Application of ant-colony algorithm to the issue of improving rectified voltage parameters in electric tram traction

In this paper, the problem related to transformation of ac voltage into DC voltage used in tram supply is considered. A variable component is always present in rectified voltage. Pulsation of rectified voltage is influenced by different factors. In a 12-pulse system, where two secondary transformer windings are used (one delta-connected and the other star-connected), an additional factor increasing the pulsation is the unbalance of the output voltages at these windings. Tap changer may be used and its setting is optimized here by applying the ant-colony algorithm. Different supply voltage variants have been considered. It is demonstrated that pulsation may be reduced by even 25%.