Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification
The ‘short’ neutral section is a feature of alternating current (AC) railway overhead line electrification that is often unreliable and a source of train delays. However hardly any dynamic analysis of its behaviour has been undertaken. This paper briefly describes the work undertaken investigating t...
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doaj-468fc1dcc997412fade8cea586aba18b2021-04-21T23:06:59ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112021-04-016626210.3390/infrastructures6050062Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line ElectrificationJohn Morris0Mark Robinson1Roberto Palacin2NewRail-Newcastle Centre for Railway Research, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UKNewRail-Newcastle Centre for Railway Research, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UKNewRail-Newcastle Centre for Railway Research, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UKThe ‘short’ neutral section is a feature of alternating current (AC) railway overhead line electrification that is often unreliable and a source of train delays. However hardly any dynamic analysis of its behaviour has been undertaken. This paper briefly describes the work undertaken investigating the possibility of modelling the behaviour using a novel approach. The potential for thus improving the performance of short neutral sections is evaluated, with particular reference to the UK situation. The analysis fundamentally used dynamic simulation of the pantograph and overhead contact line (OCL) interface, implemented using a proprietary finite element analysis tool. The neutral section model was constructed using physical characteristics and laboratory tests data, and was included in a validated pantograph/OCL simulation model. Simulation output of the neutral section behaviour has been validated satisfactorily against real line test data. Using this method the sensitivity of the neutral section performance in relation to particular parameters of its construction was examined. A limited number of parameter adjustments were studied, seeking potential improvements. One such improvement identified involved the additional inclusion of a lever arm at the trailing end of the neutral section. A novel application of pantograph/OCL dynamic simulation to modelling neutral section behaviour has been shown to be useful in assessing the modification of neutral section parameters.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/6/5/62rail electrificationoverhead contact linespantograph/catenary interactionneutral sections |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
John Morris Mark Robinson Roberto Palacin |
spellingShingle |
John Morris Mark Robinson Roberto Palacin Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification Infrastructures rail electrification overhead contact lines pantograph/catenary interaction neutral sections |
author_facet |
John Morris Mark Robinson Roberto Palacin |
author_sort |
John Morris |
title |
Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification |
title_short |
Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification |
title_full |
Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification |
title_fullStr |
Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification |
title_full_unstemmed |
Use of Dynamic Analysis to Investigate the Behaviour of Short Neutral Sections in the Overhead Line Electrification |
title_sort |
use of dynamic analysis to investigate the behaviour of short neutral sections in the overhead line electrification |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Infrastructures |
issn |
2412-3811 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
The ‘short’ neutral section is a feature of alternating current (AC) railway overhead line electrification that is often unreliable and a source of train delays. However hardly any dynamic analysis of its behaviour has been undertaken. This paper briefly describes the work undertaken investigating the possibility of modelling the behaviour using a novel approach. The potential for thus improving the performance of short neutral sections is evaluated, with particular reference to the UK situation. The analysis fundamentally used dynamic simulation of the pantograph and overhead contact line (OCL) interface, implemented using a proprietary finite element analysis tool. The neutral section model was constructed using physical characteristics and laboratory tests data, and was included in a validated pantograph/OCL simulation model. Simulation output of the neutral section behaviour has been validated satisfactorily against real line test data. Using this method the sensitivity of the neutral section performance in relation to particular parameters of its construction was examined. A limited number of parameter adjustments were studied, seeking potential improvements. One such improvement identified involved the additional inclusion of a lever arm at the trailing end of the neutral section. A novel application of pantograph/OCL dynamic simulation to modelling neutral section behaviour has been shown to be useful in assessing the modification of neutral section parameters. |
topic |
rail electrification overhead contact lines pantograph/catenary interaction neutral sections |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/6/5/62 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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