ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has delivered the worlds most powerful traction frequency converter system to E.ON, the leading German utility. The converter station located at the Datteln railway hub, is capable of supplying up to 25 percent of the power required by the German railways.
Rated at 413 megawatts (MW) and equipped with the most advanced power electronics, the system efficiently converts electricity from the countrys three-phase high-voltage grid with a rated frequency of 50 Hertz (Hz) to the 16.7 Hz required by the single-phase 110 kV (kilovolt) grid of Deutsche Bahn.
This is a prestigious project that deploys ABBs state-of-the-art power conversion technology, said Oleg Aleinikov, head of ABBs Substations business, a part of the companys Power Systems division. Power electronics are playing a key role in driving efficiency and reliability across many key sectors like rail, and ABB is at the forefront of this development.
As part of the turnkey contract, ABB was responsible for the design, engineering, installation and commissioning of the system. Key components of the containerized solution include transformers and frequency converters as well as control and cooling systems.
The system consists of four identical converter blocks to provide steady power supply. Designed to ensure exceptionally high levels of system availability and reliability, it enables maintenance work to be carried out on one of the converter blocks without compromising the conversion capacity of the entire plant.
ABB has a range of power and automation products and solutions for the rail industry and a vast global installed base. Increasing concern for the environment, rapid urbanization, the need to move more people and freight faster and volatile fuel prices make rail a strategic focus sector for the company.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.
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For help with any technical terms in this release, please go to: www.abb.com/glossary
