Development of a Slip and Slide Simulator for Electric Locomotive Based on Inverter-Controlled Induction Motor

Abstract
In this paper, a slip and slide simulator is proposed to simulate the dynamic behavior of the electric locomotive. The simulator consists of two inverter-controlled AC motors directly coupled with each other. One motor plays a role of traction motor of electric locomotive, other one is to use to simulate various driving characteristics of railway vehicle including adhesive characteristics, running resistance and gradient. First, the adhesive characteristics of wheel-rail system are analyzed and dynamic model of a single axle model of vehicle is presented in this paper. The torque-speed characteristics of a locomotive are physically implemented by an induction motor drive. Induction motors torque is controlled by the indirect field oriented control strategy. In addition, a inverse dynamic model is adopted to simulate the dynamic mechanical performance of actual traction system which its inertia is larger than the testing system. At last the simulation results show that this scheme is viable and accurate. In railway locomotives, the rolling stocks move by the adhesion force between rail and driving wheel. Generally,adhesion force is defined by the function of both the weight of electric locomotives and the adhesion coefficient between rail and driving wheel .When the adhesion coefficient decreased,the locomotives may occur slip or slide phenomena, which not only reduce adhesion force and increase the braking distance,but also consumes both the rails and the driving wheel. Many studies have been achieved to overcome this problem.Unfortunately, the adhesion coefficient is changed due to conditions between rail and driving wheel, such as oil, leaves,moisture on the rails, dropping of water and so on. So it is not convenient to do the research. In order to improve the R&D quality and productivity, a simulator should be developed in the laboratory. The simulator can mimic the effects of adhesion. Some simulators were presented in ,which use the real contact between the two rollers to simulate the wheels and the rails. But it is difficult to change the contact conditions instantly and mutually, and it generates frictional noise and maintenance fee.