On the method of determining optimal electricity consumption from an electric traction network

Railroad transport is one of the most power-intensive sectors. With growing traffic volumes, it becomes increasingly necessary to cut power costs and optimize the traction power supply system. This can be done via reactive power compensation, which allows reduced reactive power consumption from the feeding electric system. The optimal power consumption from the external network is unattainable by known methods of designing traction power supply systems. This article presents an algorithm for selecting installation points and the capacity of compensating units in a traction network in the context of increasing cargo turnover, taking into account the ambiguity of initial data. Approaches to determining the optimal power consumption by traction loads from the feeding electric system are defined. The goal in view can be attained by solving the following problems: deciding on the method of predicting power consumption (PPC) by traction loads at increasing cargo turnover, calculating the required enhancement of traction power supply by using CUs to ensure increased cargo turnover, and finding the optimal criteria of controlling reactive power streams. It is, thus, necessary to develop a method for correcting the required capacity and locations for installation of CUs in the traction network. The suggested method has been tested at the Khabarovsk-II traction substation of the Far Eastern Railroad. According to the results of testing, by 2030 the reactive power consumption will be 200728 Mvar h, which will require installation of an 18-Mvar compensating unit in the substation. © 2016, Allerton Press, Inc.