Apparatus for measuring the electrical energy delivered to a rail traction unit by a high voltage line

Abstract

Apparatus for measuring the electrical energy supplied to a rail traction unit by a high voltage line (1), the apparatus comprising measurement means (5, 26) for measuring the current drawn, and measurement means (12, 27) for measuring the voltage of the power supply, said measurement means themselves possessing a low voltage power supply (23, 24) necessary to enable them to operate, the apparatus being characterized in that the low voltage electrical power supply is taken from light energy converted (22) into electrical energy.

Description

[0001] This claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 06 06797, filed on Jul. 25, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the electrical energy delivered, at high voltage, to a locomotive, or more generally to the motor of a rail traction unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The electrical energy delivered in particular by the catenary to a locomotive needs to be measured in order to enable the supplier to bill consumers. This need is relatively new since it results from recent regulations requiring a plurality of electricity supply operators to be free to compete on a network, and for a plurality of operators to be free to use said energy on the same network. [0004] In principle, implementing such measurement is extremely simple: it suffices to measure the current drawn, its voltage, and the duration of its consumption, either continuously or by sampling at a sutiable ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a solution to the problem of congestion in rail traction units by allowing sensors and devices to be miniaturized and housed without impediment in the roof equipment of a rail traction unit. The invention includes a low voltage power supply with a light source and an optical / electrical converter for measuring the current and power supply voltage of the rail traction unit. The technical effect of the invention is to enable the efficient and accurate measurement of electrical energy supplied to a rail traction unit without compromising isolation requirements.

Problems solved by technology

In practice, things are much more complicated because the measurement devices are in the environment of a high voltage network (from 1500 volts direct current (DC) to 25,000 volts alternating current (AC) depending on the portions of the network being traveled) when it comes to acquiring the variables, and in a low voltage environment when it comes to generating and processing signals.

They are in addition to all of the other equipment on the roof of the traction unit such that under the best of circumstances there is an increase in the frontal area of the equipment, thus creating drag that is an impediment for high-speed trains, and more often is quite simply impossible since there is not enough room in this particularly congested space.

Images