STATCOM-Based Ice-Melting System of the Catenary System

In order to solve the frozen problem of the catenary system for electrified railway that occurs in the extreme weather in winter and will affect the pantograph’s taking the normal current and cause damages to the pantograph, a STATCOM-based traction network ice-melting (TNIM) system for electrified railway is proposed. By installing STATCOM devices in both the head and the end of the traction network, these devices can provide ice-melting current in cold weather and provide compensation current in normal weather. Simulations show that the ice-melting current and the compensation current will be gained by different control strategies, and the calculation method of ice-melting current and the single-phase STATCOM control strategy are all provided. The STATCOM-based TNIM system can not only provide ice-melting current for traction network but also realize reactive power compensation and the voltage compensation at the end of traction network. In addition, it can protect the catenary and guarantee safe, reliable, and punctual running of the locomotive.