Lodz city electric transport includes more than 20 tram routes. Tram network covers the whole city, and most routes exist already more than 100 years, because this kind of transport appeared in Lodz in 1898 for the first time. Besides, Lodz is one among the few cities, that has intercity tram routes. Every day you can see 175 trams on the Lodz streets, that carry about 170 thousand passengers. That is relatively small number for such expanded transport system in the city with a population of more than 700 thousand citizens.
In 2020 PLUTON successfully completed works on new traction substation "Telefoniczna", located in the largest and the most important Lodz tram depot. Implementation of this project included the following scope of works: design, building works, equipment supply, including telecontrol equipment and operator control set, cables replacement on the territory of depot, scope of electric installation and commissioning works, destruction of former substation.
There are some special features and interesting facts regarding new traction substation "Telefoniczna":
- 4 powerful traction units, with 1600 kVA for each unit;
- 17 feeders (line cubicles) for power supply of traction substation;
- in contrast to conventional positive polarity of contact network, accepted for trams ("plus" +660 V is fed to contact wire), Lodz tram network is built in such a way that "minus" -660 V is fed to contact wire;
- in addition to tram network power supply, substation provides power supply for auxiliaries and depot auxiliary equipment. That is provided by 2 power transformers 630 kVA each and switchgear 0.4 kV;
- implementation of integrated telecontrol system at the substation level, as well as operator control center for monitoring and control of main and auxiliary substation and depot contact network equipment, including: new telecontrol cabinet, telecommunication equipment and automated operator workstations with full redundancy.
Complete list of new electric equipment, supplied by PLUTON, included:
- switchgear 17.5 kV — 12 cubicles;
- switchgear 660 V — 23 cubicles;
- rectifier — 4 units;
- transformer — 6 units;
- auxiliaries equipment 380/220 V — 2 units;
- substation ground fault protection unit — 1 unit;
- AC switchgear 0.4 kV for depot needs;
- power compensation equipment 0.4 kV;
- telecontrol equipment set at the substation;
- telecontrol equipment set in the main operator center;
- fire and security alarm systems, including video surveillance equipment;
- cable products inside and outside the substation;
- contact network disconnectors on the territory of depot — 8 units.
It should be highlighted that works on putting of the new substation into operation were carried out at operating site, without interruption of contact network power supply for providing tram traffic schedule compliance.
PLUTON team expresses gratitude to "MPK Łódź" for cooperation, confidence and opportunity to implement our cutting-edge reliable technologies provided for electric power supply and automation at “Telefoniczna” traction substation. Looking forward to new projects in Poland!
