This article states the Metuchen power converter station work is complete. There is no date as to when the work was actually completed ? Siemens states the rotary converter was removed. Disposition of converter is unknown with maybe salvaged for parts or complete coverter moved to another location ?
This solid state converter has capacity of 85 MW compared to rotary's 25 MW . Note: converter came in under Amtrak's budgeted price.
The converters are able to black start. That gives a second black start location with the Safe harbor hydro plant the other.
https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/siemens-updates-nec-traction-power-station/?RAchannel=news
blue streak 1There is no date as to when the work was actually completed ?
They note in the article that the converters were fully functional by May 2017.
One thing this might provide is true high-speed capability on the "speedway" between New Brunswick and Trenton even in the presence of the extensive local and regional traffic that is forecast for this busiest section of the NEC. I am mindful of a couple of leaked 'pictures without comment' showing digital speedometer readings higher than the TurboTrain record during Acela testing...
blue streak 1 This solid state converter has capacity of 85 mW compared to rotary's 25 mW . Note: converter came in under Amtrak's budgeted price. Siemens ought to get in touch with the city of New Orleans as several of the their municipal "sump pumps on a grand scale" run on 25 Hz and they are having problems keeping their 25 Hz generation alive.
This solid state converter has capacity of 85 mW compared to rotary's 25 mW . Note: converter came in under Amtrak's budgeted price.
Siemens ought to get in touch with the city of New Orleans as several of the their municipal "sump pumps on a grand scale" run on 25 Hz and they are having problems keeping their 25 Hz generation alive.
A minor nit-pick, "85 mW" and "25 mW" should be "85 MW" and "25 MW". "mW" means milliwatts, which would barely power a Z scale train, where MW is megawatts.
Siemens ought to talk with the city of New Orleans about one of these static converters for suply 25 Hz power to the large pumps used for draining the parts of the city below sea level. My understanding is that the existing 25 Hz power generation is mostly inoperable.
erikem Siemens ought to get in touch with the city of New Orleans as several of the their municipal "sump pumps on a grand scale" run on 25 Hz and they are having problems keeping their 25 Hz generation alive.
blue streak 1 erikem Siemens ought to get in touch with the city of New Orleans as several of the their municipal "sump pumps on a grand scale" run on 25 Hz and they are having problems keeping their 25 Hz generation alive. No wonder New Orleans is having trouble with its pumps ! Any idea when the 25hZ pumps were installed ? New 60 hZ pump motors would certainly take less iron!
I guess that the fact that they were upgrading the phase converters says they they have no plans to convert to modern 60 Hz cat operation in the foreseeable future.
Back about 30 years ago, there was much discussion in the IEEE Spectrum and elsewhere on the relative advantages of 25Hz vs 60Hz power for RR electrification. One common theme was that the 25Hz installations were a bit more resilient than 60Hz installations. The likely explanation is that the current zero crossing happens slower with 25Hz, giving more time for any arcs to quench.
As for 25Hz in New Orleans, the pumps require very low speed motors and 25Hz low speed motors are more efficient than 60Hz low speed motors. Prior to WW2, 25Hz electrical equipment was readily available.
Amtrak gets 25 Hz single phase power from the Safe Harbor Hyro plant on the Susquehanna River. It also buys 60 Hz power from the utilities. The 25 Hz rotating machinery is beyond its life cycle at eighty five years (1933-2018) of age. So does this mean that Lamokin (48 MW, 3 Motor Genertors, 1928) is next to be replaced?
Reference:
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Amtrak's_25_Hz_traction_power_system.html
Electroliner 1935 Amtrak gets 25 Hz single phase power from the Safe Harbor Hyro plant on the Susquehanna River. It also buys 60 Hz power from the utilities. The 25 Hz rotating machinery is beyond its life cycle at eighty five years (1933-2018) of age. So does this mean that Lamokin (48 MW, 3 Motor Genertors, 1928) is next to be replaced? Reference: Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Amtrak's_25_Hz_traction_power_system.html
By all accounts in the Wiki article Amtrak will keep the present motor generators in service. They have the ability to filter harmonics both of 25 Hz and 60 Hz. They are electrically not as efficient (~85%) compared to the new static converters (~96%). The remaining motor generators have all gone thru refurbishment and upgrades. That is why maybe the retired motor generators at Metuchen may go elsewhere ?
Edit. As we understand it converting to 60 Hz will require rebuilding the PRR signal system to another frequency to prevent interferrence on the present parts of signal system at 60 Hz ? There are still motors on Amtrak that maintenance, stations, & other locations that use 25 Hz from the CAT power.
Note Septa uses mostly static converters are Wayne junction to provide 25 Hz power. At last understanding Septa and Amtrak can interconnect at Wayne but that is not certain now ?
blue streak 1Edit. As we understand it converting to 60 Hz will require rebuilding the PRR signal system to another frequency to prevent interferrence on the present parts of signal system at 60 Hz ?
Per the Wiki article: Signal Power
No mention of its source. Could this be part of the signal failures between Washington & Baltimore?
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