Experimental Verification of Contactless Heating Method in Railway Turnouts Heating System

In winter conditions, railroad turnouts are an element of railway infrastructure that is particularly vulnerable to weather conditions such as snowfall, blowing of freezing rainfall, low temperatures. To maintain them in full operability during un-favorable weather conditions turnouts heating systems are used. The basic system used for decades on European railways is the electric heating of turnouts (ETH). This system uses resistance heaters, is characterized by high energy consumption and low efficiency. Railway authorities, in many European countries, look for new solutions in the field of electric turnouts heating. In this paper experimental verification of a new ETH concept is presented. The new methodology uses contactless heaters instead of the classic ones and is based on an innovative way of heat distribution. As a reference object for the con-tactless heater, the classic ETH was used. Experimental research in real conditions were carried out at turnouts exploited in the Polish State Railways (PKP) network. The research was carried out in various weather conditions. As a part of the test, thermo-vision measurements were done, as well as measurements by thermo-couples and a melting rate was observed. In each case, comparative tests were carried out. The results were gathered, analyzed, concluded and presented in the paper.