Railway Infrastructure Management: Selection of Overhead Contact Line Ampacity Considering Operational and Design Factors

Valeriy Kuznetsov (), Petro Hubskyi, Artur Rojek and Zbigniew Ciekanowski
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Valeriy Kuznetsov: Railway Research Institute, 04-275 Warsaw, Poland
Petro Hubskyi: Railway Research Institute, 04-275 Warsaw, Poland
Artur Rojek: Railway Research Institute, 04-275 Warsaw, Poland
Zbigniew Ciekanowski: Department of Security, Faculty of Legal Sciences, Administration and Security, Warsaw Management University, 03-772 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to determining the ampacity of DC and AC railway overhead contact lines, considering both operational and design factors. The ampacity of contact lines is influenced by several design parameters, including materials, cross section and the number of catenary and contact wires, etc. Additionally, the permissible long-term and short-term current values, which correspond to the permissible temperatures defined by EN 50119:2020, are affected by operational factors such as ambient temperature, solar radiation, heat exchange conditions, wind speed, wear of contact wires. Existing methods for determining the ampacity of overhead contact lines often fail to account adequately for these critical factors and lack the necessary procedures to calculate the 30 min ampacity required by EN 50119:2020. In response, the method proposed in this study adapts the procedures of IEEE 738-2012 to the specific needs of railway contact lines, taking into account the effect of contact wire wear on current distribution and overall ampacity. The proposed method offers a more realistic and practical approach to determining the ampacity of contact lines, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the traction power supply infrastructure. This method could be useful for railway infrastructure managers to ensure the safe and efficient operation under varying environmental and operational conditions.

Keywords: management of infrastructure; overhead contact line; ampacity; operational factors; design factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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