How Pantograph Electric Arcs affect Energy Efficiency in DC Railway Vehicles

In DC electrified railways pantograph electric arcs represent not only a disturbance, but the step change of the pantograph voltage affects power losses directly and indirectly. The available line voltage is reduced if the train is in traction condition, the arc itself is characterized by ohmic power losses, and the triggered oscillating transient responses are characterized by a net power loss. In addition, if arc occurs during braking the arc voltage suddenly increases the pantograph voltage and may interfere with the dissipative braking chopper, reducing the recovered energy. This work presents the model and analysis of these phenomena with experimental results for arcs measured on a 3 kV dc line in traction and braking conditions.