Research Advances in Electrical-Magnetic-Thermal-Mechanical Coupling Effects of Electric Contact Between Pantograph and Catenary

Abstract

The pantograph slide plate and catenary wire providing traction power for electric locomotives are typical sliding electric contact friction pairs, which have multi-field coupling effects of electric, magnetic, thermal, and force in work. The complex multi-field coupling effect will affect the current-carrying quality and friction and wear characteristics of the pantograph-catenary system. The research on the coupling effect of multiple physical fields in pantograph-catenary contact of the electrified railway is of great significance to reduce the operation and maintenance cost of the pantograph-catenary system and improve the service life of pantograph slide plate and catenary wire. This paper uses the classification and induction method to summarize the research progress of the pantograph-catenary system under the multi-field coupling effect in recent years. The research contents include four aspects: electric, magnetic, thermal, and force. The influence laws of contact resistance, arc, contact temperature, electromagnetic force, and pressure load on current-carrying friction and wear performance of pantograph-catenary system were summarized. Suggestions for further research and improvement were put forward. On this basis, the evaluation of electrical contact performance according to the pantograph-catenary contact resistance, arcing rate, and contact temperature was discussed. The following conclusions can be drawn from the analysis: (1) The observation of contact resistance parameters and mathematical model research must be deeply explored, especially the influence of extreme climatic conditions such as cold, low air pressure, and significant temperature differences on the contact surface. (2) The research on arc erosion needs to be further improved and strengthened. The multi-field coupled arc erosion numerical model is established, and the multiscale, parametric, and quantitative research on the pantograph-catenary arc is carried out using numerical optimization. (3) Attention should be paid to the influence of magnetic field on the performance of pantograph-catenary sliding electrical contact, and the discussion on the regulation of external magnetic field on the performance of pantograph-catenary electrical contact should be carried out. (4) The research on life prediction and failure of pantograph-catenary sliding electrical contact under multi-field coupling should be strengthened, and the current-carrying wear mechanism and failure should be deeply explored. The mathematical model of life prediction and failure of pantograph-catenary electrical contact must reasonably predict and evaluate the electrical contact behavior. The research results can provide a practical reference for future pantograph-catenary sliding electrical contact development. Substantial progress has been made in the research of pantograph-catenary sliding electrical contact. However, some problems still need to be deepened and improved continuously. In the future, new technologies represented by artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing will promote the integration and development of various disciplines and continuously broaden the innovation space to study the multi-field coupling effect of pantograph-catenary sliding electrical contact.