Non Icing System
Problem of icing at the overhead line
The icing of catenary wires in the area of track vehicles during the winter months is a serious problem because the icing at the overhead line avoids the current collection by the vehicle.
Due to car failures resulting from this problem the railway authorities have to cope with enormous costs.
To still grant a faultless passenger traffic it would provide itself to coat the overhead line with an anti-freezing compound in advance to avoid any icing.
This preventative measure is possible by using the Non-Icing-System of STEMMANN-TECHNIK GmbH that is successfully used at the Bremer Strassenbahn AG.
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Description of the Non-Icing-System
The Non-Icing-System consists of 2 components:
One part is the device which is assembled to a fix frame inside the rail vehicle. The other part is an additional roof mounted pantograph of which the contact strip is replaced by a greasing device.
The essential part of the greasing device is a felt roll drenched in glycerine (pos. 1) protecting the overhead line against icing by rolling motion during travelling.
The glycerine contained in the device therefore is led into the hollow felt roll via a tube-hose-system by means of compressed air, then is rolled-off, and afterwards it is absorbed again and is led back to the device inside the vehicle for later reuse after cleansing or for disposal.
Arrangement of the components
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Assembly of the Greasing Device
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Summary
Field of Application and Operational Conditions:
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The use is effected on a track vehicle (preferably track glider) |
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Ideal operation at temperatures between 0°C up to –15°C |
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The operational speed is ~ 30km/h |
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The system works independently via compressed air, i.e. only two air connections are necessary |
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For the Non-Icing-System, two roof passages are necessary |
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The use is effected as preventative measure |
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The duration of effect upon experiences can be advised with 2 - 3 days |
The advantages of the Non-Icing-System are obvious:
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Failures during passenger traffice (catenary wire, vehicles) are clearly reduced |
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Damages to the vehicle electronics due to contact interruption because of iced catenary wire are avoided |
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The carbon wear is reduced |
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The travelling comfort of the passengers is granted as due to secure contact of the contact strips to the catenary wire the tractive unit is permanently supplied with current |
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The occurring costs for the materials are very low (20L/100km) |
