Method for Assessing the Performance of Critical Electric Driven Equipment of Railway Transport Enterprises in Non-Nominal Power Network Conditions

Purpose. Analyse the effect of supply voltage changes on the performance of an asynchronous motor operating under typical loads in order to determine the limit values of voltage deviations when it is impossible to start and ‘roll over’ the motor. The relevance of the study is confirmed by the fact that traction units – locomotives – occupy a special place among the rolling stock of railways. Methods. Comprehensive analysis of technical equipment and technology of railway transport, analytical methods for studying the operating properties of asynchronous electric motors, methods of mathematical analysis. Results. Technological processes of repair and maintenance of rolling stock in depots and repair enterprises are largely associated with the use of industrial equipment equipped with an electric drive. Most often, this electric drive is asynchronous. Power supply of industrial railway transport enterprises, as well as railway nodes themselves, is carried out from the United Energy System of Ukraine, which during the full-scale invasion is subjected to significant terrorist attacks. This leads to a decrease in the qualitative and quantitative indicators of electric energy both in the country as a whole and at industrial enterprises of railways in particular. In order to determine the potential operability of critically important equipment of railway enterprises in conditions of low-quality electric energy supply, an assessment method is proposed, based on the analysis of the mechanical characteristics of asynchronous electric drives taking into account the real conditions of their operation. As a criterion for assessing the potential performance of an electric drive, it is proposed to use the combined mechanical characteristics of the drive motor and the working body, taking into account real operating conditions. The results of the analysis of their mutual placement allow us to draw a conclusion regarding the stability of the electric drive. Originality. An engineering method for determining the limit values of the steady-state deviation of the supply voltage, provided that the starting torque and overload capacity of the engine are provided, based on its catalog data, is proposed. Practical significance. The results obtained can be used as input data for predictive modeling of the stability of the operation of critical equipment when they are supplied with electrical energy with low qualitative and quantitative indicators. Based on the results obtained, a number of recommendations can be developed regarding the organization of uninterrupted power supply of such non-traction consumers of railway transport using energy from renewable sources. The research material can be used in the implementation of measures to compensate for the negative impact of quantitative and qualitative indicators of the supply of electrical energy on the reliability of non-traction consumers of railway transport.