Traction Power Distribution Systems
Increasingly railway operating companies are switching from high carbon emission diesel traction to cleaner electric traction locomotives. The power supplies and distribution for these railway systems is an area where significant opportunities exist for refinement with the use of sophisticated energy management and control systems.
The opportunity for seamless solid state switching of track section supplies to reduce high voltage catenary / third rail losses, improved railway safety, controlled voltage regulation, and solid state ultra fast fault clearance and reconnect should not be overlooked. Easy integration with central control systems for power flow control, regenerative braking energy recovery, and load management means this new technology is readily adapted for this market as the railways are forced to adopt energy efficient technologies.
Traction Locomotives
With a requirement for increasingly sophisticated electric traction locomotives, a single step conversion from the typical 25kV catenary power supply to DC traction motors with control of voltage / load current would be beneficial.
Such a single step conversion can be accomplished with this patented topology. Integration of regenerative braking energy recovery is also possible with the addition of active rectification at the DC traction motors.
The Technology
In a patented topology using MOS gate switching devices and low loss high frequency ferrite cored transformer and inductor designs combined with programmable microcontroller, the problems of bulk and weight are addressed whilst adding the benefits of controllable and programmable performance.
The “Bi-Directional Cuk Converter” topology mimics conventional iron / copper transformers in electrical performance with reactive loads whilst allowing ultra fast short circuit / earth fault protection.
The programmable micro controller also allows for point on wave control of voltage / current transformation ratio, harmonic correction, zero crossing turn on / off, etc.
Stackable series or parallel modules allow for high voltage and / or high currents.
Key Benefits
Include:
- Programmable solid state fault detection and disconnection
- Programmable voltage / power control
- Smaller footprint
- Lighter weight
- Regenerative energy recovery braking
- Integration with power distribution control systems
- Single step conversion from HV to DC traction motor.
Intellectual Property
The technology is protected by patents in a number of territories worldwide, including the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and India.
Opportunity
Licenses are available for suitable industry partners to develop and market the technology worldwide.