Traction transformers from Nuremberg
traveling the U.S.
Nuremberg traction plant supplies 70 high-tech transformers for Amtrak
electric locomotives in the U.S.
siemens.com/energy/transformers
The traction transformer plant in Nuremberg, Germany,
is making an important contribution to the success the
Business Unit Power Transmission has on the U.S. market:
It produces the transformers for the Amtrak ACS-64 electric
locomotives, which play an important role in the development of rail transport in the U.S. As early as 2012, the plant
delivered the first few of a total of 70 transformers, with
further deliveries scheduled until mid-2015. The trans­
formers have already been proven in practice.
In the summer of 2013, the first three ACS-64 electric
locomotives, which are manufactured by the Siemens
Infrastructure & Cities Sector, passed muster, and the first
locomotives are used in passenger service on the highly
frequented Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC,
New York, and Boston. The last of the 70 Amtrak locomotives that have been ordered is scheduled for delivery by
the end of 2015.
200 km/h and three UIC voltages handled reliably
The transformers from Nuremberg that are used in the
locomotives have been designed for a power output of
up to 6.4 megawatts. This enables the locomotives to pull
up to 18 passenger cars at a top speed of approximately
125 mph.
The existence of several different railroad systems using
different frequencies and voltages poses a particular challenge in the U.S. This means that every locomotive needs
to have a transformer that is able to handle the three
North-American UIC voltages of 25, 12.5, and 12 kV. The
solution from Nuremberg: the voltage change between
the three UIC voltages is not performed in the conventional way on the low-voltage side, but on the high-voltage
side of the winding. The 3-system transformer from
Siemens makes this possible at any time without any
problems. »The passenger doesn’t notice the voltage or
frequency change and arrives completely undisturbed.
This way, our transformer once more proves to be an
absolute high-tech product,« says Berthold Sedlmaier,
head of the Traction Transformers sub-segment (E T TR DT
TT) and plant manager of the Nuremberg traction transformer plant.
Braking energy recovery saves $300 million
The transformer also makes it possible to re-feed recovered braking energy into the contact wire. This way, the
American railway company Amtrak can save electricity
costs of approximately $300 million per year.
Left: The first Amtrak electric locomotives
from Siemens are already operating on the railroad track between Washington, DC, New York,
and Boston
Right: On the entire track, the power trans­
former from Nuremberg ensures a smooth
voltage change that remains unnoticed by
the passengers
Siemens AG
Energy Sector
Power Transmission Division
Transformatoren
Berthold Sedlmaier, E T TR DT TT
berthold.sedlmaier@siemens.com
Publisher and copyright 2014:
Siemens AG
Energy Sector
Freyeslebenstrasse 1
91058 Erlangen, Germany
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