PROTECTION OF INSTALLATIONS AND ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER UNITS AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF OVERVOLTAGES. ARCING TESTS ON CATENARY INSULATIONS

Adequate information has not hitherto been available on the development of phenomena occurring during thunderstorms and sometimes causing flashovers and damaging the insulators of the overhead contact system. Tests were conducted to investigate the performance of overhead contact system insultators under various earthing conditions when exposed to flash-overs by a d.c. arc or to a surge. Three series of tests were therefore made by the SNCF in the Electrotechnical Laboratory of the Research Department for Electric Traction, at Vitry, France, and by the Electrical Installations Division of the FS in the 3 kV d.c. laboratory of the Empoli sub-station in Italy. The tests have confirmed that, in the case of over-voltages due to surges on overhead contact systems electrified by d.c., if the follow current is sustained the insulators will be damaged. However, the absence of earth connections and connections with the rails provides a natural protection for the installations of the overhad contact system. On the other hand, the absence of these connections compels special safety measures to be taken. But if the masts are earthed or connected to the rails, special measures have to be taken, such as: 1) The use of lightning arresters; 2) A thorough study of insulator shapes with a view to increasing specific arc resistance; 3) Quicker action and greater operational reliability of the switches.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1967-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Catenaries (Railroads); Electric insulating materials; Insulating materials; Railroad electrification
• Identifier Terms: Ferrovie dello Stato; Societe nationale des chemins de fer francais
• Old TRIS Terms: Flashovers; Lightning arrestors; Question a50
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052693
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: A50/RP 9/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM