Study on Pantograph Arcing in a Laboratory Simulation System by High-Speed Photography

Phenomena of the pantograph arcing have become a challenge for the further development of high-speed electrified railway system. Despite of the large attention that has been paid to the radiated electromagnetic interference, materials ablation as well as the power-quality decline resulted from pantograph arcing, the specific dynamics of pantograph arcing with a high time resolution are still in absence. In this paper, the pantograph arcing phenomena in a laboratory simulation system were experimentally studied by high-speed photography. Synchronized electrical voltage and current waveforms were obtained to acquire a more comprehensive understanding on the underlying physics. The overall dynamics of the pantograph arcing from ignition to extinguishment were recorded. Three stages of the electriccontact process, from approaching arc, mechanical contact to the drawn arc, were well distinguished. A much intensified drawn arc was observed than the approaching arc. Typical lasting time of the drawn arcing is found ~4 times larger than the approaching arcing for our test setup. Maximum diameter of 3.3 mm was reached at around the current-peak moment. An interesting stable arc voltage of ~23 V was found during the drawn arcing. Intense material splash above the carbon strip was observed during the arcing process. The transient resistance during a typical arcing period was also analyzed, and a minimum value of ~100 mQ was determined.