Performance Evaluation of Anti-Freezing Heaters for Turnout Switch by FEM Heat Transfer Analysis

• Published in: Nihon Kikai Gakkai rombunshuu. B hen Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 1280 - 1288
• Main Authors: Akama, Makoto, Yokoya, Chikara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.06.2007
• ISSN: 0387-5016

Incorporation of water sprinklers for snow melting and anti-freezing heaters for turnout switches are decided as a snow-fighting measure in Winter-season at a section between Hachinohe station and Shin-Aomori station on Tohoku Shinkansen line. It is therefore indispensable to examine the energy output and arrangements of the heaters to meet the users'requirements. However, a period until inauguration of the line is limited ; large expenditures for manufacturing of the required number of turnout switches and various experiments are unavoidable. Therefore, we carried out heat transfer simulations with FEM and made performance evaluations analyzing the output of heaters and their arrangements. As a result, it was evident that 'tentative' energy output and arrangement of the heaters at point areas were suitable to satisfy the 'criterion', however, those at crossing areas were insufficient ; eventually more heaters are required. The results of temperature analysis as compared with those for measurements of full-scale model in the field were mutually consistent.