DEPOT & WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT
Network Rail is getting closer to its move to a new National Centre in Milton Keynes, where 3,000 staff will be based. Kate Ashley reports.
T
he Quadrant: MK is the new National Centre for Network
Rail, based in Milton Keynes and due to open in the autumn.
The centre aims to bring differ- ent teams together to allow easier cross-functional working and cut down travel time between offices, as well as rationalising the Net- work Rail estate, saving millions of pounds in office rental space elsewhere.
The national functions of engineering, investment planning and management, logistics, operational planning and information
management are
being combined at the Quadrant, to make it easier for customers to get in contact and to ensure easy communication between Network
All the furniture for the building is being delivered by DB Schenker by rail, avoiding about 100,000km of lorry journeys.
Rail’s central teams and the 10 devolved routes.
Recognising the potential tension between simultaneous centralisa- tion and devolution in the com- pany, Network Rail says: “We’re committed to our route and area structure, keeping our operational and maintenance activities fo- cused where they are needed, out on the ground and close to their customers.
“The new building in Milton Keynes will essentially act as a support centre to assist the routes and areas do their job.”
Tim Coucher, Network Rail pro- ject director for The Quadrant: MK, praised this measure and said: “Our new national centre in Milton Keynes will be one of the most sustainable buildings in the country, so it makes sense that we encourage the use of rail wherever possible throughout the supply chain.”
The building’s design includes a host of environmentally-friendly features such as extensive ‘living roofs’ which will encourage di- verse habitats for flora and fauna in the centre of the city and a rain- water harvesting system which will be used to flush toilets and water the plants and gardens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit:
www.networkrail.com
A thermal imaging camera is the perfect tool for condition monitoring at a train care maintenance facility, argues Andy McGrath, product manager for thermal imaging at Testo Ltd.
he use of thermal imaging is a growing trend. A picture says a thousand words; infrared ther- mography is the only diagnostic technology that lets you instantly visualise and verify thermal pat- terns to determine the location of an anomaly.
T
Thermal Imaging cameras are much more affordable nowadays and can be easily used by the maintenance engineer for condi- tion monitoring in a wide range of applications from switchgear and distribution equipment to pumps, motors and bearings.
Electrical equipment
A wide range of electrical equip- ment such as electrical control cabinets, switchgear, distribution boards, motor control units etc, can be easily scanned with a ther- mal imaging camera to locate/ identify any hot spots indicative of an anomaly.
ponents. Quite often if mechani- cal components become worn and less efficient, the heat generated will increase and it is therefore a proven factor that the tempera- ture of wearing, faulty equipment or systems will increase rapidly, leading up to failure. By periodi- cally comparing thermal images of the critical components and the temperatures indicated by them, you can detect potential failures at an early stage.
Over time, the resistance of electri- cal connections will increase due to factors like the loosening of con- nections and corrosion or exces- sive current flow. The correspond- ing rise in temperature can cause components to fail, resulting in breakdowns and worse. Thermal inspections with an easy-to-use thermal imager can quickly locate hot spots and help determine the severity of the problem, and help
64 | rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 12
to establish a maintenance sched- ule to conduct remedial works.
Mechanical equipment
Mechanical systems and com- ponents play a vital role in day- to-day rail maintenance opera- tions. Mechanical systems and assemblies will heat up if there are problems like increased wear on a bearing or misalignment of com-
A typical example would be electric motors, which can easily be ther- mally inspected with a thermal im- aging camera. Motor failures such as bearing wear, armature shorts or excessive brush contact wear will all produce excess heat prior to failure.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For details on using thermal imaging for condition monitoring reports, and reducing costs and downtime, contact Testo. T: 01420 566 814 W:
www.testo.co.uk/thermal
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