A novel overhead cantilever for more efficient rail electrification

目前，英国铁路网络中只有38%实现了电气化，到2050年，需要在13，000公里的轨道上进行新的架空电气化，以实现政府雄心勃勃的脱碳目标，实现净零排放。这相当于网络铁路（NWR）每年交付450公里的架空线路设备项目，但即使在COVID-19造成运营中断之前，这造成了每年45%的电气化缺口，原因是：1.由于预算和时间表上不可接受的项目风险，拟议电气化项目被推迟/取消2。正在进行的项目经历了重大的时间和成本超支，证明了这些风险约75%的OLE项目成本是配置和安装悬挂架空电线的关键组件所需的铁路运营，这些成本是：* 计划内：根据测量、安装和登记时间要求的指导方针 * 计划外：然而，虽然基于网络的方法已经被证明在许多情况下通过降低系统级的复杂性而具有显著节省成本的潜力，现有的悬臂组件都没有表现出固有的可扩展性，以同时解决这两个基本的操作瓶颈。现有的网络铁路批准的悬臂都需要高精度定制制造的个别组件，目前只在欧洲生产的非常长的交货期。当尺寸错误频繁发生时，导致在其分配的位置安装/注册失败，集成合作伙伴被迫等待更换，造成长期和昂贵的计划延迟。其他悬臂错误（如部件损坏或缺失）会加剧风险。即使没有并发症，定制组件的成本和准备/注册时间表仍远未达到最佳水平。为此，Associated Utility Supplies正在开发一种全新的OLE悬臂概念，以解决经济高效的电气化的所有方面。基于一种新颖的悬臂几何形状，实现了调整、灵活性和OLE标准化的逐步变化，有针对性的创新激发了英国和全球的颠覆性市场机会。该项目与哈德斯菲尔德大学及其铁路研究所（IRR）合作，现在旨在实现和证明一个离轨环境下的全尺寸预批准悬臂原型组件。

Only 38% of the UK rail network is currently electrified, with new overhead electrification required on 13,000km of track by 2050 to meet the Government's ambitious decarbonisation targets to achieve Net-Zero.This corresponds to 450km/year of overhead line equipment project delivery by Network Rail (NWR), but even before operational disruption caused by COVID-19, rates have stagnated around 250km/year.This has created a 45% annual electrification shortfall due to:1. Proposed electrification projects being deferred/cancelled through unacceptable project risks to budgets and timescales2. In-progress projects experiencing significant time and cost over-runs, evidencing these risksCirca.75% of OLE project costs are rail operations required to configure and install the critical assemblies suspending the overhead wires, which are either:* Planned: according to guidelines on surveying, installation and registration time requirements* Unplanned: in response to failed installationsHowever, whilst cantilever-based approaches have been shown to have potential for significant cost-savings in many scenarios by reducing complexity at system-level, no existing cantilever assembly exhibits the inherent scalability to simultaneously address both of these fundamental operational bottlenecks.Incumbent Network Rail-approved cantilevers all require high-precision bespoke manufacture of individual assemblies, currently only produced in Europe on very long lead-times. When dimensional errors frequently occur, leading to failed installations/registrations in their allocated location, integration partners are forced to wait for replacements creating lengthy and costly programme delays. Risks are exacerbated by other cantilever errors such as damaged or missing parts.Even without complications, bespoke component costs and preparation/registration timescales remain far from optimal.In response, Associated Utility Supplies are developing a completely new OLE cantilever concept addressing all aspects of cost-effective electrification. Based on a novel cantilever geometry enabling a step-change in adjustment, flexibility and OLE standardisation, targeted innovations stimulate a disruptive market opportunity in the UK and globally.Working in partnership with the University of Huddersfield and their Institute of Rail Research (IRR), this project now aims to realise and prove a full-scale pre-approval prototype cantilever assembly in an off-rail environment.