A Novel Power Flow Algorithm for Traction Power Supply Systems Based on the Thévenin Equivalent

With the rapid development of high-speed and heavy-haul railways throughout China, modern large power locomotives and electric multiple units (EMUs) have been applied in main railway lines. The high power requirements have brought about the problem of insufficient power supply capacity (PSC) of traction power supply systems (TPSSs). Thus, a convenient method of PSC assessment is meaningful and urgently needed. In this paper, a novel algorithm is proposed based on the Thévenin equivalent in order to calculate the PSC. In this algorithm, node voltage equations are converted into port characteristic equations, and the Newton-Raphson method is exploited to solve them. Based on this algorithm, the PSC of a typical high-speed railway is calculated through the repeated power flow (RPF). Subsequently, the effects of an optimized organization of train operations are analyzed. Compared to conventional algorithms, the proposed one has the advantages of fast convergence and an easy approach to multiple solutions and PV curves, which show vivid and visual information to TPSS designers and operators. A numerical analysis and case studies validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method, which can help to optimize the organization of train operations and design lines and enhance the reliability and safety of TPSSs.