Electronic control of electric motors in railway automation systems

Abstract

Special linking circuits are required for the design of safe railway automation and remote control of trackside objects. They are usually based on devices with an asymmetrical failure rate, mainly first reliability class electromagnetic relays. The development of railway automation and remote control devices requires the use of state-of-the-art contactless semiconductor components. In this case, the use of functional converters or periodic testing of semiconductor switches and disconnection of the power supply from control objects in case of faults are needed. This article describes the use of a three-phase induction motor as the solution of the problem. They are used for the design of functional converters for railway automation electric motors control. It is proposed to use the low-frequency mode of power switch operation (switch frequency is 50 Hz) and to abandon the pulse-width modulation. The suggested technical solution is used in a CBI-MPC system for train traffic control at stations developed at the Center for Computer Railway Technologies of St. Petersburg State Transport University.