INVESTIGATION FOR THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH SPEED TRAIN PANTOGRAPH WITH COVER

The aerodynamic performance of the pantograph on a high speed train was compared for different pantograph covers which are designed to block the aero-acoustic noise from the pantograph. For the study, two types of cover are designed: wedge and cone types. The lift force of pantograph with cover was compared with the force of pantograph only. The comparison clarified that the cone type cover increases the sideslip angle of the flow and decreases the lift force considerably. However, the wedge type cover changes the flow direction upward and increases the lift force of the pan head. This increment of lift force compensates the decrement of lift force caused by the blocking of the flow into the pantograph lower frame due to cover. Therefore, in case of the wedge type cover, the overall lift force changes slightly compared with the cone type cover.