TRACTION DISTRIBUTION

This department is responsible for maintenance & operation of Overhead equipments, Power
supply installations, Substation Installations & remote control to supply necessary electric
power to Electric Locomotive/EMU.
Traction power supplied from various Feeding post and traction sub-station is controlled by
Traction Power Controller (TPC) from Remote Control Centre.


25 kV AC OHE consists of
1. Power Supply Systems
2. Foundation
3. Mast
4. Cantilever
5. Contact and Catenary Wire
6. Sectioning and Sub-sectioning
7. Neutral Section
8. Automatic Tensioning Devices
9. Schedule of Dimensions



OVER HEAD EQUIPMENT (OHE)

1. A simple polygonal type of overhead equipment is comprising of a single 65 sq. mm.
size Catenary wire of Cadmium Copper and a hard drawn grooved copper Contact
wire of 107 sq. mm. size suspended from the Catenary by 5 mm dia copper dropper
wire spaced 9 meters apart. The OHE is supported by swiveling type Cantilever
bracket assembly. A tension of 1000 kgs is given in each conductors i.e., Catenary
and Contact wire. This tension is kept constant, automatically compensating the
variations in conductor length due to change in temperature through the regulating
equipment erected at the termination of conductors, also known as Automatic
Tensioning Device.

2.The Catenary wire comprises of 19 strands of cadmium copper, each strand of 2.10
mm dia, with overall dia of 10.5 mm having about 80% conductivity and 65 sq. mm
cross-sectional area. The contact wire is a solid hard drawn grooved electrolytic
copper of 12.24 mm dia and 107 sq. mm cross-sectional area. Total current carrying
capacity of both wires is 600 Amps. The condemning size of contact wire is 8.25
mm.

3. The OHE span varies between 72 Meters and 27 Meters with a step of 4.5 M. The
maximum span of 72 M is adopted on section having wind pressure of 112.5 kgs/ M2
and 75 kgs/M2 only. The span is reduced on curvature depending upon the degree of
curvature.

4.As a standard practice, an independent mast is used to support the OHE for each track
to obtain mechanical independence Steel masts are of Four types i.e., BFB (Broad
Over Head Equipments Page 7
Flanged Beam), RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) and fabricated rectangular sectional mast of
K and B type.

5.Portals are also used to serve multiple track section where space between two tracks
to locate an independent mast is not adequate. There are three types of Portals in use
i.e., N, O & R type. P,G and double BFB type uprights are used where track
separation is less. All Masts & Portals are galvanized before installation.


6. Traction Mast / Portals are embedded in the concrete foundation. There are different
type of foundations which are used according to soil pressure and location. The five
standard types of foundations mostly used are :
(a) Side Bearing (b) Side gravity (c) New Pure gravity(d) Wet Black cotton soil (e) Dry Black
Cotton soil

7.A presag of 100 mm is provided on the contact wire for the maximum span of 72
meters and proportionately reduced for lesser spans. Regulated OHE with 100 mm
presag is considered suitable for 160 Kmph speed operation.

8. The contact wire is staggered at support so that as the pantograph glides along the
contact wire, the contact wire sweeps to and fro across the bearing surface of the
pantograph pan upto a distance of 200 mm on either side of the centre line of pan on
tangent track and 300 mm on curved tracks towards the outer side. This ensures
uniform wear of the steel strips of the pantograph.

9. The electrical clearance between live part, and earthed part i.e. fixed structures or
moving load shall be maintained normally as large as possible. The minimum
clearance under worst condition of temperature, wind etc are given below:
(a) Minimum Vertical distance for
Long duration - 250 mm
Short duration - 200 mm
(b) Minimum horizontal distance for
Long duration - 250 mm
Short duration - 200 mm

10. The OHE conductors are terminated at intervals of 1.5 kilometers and suitably
anchored. The change over is made by overlapping the conductors, normally on 3
spans. The conductors height at support is so adjusted that the conductors are
physically clear from any obstruction under all conditions as well as the pantograph
glides over from one conductor to another smoothly without any spark. There are two
types of overlap:
(a) Uninsulated Overlap
In this type of overlap the distance between two conductors is kept 200 mm and
the conductors are permanently connected by jumpers to have electrical continuity.
(b) Insulated Overlap
In this case, the two OHE conductors are kept apart at a distance of 500 mm. The
electrical continuity at the insulated overlap is bridged by Interrupters or Isolatin
Switches except at Neutral Section (SP).

11. In regulated OHE, to ensure uniform distribution of the mechanical tension in the
OHE conductors, an anticreep point is installed at the midpoint of the tension length
of OHE conductor.

12.Section Insulators are provided to insulate the OHE of one track and another track,
such as at turn outs & cross over, and to separate secondary tracks and sidings from
the main line or other sidings.

13.When the pantograph of a locomotive passes from one track to another along a cross
over, current collection changes from one OHE to another. The runners do have the
overlap so that there may not be any sparking during change over.

14.Solid core Porcelain Insulators are used to support the OHE as Bracket and Stay arm
Insulators. For termination 9 ton insulators are used.

1.7 TRACTION SUB STATION (TSS):

Every TSS has 2 nos. traction transformer out of which one is working at a time and
the second transformer is stand by. The capacity of each traction transformer is
sufficient to feed its own feed zone and half of the adjoining feed zone.


1. Feeding Post (FP):
To feed 25 KV traction power to OHE.

2. The section of OHE normally fed by a traction transformer.

3. Feed Length
The distance for which a traction transformer will feed power in emergent conditions
i.e., the distance between two adjoining FPs.

4. Over Head equipment (OHE)
A system of conductors / equipments carrying traction power from traction sub station
to electric locomotive.

5. Neutral Section (NS)
To separate OHE of two adjoining feed posts. A short neutral section (PTFE) type is
provided opposite the Traction Sub Station to avoid the need of lowering the
pantograph during extended feed conditions.

6. Sectioning Post (SP)
(i) To facilitate the extension of traction power from one feed zone to half of the
adjoining feed zone during emergency.
(ii) Parallel the UP and DN OHE in double the sections.


7. Sub-sectioning and paralleling post (SSP):
(i) To sectionalize OHE.
(ii) To parallel the UP and DN OHE in double line sections.

8. Sector:
The section of the OHE between the FP & SP is called the sector.

9. Sub-Sector :
The section of the OHE between the FP & SSP, SSP & SP is called sub-sector. This
is the shortest section of the OHE which can be isolated through Remote Control by
the Traction Power Controller.

10. Elementary Section (ES) :
This is the shortest section of the OHE which can be isolated manually for carrying
out OHE maintenance work.



Cantilever (Assembly)

It is an insulated swiveling type structural member, comprising of different sizes of
steel tubes, to support and to keep the overhead Catenary system in position so as to facilitate
current collection by the pantograph at all speed without infringing the structural members. It
consists of the following structural members.


i) Stay arm It comprises of dia. 28.4/33.7 mm (Small) size tube and an adjuster
at the end to keep the bracket tube in position. It is insulated form mast by
stay arm insulator.

ii) Bracket tube It comprises of dia 40/49 mm (large) or dia 30/38 mm
(standard) bracket tube and insulated by bracket insulator. Catenary is
supported form this member by Catenary suspension bracket and Catenary
suspension clamp.

iii) Register Arm It comprises of dia 28.4 x 33.7 mm tube to register the contact
wire in the desired position with the help of steady arm.

iv) Steady arm assembly : It is 32 x 31 mm BFB section made of aluminium
alloy to register the contact wire to the required stagger and to take the push up of
contact wire. It is always in tension.

Dropper
A fitting used in overhead equipment construction for supporting the contact wire from
Catenary.

Jumper
A conductor or an arrangement of conductors for electrical continuity not under tension,
which forms electrical connection between two conductors or equipments.
Mast
A single vertical post embedded in the foundation or otherwise rigidly fixed in vertical
position to support the overhead equipment with cantilever assembly. It may be rolled
section or fabricated. The uprights of portals and TTCs are also called masts.
Neutral Section
A short section of insulated dead over head equipment which separates the sectors fed by two
adjacent substations which are normally connected to different phases.
Overhead Equipment (OHE)
The electrical conductors over the track together with their associated fittings, insulators and
other attachments by means of which they are suspended and registered in position.
All overhead electrical equipment, distribution lines, transmission lines and feeders may be
collectively referred to as overhead lines.
Pantograph
A collapsible device mounted on and insulated from the roof of an electric engine or motor
coach for collecting current from the overhead equipment.
Over Head Equipments Page 37
Return conductor
A conductor which carries return current from the tracks to the sub-station in the booster
transformer system.
Regulating Equipment
A device for maintaining the tension of OHE conductors constant under all ambient
temperature conditions. Note : Such OHE is called regulated OHE.
Setting Distance (implantation)
The horizontal distance from the nearest face of traction mast to the centre line of the track.
Span
The distance between the centre line of the adjacent supporting masts for overhead equipment
/ lines.
Clear span in case of portal structure, is the distance between the inner faces of portal
uprights.
Stagger
Stagger of the contact wire is the horizontal distance of the contact wire from the vertical
plane through the centre of track.
Section Insulator
A device installed in the contact wire for insulating two elementary electrical sections from
each other while providing a continuous path for the pantograph without break of current.

Types of masts
OHE conductors are suspended from swiveling cantilever assembly generally erected on
individual masts.
3.6.1.1 Nine types of masts are used. These are designated as 150 x 150 BFB, 200 x 150
RSJ, K-100, K-125, K-150, K-175, K-200, K-225 and K-250. The first two are rolled
sections and remaining seven are fabricated masts. B-series (Drg. No. ETI/C/0071) masts
can be used in lieu of K-Series masts.
Note: Sometimes 200 x 200 (8 x 8) BFB have been imported. These are used in lieu of
200 x 150 RSJ as specified in mast employment schedules.

Two Track Cantilever
In the yards and sidings when the mast cannot be erected near the track to be equipped, it
may be erected span one or two tracks using a two-track cantilever. This is generally used for
supporting OHE near turnouts and X-overs. These arrangements should not be used for
supporting OHE of two main lines. The OHE can be supported upto a distance of 10.5 m
from the upright with this arrangement.

Portals
On multiple track sections, where adequate track centres are not available and tracks cannot
be slewed, port are used. Each portal consists of two fabricated uprights and one fabricated
boom consisting of with or without one central piece and two end pieces.
3.6.3.1 Three types of portals have been standardized. N type portal is used for clear spans
of 10 m 20 m tracks maximum). O type portal is for clear spans of 20 m 30 m
Over Head Equipments Page 43
(for 6 tracks maximum) and R type portal with spans of 30 m 40 m (for 8 tracks
maximum).










Mast is erected on the foundation to hold the entire static and dynamic load of the OHE.
Mast are designed to suit different application and standardized accordingly. There are three
major applications namely: Independent Structures, Portal and Two/Three Track Cantilever
Structures.
Independent Structures
When structures hold OHE of one line including two/three cantilever assembly of the same
elementary section. These structures are classified as RSJ (Rolled Steel Joists) and BFB
(Broad Flange Beam).
RSJ Mast: It is an I or H cross-section beam. The horizontal and vertical elements are
called flanges and web respectively. Beam theory shows that I shaped section is very
efficient for carrying both bending and shear loads in the plane of the web. Size used
is 203x152mm. The mast is further classified into A, B, C, E &H depending upon
drilling hole for supporting different type of OHE equipment.
BFB Mast: The Horizontal and vertical dimensions are same in this design of mast.
Sizes vary from 152x152mm to 400x400mm depending upon the load which the mast
is required to carry. These masts are good for resisting bending moment but weak in
arresting twisting moment. These masts are further classified into three category
depending upon the drilling holes for mounting. Weight of 152x152mm size mast is
30.4kg./meter
Fabricated Mast (K-series): These masts are fabricated by channels and flats welded
in K design. The dimensions across the track is fixed as 300mm and varied along the
track as K100 (23.12Kg/m) , K125 (29.56Kg/m) K150 (37.25Kg/m) K175
(42.65Kg/m) K200 (48.64Kg/m), K225 (56.10Kg/m) K250 (65.11Kg/m) where the
suffix indicates the dimension and weight in Kg/meter. K100 is used for mounting
auxiliary transformer and K125 de-standardized. Due to higher width they are
unsuitable where minimum track center of 4.72 is available.
Independent structures having mechanical independence makes the best OHE design.
Portal Structures
Portal structures are used to accommodate OHE of many lines (2 to 8 tracks) where it
is not possible to erect independent mast due to restriction of track center.
There are three types of portal namely N, O and R type.
o Clear span (distance between inner face) in N type- 10-20M (4 tracks), O type
20-30M (upto 6 tracks), R type 30-40M (upto 8 tracks). Portal of
maximum M has recently been designed.
o Cantilever for the extreme tracks is provided on the uprights
o Cantilever on the middle tracks is provided on the drop arm suspended from
the boom.
o Drop Arm
Drop arms are classified as A (single cantilever on either or both side),
B ( multiple cantilever on side) C (multiple cantilever on both side)
Drop arms are fabricated from angles and are rod laced.
Two/three track Cantilever Structure (TTC)
This is an alternative where it is not possible to manage with mast as well as portal is difficult
to erect or uneconomical.
This is generally used at turnouts and crossover, platform to provide adequate implantation
(4.5m distance between track center and inner face of mast). This can support OHE upto a
distance of 10.5m from the upright. TTC is not used for supporting OHE of two main lines
TTC consists of Mast 12.21 m long 225x300mm Boom 5.0 long or 8.0m long Tie Road
20mm dia 2 nos Drop arms : D type
Selection of Mast
General guidelines for use of different design of mast is as follows:
Normal location and OHE on tangent Track : BFB Mast
Normal Location on curves: RSJ Mast
Structures with multiple OHE with anchorage: K150, 175
Turn-out location with higher torsion stress: K200, 250
Implantation
This is the most important dimension measuring the horizontal distance of the inner face of
the mast from the track center.
As per schedule of dimensions ( popularly called SOD in Railways) prescribed, there should
not be any permanent structure at distance less then 2.16m from the track center. In view of
this, implantation in initial stages of electrification was fixed at 2.36m and permitted upto
2.21 with some conditions.
With the introduction of 8 wheel BOX wagon, incidence of door opening during run and
hitting the OHE were reported and thus minimum implantation increased to 2.5m.
With the introduction of mechanized ballast cleaning machine, and OHE foundation
interfering with the showels, it was again revised to 2.8m.