Real-time simulation of pantograph-catenary interaction

The current collection enhancement is a key requirement for train speedup in railway industries. However, pantograph-catenary interaction is the present challenge of enhancing current collection in electrical railways. In the literature, the application of active pantograph control is considered as a means to improve the pantograph dynamics and to reduce the contact force vibration. Due to track test high cost, control strategies are validated in the initial phase through laboratory tests and as a result, a real-time catenary model can be developed. Based on model developed, control strategies can be examined on a pantograph-in-the-loop (PIL) configuration including a real-time platform by means of which the dynamic behavior of catenary is emulated in real-time. This paper investigates the implementation of pantograph-catenary interaction on a real-time platform based on “Opal-RT” technology equipped with a quad-core main processor. The European standard EN50318-2000 is used for the validation of the catenary model.