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Arc Dynamics and Erosion Behavior of Pantograph-Catenary Contacts Under Controlled Humidity Levels
Bingquan Li1,2, Yijian Zhao1, Ran Ji2
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 28, 2025
Summary
Humidity significantly impacts pantograph-catenary system (PCS) arcs. Optimal arc stability and reduced electrode wear occur at moderate humidity (50% RH), crucial for PCS design and risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Pantograph-catenary systems (PCS) experience arc instability and erosion due to environmental humidity variations.
- Understanding these humidity-induced changes is critical for reliable PCS operation and maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of varying humidity levels on PCS arc characteristics and electrode erosion.
- To identify optimal humidity conditions for enhanced arc stability and reduced material degradation in PCS.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel humidity-controlled reciprocating current-carrying arc initiation test platform.
- Integrated digital image processing with multi-physics sensor data (current, voltage, temperature) for analysis.
- Conducted experiments at relative humidity levels of 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% using a DC power supply (120 V/25 A).
Main Results:
- Increased humidity led to higher contact resistance and accumulated arc energy.
- Arc stability initially improved with humidity, then decreased; low humidity caused intense arcs and faster erosion.
- Electrode wear shifted from adhesive to electrochemical wear with increasing humidity, involving copper transfer.
Conclusions:
- Moderate humidity (50% RH) optimizes PCS arc stability, achieving 66% peak current-carrying efficiency and 14.5% minimum loss rate.
- Humidity significantly alters PCS arc behavior and electrode wear mechanisms.
- Findings provide a theoretical basis for PCS design optimization and risk assessment under varying humidity.
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