Traction Power-Supply System Risk Assessment for High-Speed Railways Considering Train Timetable Effects

A traction power-supply system (TPSS) is the only power source for electric locomotives; therefore, its safe and consistent operation is of critical importance to reliable, high-speed operation. Electrical faults can disrupt train scheduling and jeopardize the safety and security of high-speed railways. Thus, it is essential to quantitatively evaluate possible risk factors in TPSSs. To do so, based on 24-h train timetable, this paper defines indices to describe the failure risk to traction power-supply equipment, and a separate set of indices present the risk from various power-quality problems. Combining both the equipment and power-quality risks yields a comprehensive risk-assessment for the TPSS, by means of a weighted evaluation. The proposed risk assessment method can ensure informed personnel by communicating the system's risk state in real-time to identify high-risk operation, thereby avoiding the potential for severe accidents and informing maintenance and operational plans.