Model of pulsating current traction motor taking into consideration magnetic losses in steel

The aim of the work is to develop a mathematical model of the traction motor of the pulsating current of an electric locomotive taking into account the magnetic losses in the motor steel to determine the starting parameters depending on the voltage of the armature winding. Methodology. Mathematical modeling of electromagnetic processes in a traction motor of pulsating current is applied taking into account the nonlinear nature of the armature inductance, the inductance of the excitation winding and the nonlinear nature of the universal magnetic characteristic. The magnetic losses in the steel of the traction motor were taken into account by establishing the dependence of these losses on the frequency of reversal, the magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit of the motor and the geometric dimensions of the motor. Results. The mathematical model of calculation of starting parameters of the traction engine of the pulsating current of the traction drive of the electric locomotive of alternating current taking into account the equation of instantaneous value of losses in engine steel is developed. The dynamic characteristics of the traction motor with pulsating current are obtained. It allows to investigate starting parameters of the traction engine on the basis of the received mathematical model and to design elements of the traction drive of the electric locomotive according to the specification, to choose optimum design parameters. Originality. For the first time a comprehensive study of the pulsating current traction motor was carried out taking into account the nonlinear nature of the armature inductance, excitation winding inductance and nonlinear nature of the universal magnetic characteristic and taking into account the magnetic losses in the motor steel. Practical significance. The model of the traction motor of pulsating current taking into account losses in steel of the engine on the basis of the carried-out calculation is developed. Experimental studies have confirmed the adequacy of the model, which allows to apply the obtained model to develop a mathematical model of an AC electric locomotive to study the electrodynamic processes in it at different modes of operation of the electric locomotive.

An initial investigation into the effects of the equine transeva technique (pulsating current electrotherapy) on the equine Gluteus superficialis

The equine transeva technique (ETT), is a novel electrotherapy, which utilises pulsating current electrotherapy to target sensory and motor neurons. The technique may facilitate increased circulation and correction of musculoskeletal issues and injuries, such as tendon and ligament tears and muscle atrophy. Despite the importance of understanding the impact of ETT on horses, no current scientific research exists in this area. This preliminary study investigated the effects of ETT on the musculoskeletal system of the horse, specifically within the Gluteus superficialis (GS). Using surface electromyography, muscle workload was measured in 11 sound and healthy horses of varying breeds and disciplines within the inclusion criteria. Integrated electromyography (iEMG) calculated the percentage change in maximal contractions before and after ETT treatment during one minute trials at 30 s intervals. An ANCOVA determined if these constituted significant changes (Bonferroni adjusted alpha: P≤0.02). Significant differences in muscle workload were found on the left side between pre- and post-treatment readings across trials (P≤0.02), however no significant changes occurred for the right side. The majority of horses (82%; n=9) experienced bilateral changes, with 78% of these (n=7) exhibiting a negative change in muscle workload recorded from the pretreatment condition, which may indicate muscular relaxation. The results suggest ETT may have some effect on muscle workload in the athletic horse, however further research is needed to confirm the effects observed. Future studies should include randomising the side which is treated first, a larger sample size, expansion of temporal variables and consideration of a longitudinal study to determine if these trends accrue over multiple maintenance-purposed treatments.

Determination of inductances for pulsating current traction motor

The object of research is a pulsating current traction motor. To improve the accuracy of its mathematical model, it is necessary to use the values of the parameters that are determined in experimental studies of the electric motor. In particular, it is important to use in the model of the electric motor inductance obtained experimentally. A method is proposed for calculating the inductance of the armature winding, main poles, additional poles and compensation winding and the total inductance of the traction motor armature circuit. The calculations are based on the results of the indirect inductance measurement method, in which the electrical values of various modes of power supply of the electric motor windings are directly measured, and the inductances are determined by auxiliary calculations. The inductances of the traction motor armature circuit have a non-linear dependence on the current flowing through them. The main difference of the study is that the measurements of the electrical parameters required for calculating the inductance are carried out over the entire range of operating currents of the windings. The essence of the proposed technique is to measure the active power in the armature winding, the winding of the main and additional poles, and the compensation winding, as well as in the armature circle as a whole when they are supplied with alternating current. According to the obtained values of active power losses and phase displacement, the corresponding reactive power losses are determined, with the help of which the inductances of the motor windings are calculated. Approbation of the methodology for calculating the conduction inductance for an electric motor of a pulsating current NB-418K6 (country of origin Russia), is used on electric locomotives of the VL80T and VL80k series (country of origin Russia). A scheme for measuring electrical parameters necessary for calculating inductance is proposed. The graphical dependences of the inductance on the armature current, built on the basis of calculations, confirmed the hypothesis about the nonlinear dependence of these inductances on the armature current. For further application of the results obtained in the simulation of the operation of the traction electric motor NB-418K6, a polynomial approximation of the total inductance of the armature circuit was performed.

Determination of the absolute hardness of electrolytically produced copper coatings by application of the Chicot-Lesage composite hardness model

In this study, a novel procedure based on application of the Chicot?Lesage (C?L) composite hardness model was proposed for determination of an absolute hardness of electrolytically produced copper coatings. The Cu coatings were electrodeposited on the Si(111) substrate by the pulsating current (PC) regime with a variation of the following parameters: the pause duration, the current density amplitude and the coating thickness. The topography of produced coatings was characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), while a hardness of the coatings was examined by Vickers microindentation test. Applying the C?L model, the critical relative indentation depth (RID)c of 0.14 was determined, which is independent of all examined parameters of the PC regime. This RID value separated the area in which the composite hardness of the Cu coating corresponded to its absolute hardness (RID < 0.14) from the area in which application of the C?L model was necessary for a determination of the absolute coating hardness (RID ? 0.14). The obtained value was in a good agreement with the value already published in the literature.

Morphology, Structure and Mechanical Properties of Copper Coatings Electrodeposited by Pulsating Current (PC) Regime on Si(111)

Copper electrodeposition on (111)-oriented Si substrate was performed by the pulsating current (PC) regime at various average current densities in the range of 15–70 mA·cm−2, obtained by varying either the frequency (30, 50, 80 and 100 Hz for the current density amplitude of 100 mA·cm−2) or the current density amplitude (120 and 140 mA·cm−2 at 100 Hz). The produced Cu coatings were examined by SEM, AFM and XRD techniques. The morphology of the coatings changed from those with large grains to fine-grained and globular, while the crystal structure changed from the strong (220) to the strong (111) preferred orientation by increasing the average current density. The mechanical characteristics of coatings were examined using Vickers micro-indentation tests, applying the Chicot–Lesage (C–L) composite hardness model for the analysis of microhardness. The maximum microhardness was obtained for the Cu coating produced at an average current density of 50 mA·cm−2, with a current density amplitude of 100 mA·cm−2 and a frequency of 100 Hz. This copper coating was fine-grained and showed the smallest roughness in relation to the other coatings, and it was obtained in the mixed activation–diffusion control between the end of the effect of the activation control and the beginning of the dominant effect of diffusion control.