How DAMP Used AI Simulation to Improve Catenary Systems
Pain Point Addressed
DAMP is an Italian company well known for manufacturing vibration dampers for power transmission lines. Not long ago, it was acquired by a holding group called Knill. DAMP sought to introduce a new one-way damper to enhance the efficiency of the contact quality between pantographs and catenary systems.
DAMP needed to evaluate the performance of its new one-way damper component within the overhead catenary systems. Before introducing this innovative product, DAMP wanted to ensure its effectiveness through rigorous simulation.
However, their initial simulations, conducted using other methods, were limited in scope. The results were not comprehensive and, in some cases, even suggested that the new component might worsen system performance. This lack of extensive and flexible simulation scenarios left DAMP unsatisfied and uncertain about the next steps for its product development.
They needed comprehensive simulation software to accurately model and test the new component’s impact on the entire system, which their existing resources could not provide.
Our Solution
PANTOhealth offered a robust and adaptable simulation software solution capable of modeling and evaluating the new one-way damper component within DAMP’s overhead catenary system. The critical steps in our solution included the following:
- Proposal and Timeline: We proposed a detailed project plan outlining the development phases, including software modifications, validation, and multiple simulation scenarios. Upon receiving approval from DAMP, we began the development process.
- Software Enhancement: We enhanced our existing simulation software to include features allowing the modeling of the new damper component. This involved significant technical adjustments and development to ensure accurate physical behavior simulation.
- User Interface Design: A crucial part of our solution was designing a user-friendly interface that allowed DAMP’s engineers to quickly simulate different scenarios and optimize the placement and mechanical characteristics of the new component.
Results and Impacts
The collaboration with PANTOhealth yielded several significant outcomes. Our software was successfully upgraded to simulate the new one-way damper component, providing DAMP with a powerful tool to evaluate its performance comprehensively.
Our simulations identified optimal use cases where the new damper could significantly enhance the contact quality between pantographs and catenary systems. In some scenarios, the latest component improved performance by up to 50-60%.
DAMP received a holistic answer and a dynamic platform, allowing them to explore various configurations and conditions. This increased their knowledge about their system and boosted their confidence in the new product.
The successful implementation of this project empowered PANTOhealth to become a leading clinic for pantograph and catenary interaction solutions, attracting further interest from other industry players.
In general, our collaboration with DAMP addressed their critical need for comprehensive simulation, provided them with a dynamic/holistic validation platform, and ultimately enhanced their product development process, substantially improving their system’s performance.
