Well, So the news is about Traction Systems.

For Suburban City transport, usually DC is used, But more and more AC application is being incorporated in recent years. What justifies the shift? Just a plain technical discussion topic. First retrofitted fully alternating current local to run in Punesocialreader.com [DNA India] Remade in Navi Mumbai, the first retrofitted fully alternating current (AC) local train will run in Pune. The Central Railway on Saturday ... 2 days ago

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Ing. OleUnfollow Follow Ing. Ole Ing. Ole Knudsen What is the news? That it has been retrofitted? That it is in Pune? Is it on a new line? What else can make it a "First"? 1 day ago Unlike Like

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RajatUnfollow Follow Rajat Rajat Singh The news is about a suburban train fully running on Alternating Current.. Earlier in India most of the suburban trains used to run on DC, 1500 and 750 V.. But recently more and more are being converted to run on 25 kV AC.. So why this change?? How is AC better?? DC series motors are mostly used for traction systems employed in intra-city and sub-urban trains, then why this shift to AC?? 1 day ago Unlike Like

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PrashantUnfollow Follow Prashant Prashant Srivastava Rajat, AC generation, transmission, distribution, step up and down is more efficient. Switch-gear of DC is costly due to difficulty in arc quenching. AC motors are more rugged and cheaper. Shift from low voltage like 750 V DC or 1500 VDC to 25 kV AC is bring pursued all over India due to better efficiency, ease of control, rugged equipment etc. Line losses reduce at high voltage. As for DC motors, they require more maintenance due to wear of brushes. New technology uses inverters for control of motors which are AC induction motors. 23 hours ago Unlike Like

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RajatUnfollow Follow Rajat Rajat Singh @Prashant sir, All these points are known, and as far as I know for long distance lines AC was used, but for suburban rail and metros DC was used because of better torque and speed characteristics, along with better speed control. But recently everything is being converted to AC. The entire western line of Mumbai Local has been converted for running AC rakes. So how is the high starting torque which is required owing to such heavy loads, like the ones you see in rush hour in Mumbai, is achieved in the new rakes?? Because IM are not known for a high starting torque. So what technological changes have taken place, if any in motor designs?? The Kolkata Metro runs on DC, but the newer Delhi Metro runs on 25 kV AC.. So what brings about the change?? 19 hours ago Unlike Like

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Ing. OleUnfollow Follow Ing. Ole Ing. Ole Knudsen @Rajat, Please remember that one of the developments that made this change feasible is the development of inverters (or, VSDs). If you consult your textbook on Induction Machines, you will be reminded that the torque developed is a function of the slip FREQUENCY, as well as of the primary current, so standard induction motors are actually able to produce up to 3 to 6 times the nominal full load torque during acceleration when they are supplied from a VSD. No doubt the motors installed in those train systems are further developed to enhance special characteristics desired for precisely this application. 15 hours ago Unlike Like

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PrashantUnfollow Follow Prashant Prashant Srivastava Rajat, It is wrong to assume that IM can not have high starting torque. If you check NEMA characteristics of class D IM, it highest torque is at starting which can be several times its running torque. Also break away torque of IM is better than DC motors. The reason why DC was used earlier is not starting torque but ease of control. Speed control of DC motor is easy with varying armature voltage which can be obtained by using a phase controlled rectifier. Inverters are in vogue only since about 20 ~ 30 years and in this application more recently. Now inverters have a torque boost facility as well as for quadrant operation which helps feedback the braking energy back to supply and thus reduce energy consumption. Imagine a metro system where the train runs for 5~ 10 min. and then has to brake. Every time it starts , it consumes more energy and every time it brakes, its kinetic energy is fed back to line making it energy efficient. 6 hours ago Unlike Like

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RajatUnfollow Follow Rajat Rajat Singh Oh so it was about better speed control rather than High starting torque, and yes I did check the NEMA standards.. The Class D IM gives Very high torque with very High slip it says. Thank you very much for the comments sir. Clears a lot of misconceptions. 4 hours ago