Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Emulation of the Low-Frequency Oscillation Phenomenon in AC Railway Networks

Dynamic interactions among the AC railway traction network and power electronics converters feeding the trains have been reported to cause low-frequency oscillations (LFO) of the catenary voltage and current. This can result in railway system instability, eventually leading to a power outage and the shutdown of the train traffic. To avoid LFO, control of train power electronic converters must be properly designed and tuned. Experimental verification of control performance regarding the LFO phenomenon in the railway traction network is not easy. Alternatively, the railway traction network can be emulated using a power electronic converter, which would feed the train power converter under test. This paper addresses the design of a network emulator able to reproduce the dynamic behavior of the actual network at low frequencies, including LFO. Three different options will be considered for the network emulator. Their performance will be studied first by means of simulations. Finally, the selected solution will be verified on a downscale test bench.