SPECIAL FOCUS THE RAIL INDUSTRY
should offer testing under extreme environmental conditions. Wind-tunnel testing: A useful means to measure airflow volumes and resistance, enabling optimal efficiency air cooling. Salt spray testing: To ensure the cabinet meets the required life expectancy, corrosion resistance and surface ageing is tested using a vaporised salt solution. Noise measurement: The noise level generated by a system should be measured to ensure conformity to the industry standards.
GOING TRACKSIDE When used trackside, equipment cabinets need to be
robust and highly functional while offering protection from such problems as vandalism and extreme temperatures. Alan Cook, MD of Foremost Electronics, looks at the key considerations when specifying trackside cabinets
N
ot only do cabinets used trackside need to be robust and protect
against extreme temperatures, but system builders are now looking for advanced functions including light weight, corrosion resistance, energy- saving, low maintenance, and low noise climate regulation. In extreme instances, vandalism-proofing, with anti-graffiti coating and IP55 protection, may be specified. Also, ease of access for assembly, installation and service is critical, and cable entry provision must be carefully considered. With applications as diverse as track
control, train monitoring or platform control, cabinets for outdoor use must provide smooth and dependable functioning of sensitive electronics in outdoor environments. Component selection should be based on IEC 61969, fulfil the guidelines and standards for shock, vibration and earthquake resistance, and ideally provide climate protection tested to IEC 68-2-1.
SPECIFYING TRACKSIDE CABINETS When specifying railway trackside cabinets the following key features need to be met:
12 MAY 2016 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Security: The cabinet should provide the best protection against vandalism and extreme temperatures Climate control: Energy-saving, low-maintenance and low-noise climate regulation Cabinet flexibility: Fixed layout or modular for future proofing Windproof and weather resistant: Modern systems require a weight- saving, corrosion-resistant and highly robust construction Securely protected: Does the installation need to be vandalism-proof, with anti-graffiti coating, or require protection to IP55 Shock and vibration tested: Enclosures should provide impact resistance in mobile applications HF shielding tested: To ensure sensitive electronic systems operate reliably Flowtherm simulations: Cabinets should be provided with simulations of temperature distribution and airflow patterns to assist in designing the cooling system and in locating hot spots. Climate bay testing: Manufacturers
Applications for trackside cabinets include track control, train monitoring or platform control
CABINET DEVELOPMENTS The latest developments in railway trackside cabinets include innovations in cooling including the use of a double exterior wall which reduces heating from solar radiation. This technique also assists in removing the heat inside the double wall using natural air flow, offering a substantial reduction in the cost of additional cooling. The passive ventilation in the cabinet’s double wall provides energy-efficient heat extraction using the passive meander system, where the increase in surface area acts as a heat exchanger, transferring more heat from the interior of the cabinet to the gap between the walls. This passive cooling system requires zero energy input and creates zero noise levels. Frequently the passive meander cabinet design is all that is required to cool a system and has the added benefit of providing extreme reliability by removing fans which have a fixed lifetime. If fans are still required for some
“System builders are now
looking for advanced functions including light
maintenance and low noise climate regulation”
weight, corrosion resistance, energy-saving, low
applications, they can be fitted in the space between the double walls. Fresh air cooling via air-filtered fans, heat exchangers or air-conditioners may also be provided for specific working environments. The double wall case design offers similar benefits in protecting systems from cold weather. When it comes to trackside cabinets, Schroff-Pentair provides fully featured fixed and modular products, providing rigorously tested products to meet the most arduous specifications. Its standardised components are based on IEC 61969; and they not only fulfil the guidelines and standards for
shock, vibration and earthquake resistance, but also offer climate protection tested to IEC 68-2-1.
Foremost Electronics T: 01371 811171
www.4most.co.uk
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