Feature: Railways
With evolving railway trends and the introduction of new state of
the art technology, some out-of-the-box thinking was well overdue, challenging the already-established setup. For example, is air insulation really the best choice?
Encapsulating the roofline system Our TE engineers removed air from the equation altogether, developing a fully-encapsulated system that contains the high- voltage components in a compact package, optimising their interaction, interoperability and safety. It’s a one-size-fits-all solution, which can be used in any country. Te system comprises two key components: an
electromagnetically-operated Lopro 25/15kV AC vacuum circuit breaker and a ‘snake jumper’. Te circuit breaker acts as a safety- critical, line-power main circuit switch, breaking the current entering the train when required and disconnecting power in an emergency. Te small-footprint, aerodynamic snake jumper ensures reliable power supply between carriages, improving clearances and minimising wind resistance. Te new fully-encapsulated, earth-screened insulation
technology is a leap forward, delivering many benefits in safety, energy efficiency, aerodynamics and overall footprint. Among its benefits are: • Reduced maintenance costs, resulting in a lower cost of ownership; • Zero electrical clearance is required, increasing space savings and configuration possibilities;
• Insulators, enclosing boxes and cabinets are no longer needed, simplifying the overall solution, reducing life-cycle cost and weight, and streamlining installation;
• Circuit breakers can be roof-mounted or installed in the train’s interior, offering additional space-saving flexibility;
• Te circuit breaker is the shortest in the industry, which reduces air resistance and, consequently, energy;
• Consistent electrical insulation performance ensures the system’s ability to perform in harsh atmospheric conditions, regardless of pollution, rain, ice formation or air pressure variations. Rail operators are recognising these benefits. Te new encapsulated
circuit breaker will soon be tested by several rail customers on their trains in Europe, Japan, China and Korea. One customer has included the system in the designs for two
different tenders. Te low clearance was a particular strength, since one tender is for double-decker railway carriages in an area with many tunnels. And a customer in Spain has already been using the snake jumper on its high-speed trains for a year.
Game-changing technology With this game-changing design and technology, new industry standards will come into play, placing early adopters on the front lines of innovation. Te standard was reset 15 years ago with the switch from pneumatic to electrical actuation circuit breakers; now it’s happening again, with the introduction of new, innovative insulation technology for rail operators.
Roofline power-gathering system with curly jumper (TypeC) between cars, and roof-mounted VCB (vacuum circuit breaker)
A similar system as above, with snake jumper and slightly different VCB
www.electronicsworld.co.uk June 2022 31
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