Analysis and design of a pulse‐closing vacuum switch for catenary fault detection

Abstract

This study presents a novel pulse-closing vacuum switch (PCVS) that is used for catenary fault detection and location. First, as the application background of PCVS, the principle theory of the fault detection and locating system is briefly introduced. Then, the PCVS is analysed and designed based on the detailed analysis of its working process and principle. To validate the performance of the designed PCVS, the multi-physical domain co-simulation numerical model is implemented using the ANSYS Maxwell and ANSYS Simplorer. Finally, a PCVS prototype is developed with permanent magnet closing and repulsive force opening to verify the simulation results. The simulations and experiments both approve that the contact time between the moveable contact and static contact can be controlled to be <6 ms. This meets the pulse-closing technology requirement for the fault detection and locating system.