A novel overhead cantilever for more efficient rail electrification

目前，英国只有38%的铁路网实现了电气化，到2050年，需要在13,000公里的轨道上实现新的架空电气化，以满足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，速度也停滞在每年250公里左右。这造成了每年45%的电气化缺口，原因如下：拟议的电气化项目因预算和时间表上的不可接受的项目风险而被推迟/取消2。正在进行的项目经历了大量的时间和成本超支，证明了这些风险。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成本，这些成本有以下两种：*计划：根据测量、安装和注册时间要求的指导方针*计划外：然而，尽管基于悬臂的方法已被证明在许多情况下具有通过降低系统级复杂性来显著节省成本的潜力，但现有的悬臂装配没有表现出同时解决这两个基本操作瓶颈的固有可扩展性。现有的网络铁路批准的悬臂都需要高精度的定制制造单个组件，目前只在欧洲生产，交货时间很长。当尺寸错误频繁发生，导致在其分配的位置安装/注册失败时，集成合作伙伴被迫等待替换，从而造成冗长且代价高昂的计划延迟。其他悬臂误差（如损坏或丢失的部件）加剧了风险。即使没有并发症，定制组件的成本和准备/注册时间仍远未达到最佳水平。作为回应，联合公用事业供应公司正在开发一种全新的OLE悬臂式概念，解决成本效益电气化的各个方面。基于新颖的悬臂几何结构，在调整、灵活性和OLE标准化方面实现了逐步变化，有针对性的创新刺激了英国乃至全球的颠覆性市场机会。该项目与哈德斯菲尔德大学（University of Huddersfield）及其铁路研究所（IRR）合作，现在的目标是在脱轨环境中实现和验证全尺寸预批准原型悬臂组件。

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.