Energy efficiency assessment of the 3ES5K electric locomotives when using interval regulation technology in the form of "virtual coupling"

One of the promising ways to increase the capacity of railways is the way to reduce the interval between trains and its packet-mode handling. This method is implemented through the introduction of technology for interval regulation of train traffic. More advanced at present is the technology of interval regulation of train operation according to the "virtual coupling" type, which organizes the operation of trains with a minimum interval between them, which is safe for motion at and between stations. This technology removes the problem of extending the receiving and departure tracks, reduces peak loads on the traction power supply system and the formation time of the virtual coupling structure, and increases the train speed to the yellow traffic signal with safety guaranteed. The technology is implemented due to the presence of an interval control system for train operation, the introduction of on-board automatic locomotive signaling devices ALS-EN and ALS-R, on-board complexes BLOK and KLUB-U (safety devices with satellite navigation and electronic route map), ISAVP-RT-M (auto-driving system for coupled trains) and radio modems for data transmission. The use of these devices in packet mode traffic schedule will reduce the time interval along the sections of the railway and reduce the loss of time when the train runs to the yellow traffic signal. The set of tasks to increase the energy efficiency of applying the technology of interval regulation of train operation according to the "virtual coupling" type should also include the tasks of developing modern rectifier-inverter converters VIP-4000M on AC electric locomotives together with the reactive current block developed in the Railway Implementing Center of the Krasnoyarsk Railway. These developments provide a high power factor of the electric locomotive in the traction and regenerative braking modes (up to 0.96), which will reduce the specific electric energy consumption by electric locomotives for train traction, which will increase the efficiency of the application of the technology of interval regulation of train operation according to the "virtual coupling" type. In July 2019 pilot operational tests of this technology were carried out on the Far Eastern Railway, which showed generally positive results. The paper also presents an analysis of the results on the specific consumption of electric energy for traction and its return to the contact network during regenerative braking by 3ES5K electric locomotives participating in the technology of interval regulation of train operation of the "virtual coupling" type in the sections Khabarovsk-2-Ruzhino and Ruzhino-Khabarovsk-2 of the Far Eastern Railway. These results show an increase in the energy efficiency of electric locomotives using this technology.

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