Study of Short Circuit Currents in a Distributed Traction Power Supply System with Renewable Electric Power Sources

The problems of changing short-circuit currents in a distributed traction system for using renewable energy sources were analyzed in the article. Literary sources analysis shows a further tendency for increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy balance of the country and a particular increase in electricity consumption by electric traction. Goal. The main goal of the study is a method development with its practical application to impact estimation of power-boost points that connected to the traction network with energy using from renewable sources on short-circuit currents values. Methodology. The method that has developed in this study is based on well-known approaches for equivalent circuits of electrical equipment definition, but elemenst pair like «solar panel - inverter» it reproduces as EMF with equivalent resistance, which significantly simplifies further calculations. Results. The study results show that the application of power-boost points will not lead to a significant increase of short-circuit currents in the traction network even if the power of photovoltaic sources will be comparable with the power of existing converting units on traction substations. This is because of the physical nature of the photovoltaic panel and its power mode which usually closer to the current source with high internal resistance. Practical value. This also allows us to conclude that in most cases from the point of view of changing the short circuit currents the integration of power-boost points that are powered by solar power plants is quite possible with operating sections of the traction power supply system.