Utilization of Electrical Energy 1 Illumination:: 3 Electric Welding
Utilization of Electrical Energy 1 Illumination:: 3 Electric Welding
Utilization of Electrical Energy 1 Illumination:: 3 Electric Welding
List of contents
1 Illumination:
1.1 Nature of light, visibility spectrum curve of relative sensitivity of human eye and
wave length of light
1.2 Definition: Luminous flux, solid angle, luminous intensity, illumination, luminous efficiency,
depreciation factor, coefficient of utilization, space to height ratio, reflection factor, glare,
shadow, lux.
1.3 Laws of illumination – simple numericals
1.4 Different type of lamps, construction and working of incandescent and discharge lamps –
their characteristics, fittings required for filament lamp, mercury vapour sodium lamp,
fluorescent lamp, halogen lamp, neon lamp, compact filament lamp(CFL), LED Lamp,
comparison of incandescent, fluorescent, CFL & LED
1.5 Calculation of number of light points for interior illumination, calculation ofillumination at
different points, considerations involved in simple design problems. Illumination schemes; indoor
and outdoor illumination levels
1.6 Main requirements of proper lighting; absence of glare, contrast and shadow
1.7 Awareness about time switches, street lighting, flood lighting, monument lighting and
decorative lighting, light characteristics etc.
Multiple choice Questions
2 Electric Heating
• Advantages of electrical heating
• Heating methods:
• Resistance heating – direct and indirect resistance heating, electric ovens, their temperature
range, properties of resistance heating elements, domestic water heaters and other
heating appliances, thermostat control circuit
• Induction heating; principle of core type and coreless induction furnace, their
construction and applications
• Electric arc heating; direct and indirect arc heating, construction, working and
applications of arc furnace
• Dielectric heating, applications in various industrial fields
• Infra-red heating and its applications (construction and working of two appliances)
Solar Heating
3 Electric Welding:
3.1 Advantages of electric welding
3.2 Welding methods
3.4 Principles of resistance welding, types – spot, projection, seam and butt welding, welding equipment
3.5 Principle of arc production, electric arc welding, characteristics of arc; carbon arc, metal arc, hydrogen
arc welding method
4 Electrolytic Processes:
4.1 Need of electro-deposition
4.2 Laws of electrolysis, process of electro-deposition - clearing, operation, deposition of metals,
polishing and buffing
4.3. Equipment and accessories for electroplating
4.5. Principle of galvanizing and its applications
5 Electrical Circuits used in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Water Coolers:
6 Electric Drives:
7 Electric traction
1 Illumination
1.1 Visibility spectrum curve of relative sensitivity of human eye and wave length of light Light
is electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The word
usually refers to visible light which is the visible spectrum that is visible to the human eye having
wavelengths are between 4 x 10-7 m(4,000 Å or 0.4 m m) to 7 x 10-7 m(7,000 Å or 0.7 m m). ( Å
stands for 'angstrom' and is equal to 10-10 m.)
• Solid angle: Plane angle is subtended at a point in a plane by two converging straight
lines and its magnitude is given by Solid angle = 2
• Luminous efficiency : It is the ratio of luminous flux to power, measured in lumens per watt
• Depreciation factor: It is reverse of the maintenance factor and is defined as the ratio of
the initial meter-candles to the ultimate maintained metre-candles on the working plane.
• Coefficient of utilization It is defined as the ratio of total lumens reaching the working plane
to total lumens given out by the lamp
• Space to height ratio Spacing Height Ratio is defined as the ratio of the distance between
adjacent luminaires (centre to centre), to their height above the working plane.
• Reflection factor the ratio of reflected light to the incident light is called the reflection factor.
It‟s value always less than unity
• Glare It is a visual sensation caused by excessive and uncontrolled brightness. Glare is
difficulty of seeing in the presence of bright light caused by a significant ratio of luminance
• A shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It
occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it.
• A shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It
occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it.
• The lux (symbol: lx) is the SI derived unit of illuminance and luminous emittance,
measuring luminous flux per unit area. It is equal to one lumen per square metre.
(a) Law of inverse squares
(b) lamberts cosine law
Law of inverse squares: Illuminance (E) at any point on a plane perpendicular to the line joining the
point and source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source
2
and plane. E = I / d Where, I is the luminous intensity in a given direction. the light source the
surface appears dimmer
Cosine Law of Illuminance: Illuminance at a point on a plane is proportional to the cosine of the
angle of light incident E= 2
cosθ , Iθ is the luminous intensity of the source, Ɵ is the angle
between the normal to the plane, d is the distance to the illuminated point
1.4 Incandescent and discharge lamps
Incandescent lamp technology uses electric current to
• Heat a coiled tungsten filament to incandescence.
• The glass envelope contains a mixture of nitrogen and a small amount of other inert gases
such as argon
Discharge lamps produce light by passing an electric current through a gas that emits light when
ionized by the current
• Discharge lamps:
(a) Sodium vapour lamp
(b) Mercury Vapour lamps
• CFLs produce light in the same manner as linear fluorescent lamps. Their tube diameter is
usually 5/8 inch (T5) or smaller.
• CFL power ranges from 5 to 55 watts.
• LEDs are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert electrical energy directly into
light
• LEDs can be extremely small and durable; some LEDs can provide much longer lamp
life than other sources.
1.9 Comparisons
Tungsten Filament Lamp and LED
Tungsten Filament Lamp
• Voltage fluctuation has comparatively more effect on the light output.
• Luminous efficiency increases with the increase in the voltage of the lamp
• It gives light close to natural light. Therefore objects are properly seen
• high working temperature and heat radiations
• brightness is more
• initial cost per lamp is quite low.
LED
• Light Emitting Diode bulbs
• High Efficiency
• Life 50000 hours
• High cost
• 6-8 watts normally
• Small in size
Fluorescent Tubes
• Voltage fluctuation has comparatively low effect on light output
• Luminous efficiency increases with the increase in wattage and increase in length of tube.
• It does not give light close to natural light
• low working temperature heat radiation is low.
• Brightness is less.
• initial cost per tube is more
1.10 Calculation of number of light points for interior illumination
The number of lamps required in a particular place can be designed by following three methods:
1 Watt per square meter: This is a rough method. Watts per square meter are calculated on the
basis of efficiency of lamp (lm/watt).
2. Inverse square law: This method is used in street light calculations. In this method law of
illumination is used for this candle power of the 0lamps should be known.
3. Lumen per square meter method: This method is used for design of general lighting. In this
method, lamp efficiency, Depreciation factor, utilization factor etc. are used.
1.11 Illumination schemes
The interior lighting schemes may be classified as (i) direct lighting (ii) semi direct lighting (iii)
semi-indirect lighting (iv) indirect lighting
(i) Direct lighting:
It is most commonly used type of lighting scheme. In this lighting scheme more than 90 % of total
light flux Is made to fall directly on the working plane with the help of deep reflectors. it is
most efficient but causes hard shadows and glare. It is mainly used for industrial and general
outdoor lighting.
(ii) Semi-direct lighting:
• In this lighting scheme 60-90 % if the total light flux is made to fall downwards directly
with the help of semi-direct reflectors, remaining light is used to illuminate the ceiling and
walls.
• Such a lighting system is best suited to rooms with high ceiling where a high level of
uniformly distributed illumination is desirable
(iii) Semi-indirect lighting:
• In the lighting scheme 60-90 % of total light flux is thrown upwards to the ceiling for
defuse reflection and the rest reaches the working plane directly except for some absorption.
• It is mainly used for indoor light decoration purposes.
(iv) Indirect lighting:
• In this light scheme more than 90% if total light flux is thrown upwards to the ceiling for
diffuse reflection by using inverted or bowl reflectors.
• In such a system the ceiling acts as the light source, and the glare it reduced to minimum
Flood lighting
• Flood light means flooding of large surfaces with light from powerful projectors.
• It is employed to serve one or more of the following purposes.
• Flood lighting it is necessary to concentrate the light from the light source into a narrow
beam. The particular type of reflector and its housing used for concentrating the light into
narrow beam is known as flood light projection.
Transfer of Heat
Conduction: This phenomenon takes place in solid, liquid and gas. Heat transfer is proportional to
the difference of temperatures between two faces. No actual motion of molecules.
Convection: This phenomenon takes place in liquid and gas. Heat is transferred due to actual
motion of molecules
Convection: This phenomenon takes place in liquid and gas. Heat is transferred due to actual
motion of molecules
Indirect Heating
Electric current is passed through highly resistive material (heating element) placed inside an oven.
Heat produced due to I²R loss in the element is transmitted to the body
Mode of heat transfer is Conduction &/or Convection &/or Radiation Example –
Room Heater
CAUSES OF FAILURE OF HEATING ELEMENTS
Formation of hot spots.
Oxidation
Corrosion
Mechanical failure
• In this furnace, heat developed in the charge due to eddy currents flowing through it.
• When primary coils are excited by an alternating source, the flux set up by these coils induce
the eddy currents in the charge. The direction of the resultant eddy current is in a direction opposite to
the current in the primary coil. These currents heat the charge to melting point and they also set up
electromagnetism forces that produce a stirring action to the charge.
In indirect arc furnace, the arc strikes between two electrodes by bringing momentarily in contact charge
in this furnace is heated not only by radiation from the arc between electrode tips but also by conduction
from the heated refractory during rocking action; so, the efficiency of such furnace is high.
A heat source such as an electric arc, a flame, pressure, or friction. The most common heat
source is an electric arc. An arc is the physical gap between the end of the electrode and the
base metal. The physical gap causes heat due to resistance of current flow and arc rays. The
arc melts the metals to create the joint.
Shielding, which is the use of gas, or another substance to protect the weld from air as the
weld is being formed. Oxygen from the air makes welds brittle and porous.
Filler material, which is the material used to join to the two pieces together.
Brazing is the joining of metals with a filler metal having a melting point above 450°C
(842°F), but below the melting point of base metals. The joined metals can be different
metals. The joint is not as strong as a welded joint.
Soldering is the joining of metals using a filler metal with a melting point below 450°C
(842°F). The joined metals can be different metals. The "filler “metals commonly used are
lead-tin alloys. The joint is not as strong as a welded joint or a brazed joint.
There are over 70 different welding processes. The type of welding process used is related to
the specific application. The most common processes are:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as Manual Metal Arc Welding, MMAW.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding.
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW).
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding or hard
wire welding.
Plasma Arc Welding (PAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) and Gouging
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
Resistance Spot Welding (RSW) or spot welding.
Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A) and Air Carbon Arc Gouging (CAG)
Oxyfuel Gas Welding (OFG), Cutting and Heating (oxygen-acetylene [oxyacetylene]
(OAW) or oxygen-propane [oxy-propane] mixtures are the most common fuel mixtures
used).
Resistance welding processes
Depending on the shape of the work pieces and the form of the electrodes, resistance welding
processes can be classified into several variants among which the most commonly used are spot
welding, projection welding, seam welding and butt welding. More details are described below:
Resistance Spot Welding
Spot welding is a resistance welding process for joining metal sheets by directly applying opposing
forces with electrodes with pointed tips. The current and the heat generation are localized by the
form of the electrodes. The weld nugget size is usually defined by the electrode tip contact area.
Spot welding is the predominant joining process in automotive industry for assembling the
automobile bodies and large components. It is also widely used for manufacturing of furniture and
domestic equipment etc.
Projection welding is widely used in electrical, electronics, automotive and construction industries,
and manufacturing of sensors, valves and pumps etc.
Resistance Seam Welding
Seam welding is a resistance welding process for joining metal sheets in continuous, often leak
tight, seam joints by directly applying opposing forces with electrodes consisting of rotary wheels.
The current and the heat generation are localized by the peripheral shapes of the electrode wheels.
Seam welding is mostly applied in manufacturing of containers, radiators and heat exchangers etc.
Butt welding is applied in manufacturing of wheel rims, wire joints and railway track joints etc.
Arc welding is one of several fusion processes for joining metals. By applying intense heat, metal at
the joint between two parts is melted and caused to intermix - directly, or more commonly, with an
intermediate molten filler metal. Upon cooling and solidification, a metallurgical bond is created.
Since the joining is an intermixture of metals, the final weldment potentially has the same strength
properties as the metal of the parts. This is in sharp contrast to non-fusion processes of joining (i.e.
soldering, brazing etc.) in which the mechanical and physical properties of the base materials cannot
be duplicated at the joint.
Fig. 1 The basic arc-welding circuit
In arc welding, the intense heat needed to melt metal is produced by an electric arc. The arc is
formed between the actual work and an electrode (stick or wire) that is manually or mechanically
guided along the joint. The electrode can either be a rod with the purpose of simply carrying the
current between the tip and the work. Or, it may be a specially prepared rod or wire that not only
conducts the current but also melts and supplies filler metal to the joint. Most welding in the
manufacture of steel products uses the second type of electrode.
Basic Welding Circuit
The basic arc-welding circuit is illustrated in Fig. 1. An AC or DC power source, fitted with
whatever controls may be needed, is connected by a work cable to the workpiece and by a "hot"
cable to an electrode holder of some type, which makes an electrical contact with the welding
electrode.
An arc is created across the gap when the energized circuit and the electrode tip touches the work
piece and is withdrawn, yet still with in close contact.
The arc produces a temperature of about 6500ºF at the tip. This heat melts both the base metal and
the electrode, producing a pool of molten metal sometimes called a "crater." The crater solidifies
behind the electrode as it is moved along the joint. The result is a fusion bond.
Arc Shielding
However, joining metals requires more than moving an electrode along a joint. Metals at high
temperatures tend to react chemically with elements in the air - oxygen and nitrogen. When metal in
the molten pool comes into contact with air, oxides and nitrides form which destroy the strength and
toughness of the weld joint. Therefore, many arc-welding processes provide some means of
covering the arc and the molten pool with a protective shield of gas, vapor, or slag. This is called arc
shielding. This shielding prevents or minimizes contact of the molten metal with air. Shielding also
may improve the weld. An example is a granular flux, which actually adds deoxidizers to the weld.
The arc itself is a very complex phenomenon. In-depth understanding of the physics of the arc is of
little value to the welder, but some knowledge of its general characteristics can be useful.
Nature of the Arc
An arc is an electric current flowing between two electrodes through an ionized column of gas. A
negatively charged cathode and a positively charged anode create the intense heat of the welding
arc. Negative and positive ions are bounced off of each other in the plasma column at an accelerated
rate.
In welding, the arc not only provides the heat needed to melt the electrode and the base metal, but
under certain conditions must also supply the means to transport the molten metal from the tip of the
electrode to the work. Several mechanisms for metal transfer exist. Two (of many) examples
include:
1. Surface Tension Transfer® - a drop of molten metal touches the molten metal pool and is
drawn into it by surface tension
2. Spray Arc - the drop is ejected from the molten metal at the electrode tip by an electric pinch
propelling it to the molten pool (great for overhead welding)
If an electrode is consumable, the tip melts under the heat of the arc and molten droplets are
detached and transported to the work through the arc column. Any arc welding system in which the
electrode is melted off to become part of the weld is described as metal-arc. In carbon or tungsten
(TIG) welding there are no molten droplets to be forced across the gap and onto the work. Filler
metal is melted into the joint from a separate rod or wire.
More of the heat developed by the arc is transferred to the weld pool with consumable electrodes.
This produces higher thermal efficiencies and narrower heat-affected zones.
Since there must be an ionized path to conduct electricity across a gap, the mere switching on of the
welding current with an electrically cold electrode posed over it will not start the arc. The arc must
be ignited. This is caused by either supplying an initial voltage high enough to cause a discharge or
by touching the electrode to the work and then withdrawing it as the contact area becomes heated
4 Electrolytic Process
As for an electrolytic cell, we can say that in many respects, it is much the same as a galvanic cell as
it requires a salt bridge, two electrodes and the flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode.
However, the two still manage to be different from each other in many respects. For one, an
electrolytic cell converts electrical energy into chemical energy and not the other way round.
The ensuing redox reaction in the process is not a spontaneous one and for the reaction to start,
electric energy has to be introduced in the apparatus. Unlike a galvanic cell, an electrolytic cell
requires both metals to be placed in the same container. The positive electrode, in this case, is called
the anode and the negative electrode is called the cathode. For the supply of electrons, an external
battery is used.
As stated in the law of Faraday, when one mole of electric charge is made to pass through an
electrolytic cell, it will discharge half a mole of a divalent metal ion. Based on this theory, Faraday
devised his two laws of electrolysis which states that the respective weight of a substance formed at
an electrode during the process of electrolysis is directly proportional to the quantum of electricity
that can pass through that electrolyte and the weight of a variety of substances that will be formed
by passing the same quantity of electricity shall be proportional to the respective weight of the given
substances.
The Outcome of an Electrolysis Reaction
When an electrolysis takes place, there are some primary factors that are the determining factors
about whether or not complete electrolysis will take place. Sometimes, an excess of voltage is
needed to overcome the surface interaction at the electrodes. This phenomenon is more prevalent in
the case of gases. Sometimes, more than one-half reactions could be taking place during the
electrolysis.
This means that there are more than two possibilities for cell reaction. A given inert electrode‟s
ability to undergo electrolysis reaction will depend on the present reactants in the electrolyte
solution while at the same time, an active electrode is capable of running on its own to perform the
oxidation or reduction half-reaction in the solution. These theories can help in predicting the
outcome or the expected result of an electrolysis reaction conveniently.
Solved Examples for You
Question: How does aluminium react to the process of electrolysis?
Solution: Aluminium can be most easily found in most rocks. It is one of the most abundantly found
in the crust of the earth. However, isolation of the metal from impurities and other metals proves to
be a very costly affair. This is the reason why separation of aluminium through electrolysis is very
difficult to achieve. This is because, in the stated reaction, it would be water which would get
electrolyzed in preference to aluminium itself.
However, in the year 1886, scientists Charles Hall and Paul Herault developed a practical way.
Their method was aimed at achieving electrolysis of the metal in an economic manner. The
apparatus includes a carbon cathode and a carbon anode and a crust of frozen electrolyte. Carbon
anode is a device that could lower the anode as it gets consumed
Galvanizing is the process which employs an electrochemical action for providing a coating of
highly corrosion resistant material on the surface of another metal. The galvanizing process is
widely used for providing a coating of zinc on iron and steel.
It is very much low cost process and widely used for corrosion resistant coating on sheet
metal, household items for daily used made from iron and steel e.g. buckets, tubs and other
containers. Galvanized is also done on machine parts, tools, ships tanks and wires etc.
Applications of Galvanizing:
1. To galvanized sheet metal.
2. To galvanized house-hold items such as buckets, tubs and other containers.
3. To galvanized machine parts, tools, ships, tanks and wires.
4. Metal pipes and wires are most popular galvanized items which find application in industrial
use as well as in articles made for domestic use.
Meaning and Purpose of Anodizing:
It is the process in which a film of oxide is provided on metal surface is known as anodising.
(i) The give a protective coating on the metal surface like aluminium, zinc, copper and bronze.
(ii) To provide a decorative appearance on the surface.
(iii) To provide a bright and smooth surface on aluminium articles prior to electroplating.
(iv) To provide specific colour base for subsequent painting on the surface.
(v) To improve the corrosion resistance of aluminium and aluminium products.
The anodized is achieved by using different electrolytes varying current and temperature of
solution etc.
Anodising process is neither a purely electrical process nor purely chemical process; it is a
combination of both hence called electrochemical processes.
Applications of anodising:
1. To provide a protective coating on the metal surface.
2. To anodising on steel for producing a black film on various steel parts used a decorative
article.
3. Several galvanized iron and steel articles and machine parts are anodised to improve the
resistance of galvanised coating to rusting, abrasion, wear and increase its life.
4. To anodising zinc to give distinct colour coatings.
5. Anodising is done on silver jewellery and show pieces made of silver
Motors are of various types. The DC motors can be divided in four types – shunt wound DC
motor, series wound DC motor, compound wound DC motor and permanent magnet DC motor.
AC motors are of two types – induction motors and synchronous motors. Now synchronous
motors are of two types – round field and permanent magnet. Induction motors are also of two
types – squirrel cage and wound motor. Besides all of these, stepper motors and switched
reluctance motors are also considered as the parts of drive system.
So there are various types of electric motors, and they are used according to their specifications
and uses. When the electrical drives were not so popular, induction and synchronous motors
were usually implemented only where fixed or constant speed was the only requirement. For
variable speed drive applications, DC motors were used. But as we know that, induction motors
of same rating as a DC motors have various advantages like they have lighter weight, lower cost,
lower volume and there is less restriction on maximum voltage, speed and power ratings. For
these reasons, the induction motors are rapidly replaced the DC motors.
An open belt drive is used to rotate the driven pulley in the same direction of driving pulley. In
the motion of belt drive, power transmission results make one side of pulley more tightened
compared to the other side. In horizontal drives, tightened side is always kept on the lower side
of two pulleys because the sag of the upper side slightly increases the angle of folding of the belt
on the two pulleys.
Crossed belt drives:
A crossed belt drive is used to rotate driven pulley in the opposite direction of driving pulley.
Higher the value of wrap enables more power can be transmitted than an open belt drive.
However, bending and wear of the belt are important concerns.
A chain drive can be defined as a series of links connected by pin joints.
Now we can move on to chain drive.
A chain drive consists of an endless chain wrapped around two sprockets.
Gear drive has become the most important and popular means of motion and power transmission
system. A gear drive is a pair of meshing gears as shown below
Gears are components of machines for the transmission of power and motion from one shaft to
other separated by small distance. It is a toothed wheel, i.e., wheel with a number of teeth. It
provides with projections known as teeth and in between two teeth, there is a vacant space,
which is called tooth space, to accommodate the incoming tooth in rotation.
As it appears, toothed wheels avoid the problem of slippage which is quite prominent in belt
drive. Hence, these wheels produce positive drive and no slip. When one gear wheel rotates,
other wheel also rotates in the opposite direction as has been shown above. The power is
transferred effectively and no loss is observed. The velocity ratio remains same throughout the
operation.
7 Electric Traction
Introduction:
By electric traction is meant locomotion in which the driving (or tractive) force is obtained from
electric motors. It is used in electric trains, tramcars, trolley buses and diesel-electric vehicles
etc. Electric traction has many advantages as compared to other non-electrical systems of traction
including steam traction.
Traction Systems
Broadly speaking, all traction systems may be classified into two categories:
(a) Non-electric traction systems
They do not involve the use of electrical energy at any stage. Examples are: steam engine drive
used in railways and internal-combustion-engine drive used for road transport.
(b) Electric traction systems
They involve the use of electric energy at some stage or the other. They may be further
subdivided into two groups:
First group consists of self-contained vehicles or locomotives. Examples are: battery-electric
drive and diesel-electric drive etc.
Second group consists of vehicles which receive electric power from a distribution network fed
at suitable points from either central power stations or suitably-spaced sub-stations.
Examples are: railway electric locomotive fed from overhead ac supply and tramways and trolley
buses supplied with dc supply.
Direct Steam Engine Drive
Though losing ground gradually due to various reasons, steam locomotive is still the most widely
adopted means of propulsion for railway work. Invariably, the reciprocating engine is employed
because
It is inherently simple. Connection between its cylinders and the driving wheels is simple. Its
speed can be controlled very easily..
Diesel-electric Drive
It is a self-contained motive power unit which employs a diesel engine for direct drive of a dc
generator. This generator supplies current to traction motors which are geared to the driving
axles. In India, diesel locomotives were introduced in 1945 for shunting service on broad guage
(BG) sections and in 1956 for high-speed main-line operations on metre-guage (MG) sections. It
was only in 1958 that Indian Railways went in for extensive main-line dieselization. Diesel-
electric traction has the following
Advantages:
No modification of existing tracks is required while converting from steam to diesel-electric
traction.
It provides greater tractive effort as compared to steam engine which results in higher starting
acceleration.
It is available for hauling for about 90% of its working days.
Diesel-electric locomotive is more efficient than a steam locomotive (though less efficient than
an electric locomotive).
Disadvantages
For same power, diesel-electric locomotive is costlier than either the steam or electric
locomotive.
Overload capacity is limited because diesel engine is a constant-kW output prime move
Life of a diesel engine is comparatively shorter.
Diesel-electric locomotive is heavier than plain electric locomotive because it carries the main
engine, generator and traction motors etc.
Regenerative braking cannot be employed though rheostat braking can be.
Electric Traction Systems
The system which uses electrical power for traction system i.e. for railways, trams, trolleys, etc.
is called electrical traction. The track electrification refers to the type of source supply system
that is used while powering the electric locomotive systems. It can be AC or DC or a composite
supply.
Selecting the type of electrification depends on several factors like availability of supply, type of
an application area, or on the services like urban, suburban and main line services, etc.
The three main types of electric traction systems that exist are as follows:
Direct Current (DC) electrification system
Alternating Current (AC) electrification system
Composite system.
1- DC Electrification System
The choice of selecting DC electrification system encompasses many advantages, such as space
and weight considerations, rapid acceleration and braking of DC electric motors, less cost
compared to AC systems, less energy consumption and so on.
In this type of system, three-phase power received from the power grids is de-escalated to low
voltage and converted into DC by the rectifiers and power-electronic converters.
This type of DC supply is supplied to the vehicle through two different ways:
3rd and 4 the rail system operate at low voltages (600-1200V)
Overhead rail systems use high voltages (1500-3000V)
The supply systems of DC electrification include;
300-500V supply for the special systems like battery systems.
600-1200V for urban railways like tramways and light metro trains.
1500-3000V for suburban and mainline services like light metros and heavy metro trains.
Due to high starting torque and moderate speed control, the DC series motors are extensively
employed in the DC traction systems. They provide high torque at low speeds and low torque at
high speeds.
AC Electrification System
An AC traction system has become very popular nowadays, and it is more often used in most of
the traction systems due to several advantages, such as quick availability and generation of AC
that can be easily stepped up or down, easy controlling of AC motors, less number of substations
requirement, and the presence of light overhead catenaries that transfer low currents at high
voltages, and so on.
The supply systems of AC electrification include single, three phase, and composite systems.
The Single phase systems consist of 11 to 15 KV supply at 16.7Hz, and 25Hz to facilitate
variable speed to AC commutation motors. It uses step down transformer and frequency
converters to convert from the high voltages and fixed industrial frequency.
The Single phase 25KV at 50Hz is the most commonly used configuration for AC electrification.
It is used for heavy haul systems and main line services since it doesn‟t require frequency
conversion. This is one of the widely used types of composite systems wherein the supply is
converted to DC to drive DC traction motors.
Three phase system uses three phase induction motor to drive the locomotive, and it is rated at
3.3.KV, 16.7Hz. The high-voltage distribution system at 50 Hz supply is converted to this
electric motor rating by transformers and frequency converters. This system employs two
overhead lines, and the track rail forms another phase, but this raises many problems at crossings
and junctions.
Advantages;
Fewer substations are required.
Lighter overhead current supply wire can be used.
Reduced weight of support structure.
Reduced capital cost of electrification.
Electric Braking
The electric braking of a DC motor is of three types, (i) Rheostatic or dynamic braking, (ii)
Plugging or reverse current braking and (iii) Regenerative beaking.
Electrical Multiple Unit popularly called EMU is a very popular train configuration for sub-
urban travel. EMU services are running presently in Mumbai (popularly called Local), Delhi
(EMU), Kolkata (EMU), Chennai (EMU), Hyderabad etc. These services are very
popular among daily Commutator for
In-time services
Reliability in services with very rare failure
Very low fare
Vendor compartment to carry daily market products such as milk, vegetables, Tiffen supply in
offices
It is called Electrical Multiple Unit as it consists of multiple motored vehicle built-in the train
composition.
Question 1. Name Some Of The Various Methods Of Traction Motor Control?
Answer :
o Rheostatic control
o Thyristor control
o Metaldyne control
o Buck and boost method
o Series parallel control
o Field control
Question 2. What Are The Basic Requirements Of A Braking System?
Answer :
o The basic requirements of a braking system are given below.
o Easy to use for driver to operate.
o It should be inexhaustible.
o The maintenance should be a minimum.
o It should be simple, quick, robust and reliable in action.
o Kinetic energy of the train be storage during braking which could be used
subsequently during acceleration of the train.
Question 3. What Are The Various Methods Of Applying Electric Traction?
Answer :
There are three methods of applying electric braking.
They are:
o Plugging or reverse current braking
o Rheostatic braking
o Regenerative braking
Question 4. Give Some Of Advanced Methods Of Speed Control Of Traction Motors?
Answer :
o Tap changer control
o Thyristor control
o Chopper control
o Microprocessor control
Question 5. What Are The Advantages Of Microprocessor Based Control Of Traction
Motors?
Answer :
o High speed of response
o High accuracy
o Over voltage and over speed protection
o Electronic interlocking
o Less sensitive to temperature variations and drift
o Numbers of components used are less
Question 6. Define Dead Weight And Adhesive Weight?
Answer :
Dead weight:
The total weight of locomotive and train to be pulled by the locomotive is known as dead
weight
Adhesive weight:
The total weight to be carried on the driving wheels is known as the adhesive weight.
Question 7. What Is Tractive Effort?
Answer :
The effective force necessary to propel the train at the wheels of the locomotive to which the
motor is geared is called the tractive effort. It is measured in newtons and is tangential to the
driving wheels.
Total tractive effort required to run a train on tract = Tractive effort to produce acceleration +
Tractive effort to overcome effort of gravity + Tractive effort to overcome train resistance.
Question 8. Define Electric Drives?
Answer :
Systems employed for motion control are called as drives and drives employ any of the prime
movers such as diesel or petrol engines, gas or steam turbines, hydraulic motors and electric
motors for supplying mathematical energy for motion control. Drives employing electric
motion are called as electrical drives.
Question 9. What Are The Various Parts Of Electrical Drives?
Answer :
o Electrical motors and load
o Power Modulator
o Sources
o Control Unit
o Sensing unit
Question 10. What Are Various Advantages Of Electrical Drives?
Answer :
1. They are having flexible control characteristics. The study state and dynamic
characteristics of electrical drives can be shaped to satisfy load requirements.
2. Drives can be provided with automatic fault detection systems. PLCs and computers
can be employed to automatically control the drive operations in a desired sequence.
3. Drives are available in wide range of speed, power and torque.
4. Control gear required for speed control, starting and braking is usually simple and easy
to operate.
5. It can operate in all the four quadrants of speed - torque plane. Electric braking gives
smooth deceleration and increases life of the equipment compared to other forms of
braking.