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Energy-Efficient Induction Heating-Based Deicing System for Railway Turnouts Under Real Snowfall Conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Hyeong-Seok Oh

    (Department of Railroad Operation Systems Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, 157, Cheoldobangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang-si 16106, Republic of Korea)

  • Woo-Young Ji

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyung-Woo Lee

    (Department of Railway Vehicle System Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, 157, Cheoldobangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang-si 16106, Republic of Korea)

  • Jae-Bum Lee

    (Department of Railroad Electrical and Information Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, 157, Cheoldobangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang-si 16106, Republic of Korea)

  • Chan-Bae Park

    (Department of Railroad Operation Systems Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, 157, Cheoldobangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang-si 16106, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Railway turnouts are highly susceptible to snow and ice accumulation during winter, which can cause malfunctions, resulting in train delays or, in extreme cases, derailments with potential casualties. To mitigate these risks, resistive heating (RH) systems using nichrome wires have traditionally been employed. However, these systems suffer from slow heat transfer and high power consumption. To address these limitations, this article proposes an induction heating (IH) system designed for rapid thermal response and improved electrical and thermal efficiency. The proposed system comprises a power conversion unit featuring a boost power factor correction (PFC) stage and a high-frequency resonant inverter, along with an improved IH coil. An experiment in real snowfall demonstrates the IH system’s fast heat-up capability, effective snow cover removal, and enhanced energy efficiency compared to conventional methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyeong-Seok Oh & Woo-Young Ji & Hyung-Woo Lee & Jae-Bum Lee & Chan-Bae Park, 2025. "Energy-Efficient Induction Heating-Based Deicing System for Railway Turnouts Under Real Snowfall Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5149-:d:1759819
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert Żelazny & Paweł Jabłoński & Tomasz Szczegielniak, 2021. "Operation of the Prototype Device for Induction Heating of Railway Turnouts at Various Operating Frequencies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Elzbieta Szychta & Leszek Szychta, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Effectiveness of Resistance and Induction Turnout Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Jerzy Kisilowski & Rafał Kowalik, 2021. "Mechanical Wear Contact between the Wheel and Rail on a Turnout with Variable Stiffness," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-39, November.
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