POWER COLLECTION FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAINS BY AN ELECTRIC ARC

Power collection on electric trains is achieved at present by sliding contact systems. As the train speed increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain constant pressure and the loss of contact can create serious problems at high-speeds. Alternative methods of power collection without contact may thus be required in the future for speeds up to 500m/h. The most promising of all contactless methods is the electric arc method, which is advantageous in terms of the overall efficiency and its capability to transfer directly commercially available power to the vehicle. The transfer of power is achieved by conduction through an arc plasma which bridges the gap between a "collector" attached on the fast moving vehicle and a "distributor" supported from the ground, in the form of an overhead wire or a third rail positioned on the wayside.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the 4th International Conference on Gas Discharges, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, September 7-10, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Electrical Engineers

  Savoy Place
  London WC2R 0BL, NY  England  10016-5997
• Authors:
  • Klapas, D
  • Hackam, R
  • Benson, F A
• Conference:
  • Presented at the 4th International Conference on Gas Discharges, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Wales, September 7-10, 1976.
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 299-302

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Charge collectors; Electric arcs; Electric power generation and transmission; Electric railroads; High speed ground transportation; Intelligent transportation systems; Third rail
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems; Arcing; Electric power collection
• Subject Areas: Energy; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163272
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 143 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM