2008 IEEE Electrical Power & Energy Conference

Analysis of the Electric Railway Loading Impact on the

Operation of the Generator Negative Current Protection
Ran Gao, Yonghai Xu, Lizhu Bao and Zhihui Cao

AbstractWith the rapid development of electric railway, the

negative current injected to the power system increases obviously,
and effects increasingly on the power system. Based on the
regional power supply network of railway loading, the simulation
model is conducted using PSCAD/EMTDC. The paper analyzes
the negative current that occurs in the generator stator by
simulating the model, and studies further that negative current of
electric railway impacts on the operating characteristics of
generator negative current protection, and changing the
transmission distance of the power line affect on the negative
current in the power system. It gives some advices about
regulating the setting value of the over-load of rotor negative
current.
KeywordsElectric railway, Negative current, Negative
current protection, Setting valueTransmission distance

INTRODUCTION

single-phase 25-kV electrified ac railway systems

have been operated to supply power to a range of
locomotives with a significant proportion of the locomotives
still employing ac-dc phase-controlled thyristor converters to
feed dc motor drives[1-2].
ANY

power line. Taking no false action and no non-action of

negative current protection as prerequisite, it meets the loading
requirement to adjust reliable coefficient and regulate
transmission distance.
NEGATIVE CURRENT CAUSED by ELECTRIC RAILWAY
LOADING
Traction transformer transmits the power to two
single-phase traction lines which can be with load. Each
single-phase traction line can supply the up trains and the
down trains with the power. Single phase independence and
asymmetry of traction load are essential characteristics of
traction power supply system, and are main cause which
traction load affects the negative characteristic of the power
system.
There are so many kinds of power traction transformers.
Using the different traction transformer causes the negative
current which is not the same in the power system. As Figure1
shows that traction transformer with Y,d11 connection [3].

The electric railway is a fluctuating high-power

single-phase commutation load, which may threat power
system security operation. The asymmetric current, which is
caused by the electric railway loading, affects the symmetrical
operation of the power system, and brings about the serious
negative current [3]. To some degree, the negative current in
the power system can affect a lot of consumer equipments, and
impacts on the abnormal operation of the generator negative
current protection.
This paper emphatically studies fundamental negative
sequence currents caused by the electric railway loading. In
fact, the abnormal operation of the generator negative current
protection common occurred. Based on the regional power
supply network of railway loading, the simulation model is
conducted using PSCAD/EMTDC. The paper analyzes the
negative current that occurs in the generator stator by
simulating the model, and researches the change of the
negative current by regulating transmission distance of the
This work is supported by the project which is the key technology of
the power supply for the railway loading under the auspices of State Grid
Corporation of China(Project Number: SGKJ[2007]102).
Ran Gao, Yonghai Xu, Lizhu Bao and Zhihui Cao are with the School
of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power
University. E-mail: gaoran3132@yahoo.com.cn, yonghaixu@263.com.
caozhihui2008@163.com, baolizhuok@163.com.
978-1-4244-2895-3/08/$25.00 2008 IEEE

Figure 1 Traction power supply system of traction transformer

with Y, d11 connection

Suppose that power system voltage is three-phase

symmetry sine wave. Taking the power supply section with
i

leading phase-voltage U b c as reference, the Equation 1

shows that the calculation formula of fundamental currents of
two power supply sections.
i

I b = I b e j
i

I a = I ae

j( 120

(1)

Where and are respectively initial phase angle of

fundamental wave. The initial phase angle is reference to the
respective voltage of the power supply sections.
The
is

current

i
i
i
Ic =(I a +Ib )

formula

of

earth

terminal

C-phase

. The sequence component was decomposed

from the current by using symmetrical component method.

Based on wiring group and transformation ratio K of the
transformer, the negative sequence current is calculated which
is injected into the power system.

i
I A+ = 1
i
3K
I A

1 e j 60

1 e j 60

i
I A
i
1
I B =
3K
i
I C

i
I a
i
I b

2 1 i
1 1 I a

i
1 2 I b

(2)

(3)

The formula (4) shows that the negative sequence current is

obtained from the formula (2) and (3).
I1 = I a2 + I b2 + 2I a Ib cos + 240 / 3K

(4)

According to the same method as above, it is calculated that

the negative current is injected into the power system by
transformer with V,v connection, Scott connection transformer
and impedance-matching balance transformer, as shown in
Equations (4), (5) and (6).
I 2 = I a2 + I b2 + 2I a Ib cos + 240 / 3K

(5)

I3 = I a2 + I b2 + 2 I a Ib cos + 180 / 3K

(6)

I 4 = I a2 + I b2 + 2 I a I b cos + 180 / 3K

(7)

Where In- is the negative current which is injected into

the power system by the traction transformer, and the value of
n is 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Ia and Ib is supply current of two
power supply sections, and K is the ratio of the primary and
secondary voltage of the traction transformer.
By analyzing the Equations 4, 5, 6, and 7, it is obtained that
there are some characteristics of the negative current caused
by the traction transformer. The characteristics are the mini
negative current of balance transformer connection which
includes
Scott
connection
transformer
and
impedance-matching balance transformer, and lager negative
current of triple-phase traction transformer which includes
transformer with V,v connection and transformer with Y,d11
connection. In the simulation circuit, 4 traction transformers
species are applied.
GENERATOR NEGATIVE CURRENT PROTECTION
Some protection schemes developed to detect unbalanced
conditions on the operation of an element of the power system
are based on the detection of phase quantities, detection of
residual currents, detection of heating on devices and detection
of negative sequence component [4-5].

The protection scheme used to detect unbalanced conditions

using phase quantities is based principally on detecting
magnitudes of currents. When an unbalanced condition takes
place in the power system, the magnitude and phase of
voltages and currents change. This method is based on these
changes, but sometimes differences are big enough to make
the protection function to work inappropriately.
If there are unbalanced short circuits and unbalanced load
occurred in the distribution net work, the negative current
would be generated in the power system, and flows into the
stator winding of the generator, and leads to two times
synchronous speed magnetic field which is related to the
rotational speed of the rotor, so two times power current occur
in the rotor [6]. The current only flow on the surface of rotor,
increases rotor losses, and then leads to the over-heat of the
rotor. The generator endures a certain ability of negative
current. If the negative current flowing through the stators is
less than the limits of regulation, the rotor is not suffered to
injure. Based on the ability of enduring negative current, it
decides the setting value of the protection of negative current.
In the electric power industry standard, above 100MW of the
generator capacity, it is less than 10 that time constant for
heating caused by the negative current in the rotor surface. The
negative current protection is composed of definite-time and
inverse time of over current protection [7]. The negative
current, which is induced by the railway concentrated loading,
leads the accident of the generator trip, generators vibration
and over-heat, the abnormal operation of the protection and
generating set. The paper emphatically studies definite-time of
the generator negative current protection.
SETTING CALCULATION of GENERATOR NEGATIVE
CURRENT PROTECTION
The calculation of the setting calculation of definite-time of
over current protection is based on the negative current of long
time continuous operation of the generator. The Equations (8)
shows that the calculation method of the setting calculation of
definite-time of over current protection.
I 2 . o p . s = K re l

I 2*.
I g .n
K re

(8)

Where I2.op.s is the setting calculation of definite-time of

over current protection, Krel is the reliable coefficient, Kre is
the return coefficient, and Ign is rated secondary current of the
generator.
The time calculation of the protection is based on the largest
operation time of the back-up protection of the line.

t2.op.s = top.1.max + t

(9)

Where t2.op.s is the time calculation of the protection, top.1.max

is the setting calculation of the largest operation time of the
back-up protection of the line, and t is the actuating time
step. If the definite-time negative current protection operates,
the protection would emit the signal to remind the operator on
duty [8].

 EFFECT of the DIFFERENT CAPACITY GENERATOR

NEGATIVE CURRENT PROTECTION AFFECTED by RAILWAY
LOADING
Because the different capacity generators bear the ability of
the negative current, the operation of the generator negative
current protection is not the same. To the different capacity

generators, their ratio of the current transformer is different, so

the secondary value of the current transformer is different at
the same measuring point. Table 1 shows that the technical
parameters of the generators with different capacity. Table 2
shows that the negative current value of long time continuous
operation of the generator and the time constant for heating
caused by the negative current.

Table 1 Technical parameters of the generators with different capacity

rated voltage of the stator

(kV rms)
15.75
22
20
27

generator capacity(MW)
200
350
600
1000

rated current of the stator

(A rms)
8625
10806
19245
23949

power factor
(lag)
0.85
0.85
0.9
0.9

CT ratio
10000/5
15000/5
25000/5
30000/5

Table 2 Negative current value of long time continuous operation of the generator
and the time constant for heating caused by the negative current

the generator rating power (MW)

negative current relative value of long time continuous

operation of the generator

350

0.08

350900

8-0.00545* ( SG. N 350)

9001250

0.08- SG . N 350
30000

12501600

0.05

Based on the regional power supply network of railway

loading, the simulation model is conducted using PSCAD.
Based on the characteristics of the fact power supply, the
traction engine is timed to operate in the simulation. and
operate in the different gears. The simulation time is 10
seconds. The Figure1, 2, 3 and 4 show that the output
waveform of the negative current in the stator of the 200MW,
350MW, 600MW and 1000MW generators.
the Generator in Shenyuan Line

the Negative current(A)

1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00

0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Time(s)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Figure 3 Secondary value of negative current of

the 350MW generator
Main : Graphs
0.80

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

0.70

0.75

0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Time(s)

0.50

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

0.25
0.00

Time(s)

the Generator In Shenyuan Line

0.90

the Negative Current(A)

Main : Graphs

Main : Graphs
1.00

the Negative Current (A)

The setting value of the negative current, which is about

200MW, 350MW, 600MW, and 1000MW of the generators
capacity by using the Equations (8) and the parameter of the
Table 1and 2, is respectively 0.46 A, 0.385 A, 0.368 A and
0.324 A The time calculation of the protection is 5 seconds
calculated by the Equations (9).

2.00

time constant for heating (s)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Figure 2 Secondary value of negative current of

the 200MW generator

Figure 4 Secondary value of negative current of

the 600MW generator

avoiding the false action.

Main : Graphs
the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

Table 3 Adjusted reliable coefficient

The generator rating
200
350
600
power (MW)

the Negative Current(A)

0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100

The reliable coefficient

0.050

0.000
Time(s)
0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

Figure 5 Secondary value of negative current of

the 1000MW generator

Figure 2 shows that it is great variation amplitude that the

negative current of the 600MW generator in the stator. Its
negative current frequently exceeds the setting value of the
definite-time protection. The maximum negative current is up
to 2.80A, so it intensifies the heating of the generator rotor,
and much heat is generated in the rotor surface which is easy
to damage the rotor. Because the negative current exceeds the
setting value during the simulation, the timer of the inverse
time protection is triggered. The duration of the negative
current is short, so the inverse time protection is caused to
operation. The simulation software has its limitation of
real-time simulation. The electric locomotive is considered to
short the operation time. It is applied every 0.5 seconds, and
then the change of the negative current is analyzed. The
railway loading passes the traction transformer, and it impacts
the power system. It causes so much harmonic current and
negative current to inject into the power system. The operation
time is less than 0.5s in the actual situation. The Figure 2
shows that between 5.53s and 8.05s, the negative current
continuously exceeds the setting value. If the timer of the
definite-time protection reaches the setting value, the operation
operates to send out the signal. The Figure 4 shows that the
negative current waveform more stable. At some time, the
negative current seriously exceeds the setting value. The
Figure 5 shows that the negative current waveform of the
1000MW generator. At some time, the negative current is more
than the setting value, but the difference between it and the
setting value is less.

2.37

1.75

1.19

1000
1.05

The Table 3 shows that adjusting the reliable coefficient can

meet the factual requirement. The premise of the adjusting is
that taking no false action and no non-action of negative
current protection. It is very important. The setting value of the
definite-time operation should combine with the lower limit
setting value of the inverse-time protection. To the 200MW
and 350 MW generators, using the data of the Table 3 will lead
to the non-action. To the 600MW and 1000MW generators, the
data of the Table 3 is more reasonable.
CHANGE of NEGATIVE CURRENT by CHANGING
TRANSMISSION DISTANCE
If the power plant is far from the railway loading, the
harmonic current and negative current decrease, and they
decrease the influence to the generator protection. This implies
that the transmission lines can weak the harmonic current and
negative current. The Figure 6 shows that the reduce
percentage of the negative current with changing the
transmission distance.
Main : Graphs
0.80

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

0.70
the Negative Current(A)

0.350

0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Time(s)

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

0.500

Figure 6 Negative current of the transmission distance of 0km

Main : Graphs
0.80

0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Time(s)

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

Figure 7 Negative current of the transmission distance of 20km

Main : Graphs
0.70

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

0.60
the Negative Current(A)

The Figure 2, 3, 4 and 5 show that it is minor that the

negative current of the lager capacity generator in the stator.
The possibility of the protection action decreases. When the
protection criterion of the negative current protection is
studied, the generator is regarded as the heat insulator. The
calculation formula of the protection criterion doesnt consider
that the rotor heat transfer, so the protection criterion is on the
safe side. Taking no false action and no non-action of negative
current protection as prerequisite, it meets the loading
requirement to adjust reliable coefficient and regulate
transmission distance. According to the simulation waveform,
the Table 3 shows that the adjusted reliable coefficient for

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

0.70
the Negative Current(A)

To the different capacity generators, the negative current in

the stator is great difference. The Table 1 shows that their ratio
of the current transformer is different to the different capacity
generators, so the negative current makes a great difference.
Though the minor capacity generator bears the greater ability
of the negative current, the negative current is greater; it is
easy to operate the definite-time protection.

0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Time(s)

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

0.500

Figure 8 Negative current of the transmission distance of40km

Figure 12and Table 4 show that with increasing the

transmission distance, the negative current in the stator is
relevant reduce, and the lowered range is obvious. Increasing
the transmission distance can be used to weaken the harmonic
current and negative current, and then reduces the influence
caused by the railway loading. It can be helpful for safe and
reliable power supply.

Main : Graphs
0.80

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

the Negative Current(A)

0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
Time(s)

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

0.500

Figure 9 Negative current of the transmission distance of 60km

Main : Graphs
0.80

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

the Negative Current(A)

0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
Time(s)

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

0.500

Figure 10 Negative current of the transmission distance of 80km

Main : Graphs
0.80

the Generator In the Shenyuan Line

the Negative Current(A)

0.70
0.60
0.50

0.30
0.20
0.10

0.150

The negative current of the lager capacity generator in the

stator is less than the smaller capacitys, so its influence to the
protection is less than the smaller capacitys. For preventing
false action of the negative current protection, it meets the
loading requirement to adjust reliable coefficient. Table 3
shows that the reliable coefficient is adjusted greatly to the
smaller capacity generator. It can not combine with the lower
limit setting value of the inverse-time protection. The
definite-time protection is easy to act false. The reliable
coefficient is not acceptable. The reliable coefficient of the
larger capacity generator is adjusted smaller than the smaller
capacity generators. It can avoid the adverse effect caused by
the railway loading. So choosing the larger capacity generator
can meet the railway loading.
Increasing the transmission distance can weaken the
harmonic current and negative current, so it can decrease the
influence to the generator negative current protection. It can be
used to guarantee normal operation of the protection.

0.40

0.00
Time(s)

CONCLUSIONS

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

0.400

0.450

0.500

Figure 11 Negative current of the transmission distance of 120km

Figure 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show that the transmission lines

can weaken the negative current. With the increase of the
transmission distance, the negative current gradually becomes
smaller.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors want to acknowledge its tutor who guides my work
painstakingly and creates a good environment and conditions for
carrying out the investigation. In the same time, the authors
acknowledge the financial support received from the project which is
the key technology of the power supply for the railway loading under
the auspices of State Grid Corporation of China(Project Number:
SGKJ[2007]102).

REFERENCES
[1]

[2]
Figure 12 Percentage of weakening the negative current
Table 4 Negative current with the change of transmission distance
Transmission distance(km)

Negative current(A)

0.336

20

0.300

40

0.286

60

0.212

80

0.202

100

0.189

120

0.171

[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
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BIOGRAPHIES
Ran Gao received bachelor degree from the Department of
Electrical Engineering, Hebei Institute of Architecture Civil
Engineering, in 2005. Now he is a M.D. student in the School of
Electrical & Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power
University. His area of research is analysis and control of the power
quality.
Yonghai Xu received bachelor degree from the E.E. Department,
Tsinghua University in 1989. He is recommended to North China
Electric Power University for Master Degree. He received Master
Degree from the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in
1992, and continued to work there in the same year. He is a Ph. D
candidate in North China Electric Power University and Harbin
Institute of Technology in 1997. He received Ph. D in 2002. His areas
of research are analysis and control of the power quality, and power
system harmonic.

Lizhu Bao received bachelor degree from the Specialty of Electric

Power System and Automation, Northeast Dianli University in 2003.
Now he is a M.D. student in the School of Electrical & Electronic
Engineering, North China Electric Power University. His area of
research is relay protection.
Zhihui Cao received bachelor degree from the Specialty of
Electric Power System and Automation, Sichuan University in 2001.
Now he is a M.D. student in the School of Electrical & Electronic
Engineering, North China Electric Power University. His areas of
research are power quality monitoring and control, and flexible
electrical energy delivery feed technique.