AC Motors - better or worse packaging than DC?
Author: mike b
Date: 03-09-2007 - 12:25
Have noticed that many newer light rail cars use AC motors and variable-frequency drives for efficiency reasons. Is there any "packaging" benefit to AC motors as well? Are then smaller/lighter than DC, and would that affect the unsprung weight or other suspension behavior of a light rail car? Wondering the latter because the newer "CAF" cars in Sacramento with AC drives react much more strongly to track imperfections than the old (DC) Siemens cars - if the motors are significantly heavier or lighter than the motors used in the older cars would that have an effect?
Thanks!