NEED OF NEUTRAL SECTION
Electrical power is generated in three
phases with each phase having a phase
shift of 1200. The utility power supply
system also expects equal loading on all
phases. Traction power system works on
single phase 25kV traction system. It now
becomes important to use all the three
phases equally and convert them into one
phase traction supply.
This is achieved by feeding single phase
supply to the adjacent traction substation
which is separated by a neutral section. Each
feed covers a distance of about 30-40Km
feeding all the trains in that zone. By the
theory of probability, equal numbers of
trains in feed zone are expected, drawing
same load current. In this way un-balancing
on utility power supply system is avoided
Neutral Section is defined as short insulated
dead overhead equipment separating
sectors fed by two adjacent substations
which are normally connected to different
phases.
The neutral section is a dead zone and
therefore, the locomotive has to negotiate
the section in momentum.
The locomotive is switched off while
negotiating the neutral section to avoid flash
over at the time of exit and re-entering the
live zone. For this, warning board at 500M,
250M and final board for switching OFF and
ON are provided. The assistant loco pilot
speak out the approaching neutral section
loudly to alert the loco pilot.
Loco pilot also acknowledges the voice by
repeating the approaching neutral section
and is in readiness to act so that he should
not enter the neutral section with DJ/VCB in
ON condition.
Location of Neutral Section
The locomotive negotiates the neutral
section in its own momentum. Therefore the
location is always so chosen that the physical
terrain should not cause inconvenience in the
momentum of the train. These are-
1. Away from stopping signal and level
crossing
2. Away from up gradient preferably on flat
or down gradient
3. Away from sharp curve as it will not
provide sufficient straight length to
accommodate the neutral section.
Types of Neutral section
There are three types of neutral section
namely-
1. Conventional Type (41 Mtrs)
2. Short Neutral Section – Section
Insulator and PTFE type
3. Dynamic Neutral Section or ASNS type
Conventional Type:
The arrangement consists of five spans of
overhead equipment in which the central
span has to be strictly of 49.5 m length.
This span gives an effective neutral section
of 41 m length by proper selection of
staggers. Neutral section of 41 m has been
designed for three locomotives attached in
the front of a train.
Dead zone is created by physical
separation of dead zone (thick green line)
with the live zone of yellow and blue
phase . The dead zone provides
mechanical continuity for the pantograph
movement to support the upward force.
The dead zone is charged by the pantograph
of the leading locomotive with yellow phase
during entering the neutral zone and by blue
zone at the time of exiting the neutral
section. Length of the neutral section is
chosen as 41 m so that accidentally the dead
zone is not charged with Y and B phase
simultaneously.
The advantage of the system is its
maintenance free but the main disadvantage
is possibility of a locomotive getting struck in
the dead zone due to alarm chain pulling or
bad driving of loco pilot. This will require a
assisted loco be sent to pull the train.
Short Neutral Section
A short neutral section is of 5 m in which
the dead zone is electrically insulated by
section insulator with mechanical
continuity. With section insulators the
speed is restricted to 100 Kmph if the
runners of the section insulators are in
trailing direction or 70 Kmph otherwise.
Short neutral section of ceramic beaded resin
bonded glass fiber rod insulators are used
instead of air gap. These neutral sections are
fit for speed up to 200 Kmph.
