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The Electrical Behaviour of Railway Pantograph Arcs

Author

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  • Andrea Mariscotti

    (Department of Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering, and Naval Architecture, University of Genova, 16145 Genova, Italy)

Abstract

Electric arcing is an unavoidable consequence of the current collection process by sliding contact in railways and metros, and in general in many electrified transportation systems (ETSs). The most relevant consequences in an electrical perspective are: the occurrence of transients triggering resonant behaviour and transient responses, reduction of the energy efficiency of the system, conducted and radiated disturbance, in particular for the new radio systems widely employed for signalling and communication. The involved parameters are many (type of materials, current intensity, DC and AC supply, relative speed, temperature), as well as the studied characteristics (arc instability and lifetime, dynamic behaviour, electrical system response, radiation efficiency and coupling to external radio systems). This work reports the state of the art in arc modelling, arcing experimental characterisation, interaction with the supply system, radiated emissions and disturbance to radio systems, providing a complete description of phenomena and of reference data, critically discussing similarity and differences between sources. Proposed arc models are many with different assumptions and simplifications for various applications, so that a critical review and discussion are a necessity, considering the many different approaches and not-so-obvious applicability. The comparison with experimental results highlights unavoidable discrepancies, also because of intrinsic arc variability and for the many involved parameters and operating conditions. The impact of the arc as embedded in the railway system is then considered, speaking of conducted and radiated phenomena, including interference to radio communication systems and arc detection. The most prominent effect for conducted emissions is the excitation of system resonances, including the LC filters onboard rolling stock and substations in DC railways, with consequences for disturbance and energy efficiency, and this is discussed in detail. Conversely, for high frequency emissions, the attenuation along the line circuit is significant and the effective distance of propagation is limited; nevertheless radiated electromagnetic field emissions are a relevant source of disturbance for radio systems within the ETS premises and outside (e.g., at airports). The published approaches to quantify performance reduction are discussed with emphasis on experimental methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Mariscotti, 2023. "The Electrical Behaviour of Railway Pantograph Arcs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-43, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:3:p:1465-:d:1055060
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xinran Li & Chenyun Pan & Dongmei Luo & Yaojie Sun, 2020. "Series DC Arc Simulation of Photovoltaic System Based on Habedank Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Andrea Mariscotti & Leonardo Sandrolini, 2021. "Detection of Harmonic Overvoltage and Resonance in AC Railways Using Measured Pantograph Electrical Quantities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Mengzhe Jin & Man Hu & Hao Li & Yixuan Yang & Weidong Liu & Qingyuan Fang & Shanghe Liu, 2022. "Experimental Study on the Transient Disturbance Characteristics and Influence Factors of Pantograph–Catenary Discharge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Andrea Mariscotti, 2021. "Critical Review of EMC Standards for the Measurement of Radiated Electromagnetic Emissions from Transit Line and Rolling Stock," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-26, February.
    5. Guangning Wu & Jie Wu & Wenfu Wei & Yue Zhou & Zefeng Yang & Guoqiang Gao, 2017. "Characteristics of the Sliding Electric Contact of Pantograph/Contact Wire Systems in Electric Railways," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Jun He & Ke Wang & Jiangang Li, 2021. "Application of an Improved Mayr-Type Arc Model in Pyro-Breakers Utilized in Superconducting Fusion Facilities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-11, July.
    7. Guiming Mei & Yang Song, 2022. "Effect of Overhead Contact Line Pre-Sag on the Interaction Performance with a Pantograph in Electrified Railways," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-13, September.
    8. Yljon Seferi & Steven M. Blair & Christian Mester & Brian G. Stewart, 2021. "A Novel Arc Detection Method for DC Railway Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ke Huang & Dongdong Su, 2024. "Extended Pantograph–Catenary Arc Modeling and an Analysis of the Vehicular-Grounding Electromagnetic Transients of Electric Multiple Units," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Babak Sadeghi & Per Westerlund & Manav Giri & Math Bollen, 2024. "Analysis of the Measurements of the Radiated Emission from 9 kHz to 150 kHz from Electric Railways," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Rafael S. Salles & Sarah K. Rönnberg, 2023. "Review of Waveform Distortion Interactions Assessment in Railway Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-33, July.

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