Effects and Characteristics of AC Interference on Parallel Underground Pipelines Caused by an AC Electrified Railway

Abstract

An AC electrified railway can interfere significantly with parallel underground pipelines in a public transportation corridor. Such interference may threaten the long-term transportation and the operational safety of the pipelines. Therefore, this paper presents a mathematical model to illustrate the electromagnetic coupling between an AC electrified railway and nearby parallel underground pipelines. As the basis of the engineering calculation, an integration simulation model based on CDEGS software, which included an electrified railway and pipeline system, was built and its correctness was validated by comparing it with a mathematical model. Also, the effects of electric traction load parameters, pipeline parameters, and soil structure parameters were analyzed, the results of which demonstrate the distribution characteristics of AC interference on parallel underground pipelines. Using a real case in China as an example, protection measures were introduced to decrease coupling interference and their effectiveness was verified by simulation calculations and field measurements.