Locomotives are vehicles that run on rails and pull trains. They use electricity to power their motors and move the wheels. But not all locomotives use the same type of electricity. Some use single phase and some use three phase. What’s the difference?
Single phase electricity is a two-wire alternating current (AC) power circuit. It has one power wire and one neutral wire, with current flowing between them. Single phase locomotives use a single overhead wire to get the power and the rail as the return path.
Three phase electricity is a three-wire AC power circuit. It has three power wires each with a different phase angle. The current in each wire reaches its peak at different times, creating a rotating magnetic field. Three phase locomotives use two overhead wires to get the power and the rail as the third phase.
The advantages of three phase locomotives are that they have more power, less maintenance and better regenerative braking than single phase locomotives. They can also handle heavier and faster trains. The disadvantages are that they have more complex, expensive wiring and control systems.
Single phase and three phase locomotives are both used in different parts of the world, depending on the availability, cost, and demand of electricity. They both have their pros and cons and both serve the purpose of moving people and goods on Indian railways.
