Improving the Controllability of the Infrastructure in AC-Fed Railways With Neutral Zones

This paper presents an enhancement to the electrical infrastructure that applies to those AC railway power supply systems which have neutral zones. The proposed upgrade allows an improved degree of controllability of the infrastructure, making it possible to perform power routing in traction electrical grids. The modified system consists on the addition of controlled power electronic devices connected in parallel to both sides of the neutral zones. The paper discusses the advantages of such a system in a real section of the high-speed Madrid-Barcelona.