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Electric Traction Interview question - Day 1

[Q:-01] What are the various traction systems in practice In our country ?
Ans :
      The various traction systems prevailing in our country are Steam Engine drive, Internal Combustion Engine drive, Diesel Electric drive, Battery Electric drive & Electric drive in which Steam Engine drive and Internal Combustion Engine drive fall in the category of non-electric traction system and Diesel Electric drive, Battery Electric drive and Electric drive fall in the category of electric traction system.

[Q:-02] What do you mean by electric traction system and what are its advantages?
Ans :
      The system of traction involving the use of electricity is called the electric traction system.
Advantages —
(1) It is the cleanest of all other traction systems.
(2) The acceleration and retardation in electric traction system is comparatively higher.
(3) Electrical braking is superior than mechanical braking.
(4) It requires less maintenance.
(5) The wastage of energy is comparatively less in electrical traction system

[Q:-03] What are the requirements of an ideal traction system ?
Ans :
      The requirements of an ideal traction system are as follows:—
(1) High starting tractive effort in order to have rapid acceleration.
(2) Capability of withstanding large temporary overloads.
(3) Easy speed control.
(4) Braking arrangements with minimum wear caused on the brake shoes.
(5) Ability to run on any route by its self-contained compactness.
(6) Minimum wear on the track.
(7) Minimum equipment of high efficiency and low initial and maintenance cost.
(8) No interference to the communication lines running along the track.

[Q:-04] Why Steam Engine drive is not suitable for urban or sub-urban services ?
Ans :
      Acceleration and retardation with steam engine drive is not possible as high as with electric drive due to low power weight ratio for its low co-efficient of adhesion. Therefore steam engine drive is not suitable for urban or sub-urban services where distance between stations is small.

[Q:-05] Why Steam Engine drive is not suitable for underground railway?
Ans :
      Owing to smoke steam engine drive is not suitable for underground railway.

[Q:-06] Name different systems of electric traction?
Ans :
      Systems of electric traction may be divided into two main groups :
(1) In the first group, the vehicles depend on the external source of electric power for their running. They receive electric power from a distributing network fed at suitable points from either a central power station or substations suitably spaced.
This group is sub divided into —
      (a) Systems operating with d.c. such as trolley buses. train ways and railways.
      (b) Systems operating with a.c. such as railways.
(2) In the second group, the locomotives are self-contained in which the sources of electric power are incorporated within them. This group is sub divided into —
      (a) Diesel-electric trains and ships.
      (b) Petrol-electric trucks and lodes.
      (c) Battery driven road vehicles.

[Q:-07] What are the various systems of track electrification?
Ans :
      The systems of track electrification are as follows :—
(1) D. C. System,
(2) Single phase A. C. System.
(3) Three phase A.C. System and
(4) The composite system of
      (a) Single phase to three phase system or kondo system &
      (b) Single phase to direct current system.

[Q:-08] In D.C. system what types of motors are usually used ?
Ans :
      Usually d.c. series motors are used but in case of the application of regenerative braking compound motors are preferred.

[Q:-09] What ranges of operating voltage are used in D.C. system?
Ans :
      The operating voltage within the distance of 2.5 kms from the substation is from 600 volts to 750 volts for tramways and for many sub urban railways whereas the operating voltage in sub urban services within the distance of 20 kms from the substation is from 1500 volts to 3000 volts for main line railways.

[Q:-10] Where is D.C. system preferred?
Ans :
      The D.C. System is preferred for sub urban services and road transport where stops are frequent and distribution distances are small.

[Q:-11] network in single phase A.C. system?
Ans :
      The operating voltage for distribution network in single phase A.C. system is 15 kV to 25 kV at 16 2/3 or 25 Hz which is stepped down on the locomotive to a low voltage of 300 to 400 volts suitable for supplying to single phase a.c. series motor by mean of a step down transformer carried in the locomotive.

[Q:-12] What is the necessity of changing supply frequency in single phase a.c. system?
Ans :
      The change of supply frequency becomes necessary because of better performance of the a.c. series motors at low frequency.

[Q:-13] Where is single phase A.C. system is adopted ?
Ans :
      Single phase A.C. system is adopted for main line service where the cost of overhead structure is of more importance and rapid acceleration and retardation is not so important as for sub-urban railways.

[Q:-14] In three phase A.C. system how the three phase supply is given?
Ans :
      The three phase supply is given in distribution system by using two overhead wires for two phases and track rail for the third phase receiving power either directly from the generating station or through the transformer substation at the operating voltage of 3300 to 3600 volts and normal frequency or 16 2/3 Hz.

[Q:-15] Why three phase traction system employing induction motors is now obsolete ?
Ans :
      The three phase A.C. traction system employing induction motors is now obsolete on account of disadvantages of two overhead contact wires and constant speed characteristics of three phase induction motor and also for a chance of getting electrocuted from the live third phase track rail .

[Q:-16] What is the distribution voltage and how the driving action is adopted in single phase to three phase composite system?
Ans :
      The voltage used for distribution network is A.C. single phase 15 kV at 50 Hz. The single phase a.c. supply is converted into three phase supply by using a phase converter carried in the locomotive. In addition an inverter circuit using silicon controlled rectifier is used in it to get variable low frequency supply (1/2 to 9 Hz) at which three phase induction motor develops high starting torque without excessive current and speed control is also conveniently obtained by varying the supply frequency.

[Q:-17] Which system of track electrification is being commonly adopted in our country and why?
Ans :
      Single phase to Direct current system of traction employing 25 kV, 50 Hz A.C. supply is adopted for track electrification in our country and this is being installed on sections which are being electrified. This system is adopted in all the areas of major traffic density on main lines because in this system the advantages of the two electrical systems are combined together by employing high voltage a.c. single phase system for overhead distribution with high efficiency and desirable characteristics of d.c. series motors for the a disadvantages of D.C. system can be partly eliminated by this system.

[Q:-18] Why single phase a.c. system is preferred for main line railway service?
Ans :
      Single phase a.c. system is preferred for main line railway service on account of the following advantages —
(1) The important requirement of higher maximum speed can be fulfilled.
(2) Frequent acceleration and retardation are not required as in sub urban services.
(3) By employing high voltage with smaller section of conductors to carry the low current required the cost of distribution system is reduced.
(4) By employing high voltage for distribution purpose the spacing between substations can be higher thus reducing the number of substations.
(5) The installation, operation and maintenance cost of a.c. substations are less due to low cost small quantity of substation equipments.

[Q:-19] What system of traction is preferred for sub-urban and urban services?
Ans :
      The d.c. system is preferred for sub-urban and urban services because this system fulfils the following requirements necessary for sub-urban railway service :—
(1) Frequent starting & stopping with rapid acceleration and retardation.
(2) Negligible effect of voltage fluctuation on the working of motors.
(3) No interference to the communication line running along the track on account of power system adopted.

[Q:-20] What are the advantages of d.c. system?
Ans :
(1) The energy consumption is less in d.c. system as compared with that in a. c. system for similar nature of service.
(2) For exerting same torque the current requirement is comparatively less in d.c. system.
(3) The d.c. locomotive along with its allied equipments is lighter in weight, cheaper in initial as well as in maintenance cost and more efficient.

[Q:-21] What are the disadvantages of d.c. system ?
Ans :
(1) Due to low voltage the current required becomes high for which large section of conductors are required resulting higher expenditure.
(2) For low voltage distribution the spacing of substations is less requiring more number of substations.
(3) For providing extra converting machineries the cost involvement for substations becomes comparatively higher.
(4) Efficiency of d.c. substation is less.
(5) Additional equipment such as negative booster is required for keeping the voltage of return rail within limits.

[Q:-22] What do you understand by speed time curve ?
Ans :
      The curve drawn between speed and time taking speed in km/hour on the Y-axis and time is seconds or minutes on x-axis is known as speed time curve.


[Q:-23] What is the use of speed time curve in practice ?
Ans :
      The speed time curve gives the complete information about the motion of the train i.e. speed at various times after start of run directly. The slope of the curve at any point gives the acceleration / retardation at the corresponding instant or speed. The area covered by the curve gives the distance covered in the corresponding time.

[Q:-24] What are the constituents of speed time curve ?
Ans :
      Speed time curve consists of
(i) initial acceleration,
(ii) constant speed run or free run,
(iii) coasting &
(iv) retardation or braking.

[Q:-25] What are the parts of acceleration period ?
Ans :
      Acceleration period has two parts, namely
(1) Constant acceleration or acceleration while notching up and
(2) Speed curve running or acceleration on the speed curve.
      During notching up period in constant acceleration the current is maintained approximately constant and the voltage across the motor is gradually increased by cutting out the starting resistance. Acceleration remains constant during this period due to constant tractive effort.
      In the second phase during speed curve running the voltage acting across the motor remains constant and the current starts decreasing with the increase in speed according to the characteristics of the motor across the motor remains constant and the current starts decreasing with the increase in speed according to the characteristics of the motor and finally the current becomes constant. During this period though the train accelerates but acceleration decreases and becomes to zero at the speed at which the tractive effort developed by the motor becomes exactly equal to the resistance to motion of the train.


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