Damping device to solve the pantograph-line capture problems, especially for the EU high-speed railways lines

Project description

Innovative damping device could allow faster electric trains

In electric trains, a pantograph is a roof-mounted apparatus which collects power through contact with an overhead line. The restriction of having to maintain continuous contact is the primary factor that prevents trains from attaining higher speeds. With the help of the EU-funded SPEED-EU project, Italy-based company Officina Fratelli Bertolotti is developing a damping device to solve issues arising from loss of contact. The device will be of simple design made of materials that can withstand high temperatures and efficiently dissipate heat. It will also effectively tolerate small and large oscillations and will allow easy visual inspection. Moreover, it will eliminate the need for fluids that could be dispersed into the environment.

Objective

"Officina Fratelli Bertolotti S.p.A. was founded in 1901 as a small workshop that was working as blacksmith. From 1920 it specialised in special iron carpentry and in the post-war period it becomes a modern industry thanks to the acquisition of customers in the industry ""Electricity transmission"". Today the company brand is linked to that of the most important Electrical and Transport companies in various countries. The proposed innovation was started in order to respond to the emerging needs of the railway sector for the high-speed trains infrastructure. The goodness of the electric power uptake by the thread of the airline has been a problem since the abandonment of the ""third rail"", but the increase in speed and power demands made it even more difficult to ensure continuous contact between catenary and crawling, with the consequent formation of electrical arcing which can damage fixed installation, pantograph and electrical systems of the train. The ability to maintain a continuous and fluid contact between these two elements is one of the main factors that limit the allowable speed of trains. The most direct solution, that is the stringing of conductors, involves considerable problems related to the substitution of the infrastructure: high costs and rail traffic interruption. Our innovation exploits the non-linear kineto-dynamic made by the specific construction, it is mechanically simple, does not use materials sensitive to temperatures, nor dissipation by Joule effect, works for small and large oscillations, does not use fluids that may be dispersed in the environment, and can be inspected visually. Furthermore, it is much less expensive than the replacement of the conductors and of support structures, allowing to save 90% of replacement costs. From the esploitation of SPEED-EU we expect to create 15 new jobs, enter into the rail sector and increase revenues of €56 million in a 4-years commercialization period."

Fields of science

engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringelectric energy

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

SMEInst-10-2016-2017 - Small business innovation research for Transport and Smart Cities Mobility

Call for proposal

H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017

Funding Scheme

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

Coordinator

OFFICINA FRATELLI BERTOLOTTI SPA

Net EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Address

VIA MILANO 4
10088 VOLPIANO
Italy

SME

Yes

Region

Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

Links

Contact the organisation

Participation in EU R&I programmes

HORIZON collaboration network

Total cost

€ 71 429,00