Study on Pantograph Arcing and Investigation of its Influencing Parameters: Case Study-Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit
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Date
2016-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In electrified railways sliding contact between pantograph and overhead contact wire is one of
the main modes of power feeding to the electrical drives and propulsion system within the
railway. The traction supply could be either AC or DC at different voltage levels. Arcing from
the pantograph is a commonly observed phenomenon and also the major source of
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) in the electrified railway system.
This thesis presents the study of pantograph arcing and investigation of its influential parameters
for the case of Addis Ababa Light rail transit (AA-LRT). The contact between the pantograph
and the contact wire is the focus point for the design of an electrified railway system in order to
keep the proper contact between them.
The pantograph-overhead contact system is the system of electrified railway which is the place
where pantograph arcing occurs due to the contact loss. The effects of contact distance, the
weather condition, the vibration of the contact wire and the speed of the vehicle are simulated
using MATLAB based on the mathematical modeling presented of this system and then analyzed
for the case of AA-LRT. As the result, the weather condition and the speed of the vehicle has no
any effect on the occurrence of arcing. In the case of contact distance, pantograph arcing occurs
if the separation of the pantograph is not greater than 0.25mm. However, the effect of vibration
of the contact wire has been found a serious cause for pantograph arcing. The pattern of the
vibration is simulated for different span length (20m, 30m, 50m) and the weight of the catenary.
In order to avoid the contact loss produced by the vibration of the contact wire, the minimum
distance between two consecutive pantographs shall be 167 meters.
Finally, it has been recommended that the railway company running the AA-LRT will not send
its vehicles uncoupled so as to avoid the effect of the front pantograph onto the next pantograph.
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Keywords
Pantograph, Catenary system, Electric arc, Pantograph arcing