Increasing the Efficiency of Grounding the Overhead Catenary Supports on AC Railway Sections

Purpose: To provide justification of increasing the efficiency of grounding devices and improving electrical safety on AC railway sections using the new methods of grounding overhead catenary supports. Methods: Analytical assessment of the technical solutions under study in terms of electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility has been made; a comparative analysis of the existing grounding systems and alternative ones has been carried out using simulation modelling; optimum values of the resistance to dissipation of groups of overhead catenary supports have been obtained by calculations. Results: The impact of short-circuit failure modes on the workers’ safety during the operation and maintenance of catenary network devices at different types of support grounding have been considered in this paper. Different grounding system models have been developed for their efficiency comparative analysis using MatLab-Simulink software and the required values of resistance to dissipation for groups of supports have been calculate. Practical significance: The intended refusal from connecting the catenary support grounding to the rails will reduce the grounding maintenance costs. The obtained results can allow organizing the operation of AC railway sections with the rail ungrounded system.