Optimization method of switch jumper setting based on strategies for reducing conductive interference in railway

Abstract

Traction current can to impose conductive interference on the railway signalling system, which is also known as unbalanced traction current interference. In the station turnout section, the traction current may cause obvious interference on both receiving apparatus of track circuit and cab signalling apparatus due to the installation of multi-jumpers, wing rails, and insulated joints inside the turnout. This paper analyzes the above structural characteristics of turnouts in depth. By establishing a comprehensive simulation model of one-transmitter and two-receiver track circuit in turnout section and simulating the complete return current path along with traction network–locomotive–rails, the mechanism of traction current conductive interference in the turnout section is then illustrated, using Multisim and MATLAB/Simulink simulation platform. Finally, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), an optimization method of switch jumper setting is studied. The simulation results show that the conductive interference in the turnout section mainly involves two factors: The inherent turnout structure definitely results in different impedance of two rails, and the inductive cab signal is partly bypassed in the turnout center (nose rail). Especially, conductive interference magnitude depends on the jumper location. Therefore, in engineering practice, it is feasible to reduce the interference to a certain degree by reasonable settings of the switch jumper.