URBAN LIGHT RAIL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CATENARY LINE ANTI-ICING APPLICATIONS; LABORATORY AND FIELD TESTS

Abstract

Problems such as freezing, icing, and/or snow accumulation in machine systems during winter can adversely affect theperformance of such systems, sometimes even stopping them altogether. One system affected by winter conditions is energytransmission lines. Without intervention, snow and/or ice accumulating on electrical wires can cause electrical transmissionperformance to drop and, in extreme cases, can cause wire breakage due to heavy wires. One of the energy transmission systemwhere power lines are open to the atmosphere is the pantograph-catenary system that takes up electrical energy. Frosting andice accumulation on the catenary lines leads to arc formation and, in some cases, can interfere with electrical conductionbetween the pantograph and the catenary line. In the case of light rail transportation systems, this problem may lead to greaterproblems than in other rail systems. In Turkey, activities undertaken in preparation for winter and route maintenance in theintercity railway transmission lines are well known, but procedures for light rail systems are in their infancy. In particular, theuse of light rail systems in cold regions, where conditions are more difficult, creates certain problems. Anticipation of problemsthat may arise is vital for transportaion it requires research studiues to solve such inevitable problems. In this study, anexperimental setup is designed to simulate snow and dew formation on copper wires in an attempt to prevent/eliminate theicing problem that occurs on urban light rail transportation system catenary lines. Field tests have also been carried out byapplying an anti-icing chemical solution on the catenary lines of the Eskişehir urban light rail transport system (ESTRAM). Asa result of the field tests, it was observed that the application of mono-ethylene glycol to wires can reduce arc formation andwear of the lines considerably. It has even been found that the application of mono-ethylene glycol before freezing of the linehas the potential to reduce wear, breakdown and maintenance costs in catenary lines.