Active Control For The Pantograph-catenarySystem

In high speed trains a fundamental requirement is to ensure a regular current pick-up. Many types of pantographs are currently used and their modifications or the evaluation of new models is possible by computer simulation. Of course the performance of the pantograph-catenary system is highly dependent on the train speed. In order to alleviate the problems due to the introduction of high speed trains (shoe contact abrasion, dewiring or excessive oscillations of the catenary) an active control of the pantograph is proposed. Different control techniques have been analysed: contact force control, position control, hybrid force-position control and constant force control with disturbance compensation. The last techniques are more promising and can lead to very effective solutions.