Modelling Eddy Current Brake emissions for electromagnetic compatibility with signaling devices in high speed railways

Abstract

This paper presents a model that anticipates the emissions from eddy current brakes (ECBs) installed in high-speed trains. The emissions are computed in the 10 KHz-1.3 MHz range, where trackside signaling devices operate and issues related to electromagnetic compatibility have arisen, hindering ECB's promise of full deployment. The electromagnetic model provides a transfer function in the frequency domain between the nondesired harmonic currents produced by the train power supply and the subsequent radiated emissions by the ECBs at the trackside. The model includes the influence of the on-board ECB system's electric circuitry on the three-dimensional field computation of the electromagnets by a cosimulation approach (circuit and electromagnetic cross talk). After the data are postprocessed, the simulated results are compared with the results of an extensive measurement campaign on board a high-speed ICE 3 train equipped with ECBs. The high correlation makes it possible to anticipate ECB emissions in order to save costly on-track test runs, to suggest ECB design strategies and to provide safe limits when the worst cases occur.