Functions or Need of Traction Substation:
1) Insure that all the 24 hours of a day and throughout the year continuous electric supply is to be provided to OHE traction lines so that no shut down or disturbance occurs in train movements. This is possible with substation.
2) In the event of failure of one source of supply, the second (standby) remain intact to provide service through the substation.
3) Protective systems are provided in the substation to safe guard all the supply lines from faults.
4) Required voltage levels (by step up / step down) can be obtained using transformers in substations.
5) The required characteristics of electric supply (i.e. change of frequency etc) can be obtained by using proper equipment which is provided in substation.
6) Conversion of AC to DC vice versa required for traction purpose is done in substations.
7) Rapid isolation of faulty line which further damages the system can be made from substation.
8) Traction substations are used to convert electrical power as supplied by the power utility to a form suitable for providing power to a rail system (via third rail or overhead line).
9) Alternating current supply on the traction side is single phase and can lead to imbalance on the three phase utility beyond allowable limits. Balancing devices (Scott transformers, static convertors, etc.) are often used to achieve these limits in substation.
10) Generally traction substations will be controlled by SCADA systems and will likely provide power for auxiliary systems such as signaling and other track side purposes.
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