the electric locomotive
engine over diesel engine is that electric engine uses a rather simple and straightforward
technology.
2. The electric engine pulls power directly from the power grid and requires only a transformer
and a regulator to bring down the power to acceptable levels.
3. Electric engines are lightweight, constituting only motors and wheel axles, and have almost no
moving parts.
4. The simple nature of the electric engine makes them efficient and powerful. Electric engines do
not produce much heat and noise, meaning that most of the energy produces converts into
foreword motion.
5. Electric engines are therefore easier to maintain whereas the moving parts of a diesel engine
require constant maintenance.
6. A major commercial consideration for railways to prefer electric locomotive engines to diesel
locomotive engines is cost and availability of diesel. Diesel is an expensive non-renewable fuel
source whereas electricity is a cheaper and infinite source of energy.
7. The major disadvantage of the electric locomotive engine compared to the diesel locomotive
engine is the requirement for power supply in the form of overhead electric lines.
8. The capital cost of laying 5 to 6 kilometers of traction wires is equivalent to the cost of a new
diesel locomotive.
9. In addition to the cost and difficulties of installing overhead power lines and sub-stations to
supply power, the possibility of disruption of train services is always a live concern for the
following reasons:
power disruption
damage to the overhead lines or posts supporting the electric lines
The pentograph on top of the locomotive not making proper contact with the electric wires