Assessment of Train Traction Electric Energy Losses

The article deals with the structure of electric energy imbalance in AC and DC traction power systems and features the list of technical and commercial electric energy losses components. The results of analytical and experimental studies to assess energy losses in converting rectifiers and smoothing filters of traction substations, in reactive energy compensating devices, and in the return and catenary traction networks in terms of operating modes of the traction power system and the electric rolling stock are presented. The errors of the electric energy consumption measuring complexes at the traction substations and electric rolling stock have been estimated. The conclusions about the current level and the structure of the train traction electric energy losses at the railway network as well as the state of electricity audit in train traction have been drawn. The main methods of technical and commercial train traction energy losses reduction are suggested.