Method to calculate the operational parameters of a synchronous generator used in a railway diesel electrical traction

The present study aims to accomplish a theoretical synthesis upon the method to calculate the operational parameters of a railway traction synchronous generator, to propose an algorithm and also to implement it into a numeric program which should be easy to use. It could be used by students, engineers, researchers or others interested in developing custom engineering system modelling. In order to assure a continuity of the authors´ research regarding the modelling of the functional and designing aspects of the synchronous machine, it is desirable the choice of Matlab as a programming medium and the accomplishment of a graphic interface which should allow a permanent dialogue between user and the programming resources. This paper is a next step to put the bases of a PBL (Project Based Learning) method in the area of studying electrical machines. The necessary data for the solution to this problem are: the available power of the heat engine during a rated regime of load, the engine speed at the drive shaft of the heat engine, the maximum voltage which is necessary for supplying the asynchronous traction motors at a maximum speed, meaning at the traffic speed of a locomotive. For a systemic and transdisciplinary approach of the research, which should allow it to be the initial point for many and various research objectives, this work starts from the description of the working environment and the interactions of the traction synchronous generator as a component of the diesel electrical transmission. The originality of this work consists in a proposal of a method of calculus which could be used in modern educational languages or in research activity.