Icing and Anti-Icing of Railway Contact Wires

Abstract

This chapter mainly introduces the icing of railway contact wires and corresponding antiicing technologies and deals with the following four aspects: (1) the hazards of the icing of railway contact wires and significances of this research; (2) the characteristics of the icing of railway contact wires and affecting factors of the icing; (3) experimental research into the icing and anti-icing of railway contact wires; (4) expert system of the icing and ice melting of railway contact wires. Through the above introduction, the paper aims to make researchers, engineers and managers who are interested in this field have a comprehensive understanding of the causes, hazards and contributing factors of the icing of railway contact wires, to let them have a basic knowledge of icing and ice melting and the current technologies of anti-icing and ice removal and finally to provide readers with an expert system that can anti-ice and melt ice. www.intechopen.com Reliability and Safety in Railway 296 1.1 Background of research into icing of railway contact wires Large, heavy ice accretions may form on objects exposed to freezing rain. These can damage or destroy structures and cause great economic and social hardship.

Urban Light Rail Transportation Systems Catenary Line Anti-Icing Applications, Laboratory and Field Tests

“…According to this model, the formation and accumulation of ice in wires increases in direct proportion to a decrease in the air temperature and/or an increase in wind speed. In Equation (1), an equation expressing ice formation is given [13]. In this equation, V expresses wind speed, T is air temperature, t is unit time, and M is ice mass formed.…”

“…There have been many studies that focus on predicting levels and types of ice formation. When sources related to ice formation in the literature are examined, it can be noted that twenty different models have been developed to predict ice formation [13]. These models are developed in different climate conditions, but some also apply to local cases.…”

“…There are many special systems which have been developed to monitor the formation and accumulation of ice and snow [13], [15], [16]. Most of these systems are capable of controlling air temperature, humidity and wind speed.…”