Int J Performability Eng ›› 2018, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (12): 3140-3150.doi: 10.23940/ijpe.18.12.p23.31403150

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A Model for Pantograph-Catenary Electromechanical Interaction

Yuan Zhong, Jiqin Wu, Feng Han(), and Jiawei Zhang   

  1. Southwest Jiaotong Unversity, Chengdu, 610031, China
    Southwest Jiaotong Unversity,Chengdu, 610031, China
  • Revised on ; Accepted on
  • Contact: Han Feng E-mail:hanfeng@swjtu.cn

Abstract:

The pantograph-catenary system is one of the most important ways to supply power for running trains. Electromechanical phenomena affect its economic operation. Because former research was mostly experimental, this paper presents a preliminary model for electromechanical interactions. In this model, electrical contact resistance and contact force are calculated in a defined contact interspace as finite cuboid elastic elements. On the assumption that the heights of all asperities follow the Gaussian distribution, a simulation is carried out and the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) the real contact area of the strip and contact wire can increase with the nominal contact area, but when the nominal contact area exceeds a value, the real contact area will no longer increase; 2) the growing contact force can enlarge the real contact area and reduce electrical contact resistance with its randomness; 3) pantograph sliding can be equivalent to contact elements disconnecting and connecting, which can explain why arc occurs more frequently in two conditions: when the contact force decreases and when the contact force is low.

Key words: pantograph and OCL system, pantograph-catenary interaction, sliding electric contact, electrometrical contact