CATENARY

WIRE
SYSTEM
Catenary
the curve that an idealized hanging chain or cable assumes
under its own weight when supported only at its ends.

Wire
thin metal that can be bent, used in a stiff form in fences
and in a form more easily shaped for fastening things or
for carrying electric currents
Catenary Wire System
A catenary is a system of overhead wires used to
supply electricity to a locomotive, streetcar, or light
rail vehicle that is equipped with a pantograph.

Pantograph
a jointed framework conveying a current to a train,
streetcar, or other electric vehicle from overhead
wires
• The requirements sectioning of the catenary
line. To allow maintenance to the overhead line
without having to turn off the entire system, the
line is broken into electrically separated portions
known as “sections”. Sections often correspond
with tension lengths. The transition from section
to section is known as a “section break” and is set
up so that the locomotive’s pantograph is in
continuous contact with the wire
 TYPES OF OVERHEAD
CATENARY SYSTEM

1. Simple Catenary
2.Compound Catenary
3.Stitched Catenary
 Simple Catenary System

•Simple catenary system with higher size conductors,

heavier tension and a pre sag

(of 1/1000 of span) is reported to be adequate for

speeds upto350 kmph.

Simple Catenary System
Compound Catenary System

• Compound system for HSR was evolved in Japan for first bullet train Shinkansen
in1964.

• This system has a second catenary wire, called the

auxiliary catenary wire between the main catenary wire
and the contact wire. It is joined to the main catenary wire
and the contact wire by means of droppers which helps to
reduce variations.
Compound Catenary System
 Y-Stitched Catenary System

•A y-stitch wire is used to designate a connecting

element inserted betweenthe catenary wire and the
contact wire.

•Sicat H1.0 was used for HSR 300km/h in operation

between Cologne and Frankfurt..

•Germanrail has developed Y-stitch catenary system for

conventional lines also.
Stitched Catenary System
Components of Overhead
Catenary System
 1. Contact Wire
C The contact wire is a large single strand copper wire
suspended from the catenary wire by droppers.
O
M 2. Droppers
P These are used to suspend the contact wire from the
catenary wire. All droppers are live with 1500 volts.
O
N 3. Registration Arm
E Are metal rods attached to the contact wire to
position it with respect to the centre line of the
N track.
T
S 4. Messenger wires 
Wires that run parallel to overhead cables, and act
as the support for the cable.
Did you know?
• The first tram with overhead lines was presented
by Werner von Siemens at the International
Electric Exposition in Paris 1881: