Availability Evaluation of Overhead Contact Lines Based on a Stochastic Colored Petri Nets Model

作者：Jingheng Zhou, Shibin Gao, Long Yu, Bohan Li · 发表于：IET Electrical Systems in Transportation · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1049/els2/9947431

Due to their nonbackup characteristics and constant exposure to outdoor conditions, the performance of overhead contact lines (OCLs) will gradually degrade over time and further result in equipment defects or frequent failures. These issues significantly impact system availability and incur substantial repair costs. To tackle these issues, this paper proposes a stochastic colored Petri net (SCPN) model to evaluate the availability of OCLs and estimate the maintenance costs, simultaneously simulating the degradation, failure, inspection, and maintenance processes of critical components and the overall system. Firstly, this model encompasses the nature of a multiple‐stage deterioration process and various maintenance actions available for OCLs. A four‐state transition diagram is developed to capture the intricate dependencies involved. Moreover, a subnet is formulated using SCPN to represent the four‐state transition for critical components, which are described by nine tuples. Additionally, a system model is developed by integrating the subnets of OCL components. To improve simulation speed, an accelerated Monte Carlo simulation algorithm is devised to handle the analytical solution for the complex integration associated with performance transitions. Finally, the proposed approach is demonstrated by its application to an actual high‐speed railway line, showcasing its effectiveness in addressing the degradation and maintenance challenges of OCLs.