Signalling
John Langley-David explains the importance of embracing new innovations like Automatic Supply Restoration (ASR) systems
W
ith demand on the UK rail network at its highest since the 1920’s, reducing delays
caused by signalling failures is essential in keeping passenger and freight customers moving, as well as keeping costs down for rail operators.
A large number of delays on the rail network can be attributed to a loss of signalling power, usually caused by cable or equipment faults, cable theft or vandalism. PADS approved and developed in conjunction with Network Rail’s Signalling Innovations Group, Schneider Electric’s ASR system is the first non- protection based system available for the rail market which automatically restores power for the network’s critical signalling functions. The alternative protection- based systems attempt to identify and
section and then it restores supply by closing the normally open point and the tripped breaker.
Already adopted by – and
demonstrating its benefits in – industries and infrastructure projects where supply availability is critical, an ASR system works by automatically restoring power to signalling equipment following functional supply point (FSP) or cable faults and reduces supply interruptions to less than fifteen seconds.
The ASR system comes with an easy-to-use touch screen interface complete with a graphical network representation of the signalling power network. The display can be viewed and remotely controlled via Internet Explorer and presents real time and historical reporting, as well as status and alarm information, ensuring maintenance
feeder at each FSP and therefore does not require specialist engineers to install or maintain it. Similarly, only cabling skills are required to repair a faulty ASR unit as the entire unit can be easily exchanged with no configuring required of the replacement unit.
The system is scalable meaning that three variants of the equipment – local fault detection, remote fault detection and automatic supply restoration – can be offered to individuals based on their project requirements and budgets. Local fault detection allows the location and type of fault to be identified following loss of power on the signalling network, thus reducing engineering time and resource to find and isolate signalling power faults. On detection of a fault, a display at each FSP provides a rail engineer with alarm indications and the currents on each conductor at the time of the fault.
Remote fault detection further enhances the technology used within local fault detection by providing communications, analysis and display facilities; enabling the rail engineering team to remotely monitor the status of the network. When a fault occurs, the system automatically analyses the fault data and identifies the location of the fault, displaying it on an HMI. This allows the faulty feeder section to be identified prior to a local inspection. The full ASR system uses the technology of the remote fault detection system but adds the control of contactors at the FSP, enabling the network to be automatically reconfigured. To ensure safety, security, reliability
isolate the fault in real time. This requires careful configuration of the protection settings during commissioning, maintenance and upgrades. The Schneider Electric post fault ASR system is novel because it uses differential measurement techniques to locate faults, thus removing the need for calculated settings and making it resistant to load changes. Having identified the location of a fault, it operates contactors to isolate the faulty
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engineers have full visibility of network loading and fault data information The Schneider Electric ASR system benefits from the ability to integrate into new and existing power supply distribution systems, without affecting the current network. When it comes to installation, unlike protection based systems, this ASR system is ‘plug and play’ so does not require any measurements of the electrical characteristics of the
and efficiency on the UK’s ever-expanding rail network, rail operators must adopt new innovative and intelligent solutions which help to monitor, control and optimise the electrical assets on the rail network. An ASR system improves supply availability for new installations, while also extending the useful operational life of existing networks. It can significantly reduce delays and outages, minimise impact on rail customers, as well as save time in installation and maintenance, and improve the safety of those inspecting the network.
•
John Langley-Davis is Schneider Electric’s Advanced Services marketing manager
www.schneider-electric.com
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