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| ABB pioneers breakthrough rail innovation  Swiss engineering giant ABB has successfully developed a revolutionary traction transformer that uses power electronics to reduce its size and weight while increasing the energy efficiency of the train.The new power electronic traction transformer (PETT) is based on an innovative, multilevel converter topology that uses IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) power semiconductors and medium frequency transformers replacing the conventional transformer and inverter combination. The medium frequency transformer also reduces noise levels. As part of a long-term partnership between SBB (Swiss Federal Railway) and ABB, a pilot PETT installation is currently under trial on a shunting locomotive for use on the 15 kV AC and 1.5 kV DC lines at Geneva main railway station. The innovation is a breakthrough that achieves one of the rail industry's priority objectives of reducing the weight of on-board components. The traction transformer, which is traditionally made of iron and copper is one of the heavy pieces of equipment on a train. Size is another challenge for traction transformers, because reducing the amount of space used by equipment means more space is available for paying passengers. Over the past decade, ABB has continually made design improvements in rail components, creating compact products like roof-installed transformers that reduce equipment footprint without compromising performance. write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Construction News :: home page |