Reduction of Economic Losses in the Contact Network and Overhead Lines Electrified with Alternating Current

Purpose: To reduce economic losses in the contact network (CN) and overhead lines (OL) electrified with alternating current. The existing electromagnetic influences on the alternating current railway lead to significant economic losses. Additionally, there is a problem of the contact wire (CW) burnout during the passage of a neutral section with a raised pantograph under voltage on a high-speed railway line (HSRL). CW burnout leads to failure of the contact network, repair costs, possible damage to other people’s property and rolling stock. As a whole, all this represents significant economic losses. Methods: The analysis of material and time costs for the elimination of problems that arise due to the CW burnout or due to the use of manual labor during the installation of OL has been carried out, in comparison with the proposed solutions to reduce economic losses. Results: In solving the problem of the negative electromagnetic influence of the contact line (CL) on the OL, a mobile mechanized complex (MMC) is designed to help, which performs the transposition of the OL wires in 6 steps with scrolling by 60° each support. This method will allow us to place the OL wires equidistantly from the contact wire. Scrolling with once-per-support frequency will align the asymmetry of the linear electrical parameters. All in all, MMC performs installation in an automated mode. The problems of the CW burnout can be reduced by the insulating coupling device (ICD) of the CL. ICD CL is a set of step resistances, which are located at the outer sections of the phase wires before and after the neutral section. It is aimed at reducing the current to a safe value, which will not lead to the contact wire burnout, failure of the CN and/or rolling stock and possible damage to other people’s property. Practical significance: The result is a set of measures in the form of MMC to reduce economic losses in overhead lines from the influence of CN and ICD CL to reduce losses in the contact network by maintaining the operability of the contact wire.