Safety Assessment of Electromagnetic Exposure to Arcing in Electrified Railway Bow Networks

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of electrified high-speed railways, electromagnetic exposure within train carriages has become a subject of growing concern. To evaluate the electromagnetic safety of passengers during bow network arcing events, this study utilizes numerical simulation tools to model the train’s traction power supply system and simulate the voltage fluctuations in the contact network during arcing events. The simulations reveal a maximum voltage fluctuation of 30 kV. Subsequently, a three-dimensional electromagnetic environment model of passengers in the CR400AF-type train compartments is constructed using specialized simulation software. The study focuses on analyzing the magnetic field strength, electric field strength, and current density distribution, specifically in the brain region of passengers. The results indicate that the maximum values of magnetic induction, induced electric field strength, and induced current density in the passengers’ brains are $7.55~\mu $ T, 0.90 mV/m, and $831.2~\mu $ A/m2, respectively—values that are well below the exposure limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields. Additionally, the study demonstrates that the intermediate-frequency magnetic field generated by the contact network fluctuations due to bow network arcing is effectively shielded by the aluminum alloy body of the train, further mitigating the risk of electromagnetic exposure. These findings suggest that electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in CR400AF rolling stock caused by contact network fluctuations during bow network arcing does not pose a significant health risk to passengers, providing valuable insights for the assessment of EMF safety in high-speed rail systems.

Keywords

• Electrified railway
• bow-grid electric arc
• electromagnetic exposure
• safety assessment