Electronic Sensor System for Research and Optimization of Railway Contact Networks

The current research is extremely important in the process of technical and IT modernization of the regional SEE Railway Infrastructure. This is due to the geostrategic importance of Bulgaria and, accordingly, the envisaged significant financialresources under the Operational Program “Transport and Transport Infrastructure”, funded by European Structures and Investment Funds (in particular the European Regional Development Fund – ERDF). The forseen funding and its adequate use for technical design and implementation for the modernization and rehabilitation of the regional SEE Railway Infrastructure aims to achieve a direct effect to significantly improve the level of connectivity of this part of Europe with the pan-European transport corridors. In this context, the current research presents a concept that consists of designing and building a real electronic measurement and recording sensor system for controlling the power and geometric parameters of High Voltage Air Railway Contact Networks – RCN (for 25 kV voltage and 50 Hz frequency), adopted in the applicable European legislation (Eg. 4th railway package). With the help of the developed system, scientific experiments and investigations were carried out at different power loads, optimizing the basic design characteristics of the RCN support facilities. A technical and economic analysis has been conducted.