Estimation of current distribution in the electric railway system in the EMTP-RV

• Published in: Electric power systems research 2018-09, Vol.162, p.83-88
• Main Authors: Milesevic, Bosko, Filipovic-Grcic, Bozidar, Uglesic, Ivo, Jurisic, Bruno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternating current; Conductors; Current distribution; Electric contacts; Electric power distribution; Electric railway; Electric wire; Electrical resistivity; Lightning; Power supply; Railway networks; Railways; Traction; Traction system
• ISSN: 0378-7796; 1873-2046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2018.05.004

•Current distribution in the electric traction system.•Modeling of electric traction system 25kV, 50Hz.•Calculation of induced voltage on sensitive telecommunication line.•Current distribution in case of lightning stroke to contact network. Current distribution in the electric traction system is an important factor regarding the electromagnetic influences on the surrounding metallic structures. The current value directly determines the magnetic field and consequently coupling of the systems. A single rail traction system can be equipped with return conductor. The return current flowing through return conductor has an opposite direction of supply current and decreases coupling and interferences. This paper presents the AC current distribution for both designs, with and without return conductor. Also, the soil resistivity is varied. The higher the soil resistivity, the higher is the amount of return current in rails and return conductor. The different construction of return conductor results in different impedance of return path. The relations of return conductor construction and return current value are analysed. Lightning can directly impact different traction system elements such as contact network, tower or return wire. The current distributions in several cases of lightning impacting different traction system elements are presented.