The influence of pantograph aerodynamic characteristics caused by its shroud

Abstract

The current collection performance of pantograph plays an important role in safe operation of high-speed train. Research shows that pantograph aerodynamic characteristics have a great influence on the current collection of pantograph. It's an efficient method to install a suitable pantograph shroud to improve the pantograph aerodynamic performance. In this paper, for the real pantograph systems used on CRH380A and CRH380B, the influence of unsteady aerodynamic characteristics caused by different types of pantograph shrouds with a running speed of 350km/h has been studied with detached eddy simulation method. The results show that the wake field caused by pantograph has salient unsteady characteristics. Different designs of pantograph shroud largely affect the pantograph wake field and the lift, drag and side forces of the pantograph slide. Compared to pantograph without shroud, the pantograph with shroud owns a more complex wake field. Besides, the strength and shedding frequency of the detached eddy vary a lot. This phenomenon becomes more serious in the cross- wind condition. The drag of pantograph slide increases about 12.8% and the lift reduces about 13.5% thanks to the pantograph shroud in CRH380A, while the drag reduces about 7.4% and the lift increases about 100% due to the pantograph shroud used on CRH380B. In the end, the author gives the pantograph shroud aerodynamic optimization recommendations based on the research results. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.