Characteristic analysis of the VCB operational overvoltage for high-speed trains considering arc reignition phenomenon

ABSTRACT Due to the constant pursuit for higher operating velocity, the traction power capacity for high-speed trains needs to be enlarged. When the train passes approach the insulating sections set between the two neighbouring contact lines carrying the traction current with different phases, the vehicle-mounted vacuumed circuit breaker (VCB) needs to be switched off. Generally, the arc may generate when connecting or separating the contacts, when switching on or off the VCB. In order to investigate the characteristics of the reignition overvoltage the ‘train-rail-catenary’ traction power supply model considering the reignition process between the VCB’s contacts is launched in this paper. The impact of the dielectric strength recovery rate between the contacts of the VCB on the number of reignition and the amplitude of the reignition overvoltage is analysed based on the experimental and simulation results. Ultimately, the corresponding restraining measures are proposed for suppressing the reignition overvoltage.