TY  - EJOU
AU  - Qin, Deng 
AU  - Du, Xing 
AU  - Li, Tian 
AU  - Zhang, Jiye 

TI  - Numerical Study on Reduction in Aerodynamic Drag and Noise of High-Speed Pantograph
T2  - Computer Modeling in Engineering \& Sciences

PY  - 2024
VL  - 139
IS  - 2
SN  - 1526-1506

AB  - Reducing the aerodynamic drag and noise levels of high-speed pantographs is important for promoting environmentally friendly, energy efficient and rapid advances in train technology. Using computational fluid dynamics theory and the K-FWH acoustic equation, a numerical simulation is conducted to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed pantographs. A component optimization method is proposed as a possible solution to the problem of aerodynamic drag and noise in high-speed pantographs. The results of the study indicate that the panhead, base and insulator are the main contributors to aerodynamic drag and noise in high-speed pantographs. Therefore, a gradual optimization process is implemented to improve the most significant components that cause aerodynamic drag and noise. By optimizing the cross-sectional shape of the strips and insulators, the drag and noise caused by airflow separation and vortex shedding can be reduced. The aerodynamic drag of insulator with circular cross section and strips with rectangular cross section is the largest. Ellipsifying insulators and optimizing the chamfer angle and height of the windward surface of the strips can improve the aerodynamic performance of the pantograph. In addition, the streamlined fairing attached to the base can eliminate the complex flow and shield the radiated noise. In contrast to the original pantograph design, the improved pantograph shows a 21.1% reduction in aerodynamic drag and a 1.65 dBA reduction in aerodynamic noise.
KW  - High-speed pantograph; aerodynamic drag; aerodynamic noise; reduction; optimizing

DO  - 10.32604/cmes.2023.044460