Synergetic control of asynchronous electric traction drives of locomotives

The problem of synthesis of the control system of locomotive asynchronous electric traction drives with regard to processes in the wheel-rail contact. In this system, the wheels can slip relative to the rail, and the excessive slippage has a negative effect on the locomotive traction properties and increases the wear of the wheel pair and rail surface. Modern techniques of solving this problem are based on the forced increase of the coefficient of traction in the wheel-rail contact and on tracking the acceleration of the wage wheels rotation rate as the wheel slip development is evaluated. A new approach to the synthesis of locomotive traction controllers is proposed that is based on the theory of synergetic control. The proposed traction controller ensures a prescribed slip rate of the wage wheels relative to the rail thus ensuring the maximum traction; furthermore, this controller minimizes the loss of energy in the power unit of the electric traction drive.