Evaluative research of induction traction electric motor with low-level power supply for mine locomotive

The relevance of the research is caused by the need to solve the problem of ensuring energy-efficient operation modes of traction electric drives of underground locomotive used to transport metal ore in ferrous and nonferrous mines from the place of mining to place of storage for further transportation to the surface. One of the main tasks of underground rail transport is to reach marginal traction characteristics of variable-frequency induction motors in conditions of limited magnitude of supply voltage of the contact network DC of underground transport for electrical safety reasons. The aim of the work is to study the possibility of using induction motors with reduced voltage power supply for traction electric underground mining locomotives; to determine the conditions of conformity of mechanical characteristics of induction traction motor with reduced voltage regarding the characteristics of a standard voltage. Object of research: traction induction motor with reduced supply voltage, increased tractive effort and low sensitivity to vibration and shocks. Research methods. The research was performed by analyzing the analytical dependences of induction motor characteristics and simulation results in the Simulink/MatLab. The comparison was carried out at static and dynamic characteristics, energy performance and structural features of the considered motors. Results. A special crane induction motor, produced by «Sibelektromotor», designed for frequency regulation of speed, was selected as a prototype of induction traction motor. The paper introduces the method for calculating the equivalent circuit parameters of induction traction motor by passport data at reduced voltage to the stator; its simulation model was designed. The principal mechanical and electromechanical properties and characteristics of traction induction motor with the switching scheme of connection of phase windings of the stator from the «star» to «triangle», recalculated to a low voltage, correspond to characteristics of induction traction motor with standard voltage. To ensure vibration and shock resistance the authors justified a change in the design of induction traction motor with replacement of cast iron housing on the welded steel housing with additional supports for fixing to the frame of the locomotive.