Noninvasive Measurement Techniques for Ice Detection and Electrical Parameter Monitoring in Railway Transmission Systems

Abstract

The overhead contact system (OCS) is an important component of the traction power supply system of electrified railways, which is prone to forming ice and snow accretion under extreme terrain/climatic conditions, leading to the disruption of train operation. Thus, the monitoring of this phenomenon is particularly important. This article proposes a nonintrusive electric field measurement technology to monitor the icing state and contact line voltage. Through the double-probe electric field measurement array implied on the OCS, the detected signals are used to decouple and inversely solve the electric field information between the contact line and the track electrification feeder. This process can yield the voltage value of the contact line and the coordinates of its position. By analyzing the relative changes in the coordinate positions, it is possible to determine whether ice or snow accretion has occurred. Furthermore, this article aims to minimize measurement errors by using data fitting to optimize the probe distribution angles. Simulation case studies with and without feeder line of track electrification, as well as simulation experiments, demonstrate that this method can effectively monitor the voltage of the contact line and its state changes caused by external factors. This provides a flexible and adjustable online monitoring strategy for the electrified railway traction power supply system and lays a theoretical and technical foundation for anti-icing research.