A novel balance method for determining the energy efficiency of electric traction networks

Modern electric traction networks (ETN) are equipped with automated systems for commercial accounting of power consumption (ASCAPC), which allows solving properly the problems of enhancing the energy efficiency of transportation processes. Energy efficiency of ETNs is defined as the amount of power losses in ETN components: overhead catenary systems and traction transformers. Due to the instability of traction loads and changes in their location in space, the electric traction network is different from the general network. It is necessary to develop an approach for loss analysis in traction networks and in transformers of traction substations. To solve this problem, a balance-based technique for power loss calculation in traction networks based on ASCAPC data is proposed. First, the balance-based technique presented here breaks down the power consumption of the train by source. Then, calculates technical power losses in 25 and 2 × 25 kV traction networks as well as in traction transformers. Last, the technique is implemented in the form of an algorithm tested on real-life data and it is ready for practical use.