Peter Brackett- Canadian Pacific Railway Robert MacMillan- CSX Railroad

Peter Brackett- Canadian Pacific RailwayRobert MacMillan- CSX Railroad

Earl Chapman – Railway Consultant, (previously CN)

Keeping Signals WorkingKeeping Signals WorkingWhat it Takes!What it Takes!

Improving Standby Power :Improving Standby Power :For Railway Signals & Communication SystemsFor Railway Signals & Communication Systems

Communication And Signal’s are Communication And Signal’s are Up Against:Up Against: LightningLightning

Blackout Aug 2003Blackout Aug 2003

Communication And Signal’s Communication And Signal’s are Up Against: Natureare Up Against: Nature

Quebec Ice StormQuebec Ice Storm

Communication And Signal’s are Communication And Signal’s are Up Against:Up Against:

Hurricanes

Communication And Signal’s are Communication And Signal’s are Up Against:Up Against:

Lightning and other surge energy AC Power Failures- Short Term AC Power Failures- Long Term Power Line Faults Power Line Induction Problems:

energy coupled from adjacent Power lines into the rail

Keeping Equipment Cool / Warm

Communication And Signal’s Communication And Signal’s Changes Changes

Relays to Electronics

Signal’s 101Signal’s 101

+Electronics_

Battery+-

Signal’s 101Signal’s 101

+Electronics_

Battery+-

Remote Earth

Surge Protecti

on Device

Surge ProtectionSurge Protection

First Line of Defence against Surges is:

SPD’s- Surge Suppression Devices

Purpose – to clamp the Voltage rise on a conductor and hence shunt the incoming energy to a safe alternative path rather than through your equipment

Surge Energy DamageSurge Energy Damage

Surge Protection Devices – SPD’s

To Understand Surge Protection: To Understand Surge Protection: You Need to KnowYou Need to Know

The amount of incoming energy is proportional to the size of the conductor

Surge Energy = Conductor SizeSurge Energy = Conductor Size

Smallest Conductor22 Gauge Telephone WireHence smallest protector

Surge Energy = Conductor SizeSurge Energy = Conductor SizeMedium - AC Power

Surge Energy = Conductor SizeSurge Energy = Conductor Size

Largest Conductor = Rail most energy

designed for 10,000 Amps Current

Surge Energy = Conductor SizeSurge Energy = Conductor Size

Remote Earth Connection = “Ground”

largest exposure

Energy can go out or come back in through

the remote earth connection and the AC power’s Neutral Line

Examples of Ground Surge DamageExamples of Ground Surge Damage

~10,000 Volts with #6 Wire

Signal’s 101Signal’s 101

+Electronics_

Battery+-

Remote Earth

SPD’s1000V

Metal Reference WallMetal Reference WallLow Impedance Reference Plane Low Impedance Reference Plane

&SPD’s&SPD’s

LIRP- CPR InitiativeLIRP- CPR Initiative

Communication And Signal’s are Communication And Signal’s are Up Against:Up Against: Power Line FaultsPower Line Faults

15,000V Power Line On Rail15,000V Power Line On Rail

Recent Improvements for Power Recent Improvements for Power ReliabilityReliability

Moving off open wire pole lines

2/25/2004Canadian Pacific Railway 23

Signaling - Pole Line

Code LineLine Wires

Power

Standby Switch PowerStandby Switch Power

Recent CPR_Improvements for Recent CPR_Improvements for Power ReliabilityPower Reliability

Adding transfer switches and external generators plugs to buildings to make it– Easier, Faster and

much safer to connect an external generator

Bus Mounted SPD

CSX Recent ImprovementsCSX Recent Improvements

AC Power protected by MOV in Faraday

Box

• Crossing Lights are Normally DarkCrossing Lights are Normally Dark

• Must be lit to indicate a warning to the motorist

• Hence, Standby Power is a crucial part of the system when AC power fails

• FRA Stats indicate that power failures are concern

The Highway Crossing Warning The Highway Crossing Warning Systems Power IssueSystems Power Issue

Required by FRA

Regulation234.215

or TransportCanada

Rail Safety Act 26.1-.2

Required Standby Power for Required Standby Power for Crossing Crossing Warning SystemsWarning Systems

SummarySummary Power systems are an important asset

Batteries are a key element

Maintenance and testing is necessary to get the maximum performance

Automated Capacity Testing has potential to improve power systems reliability

Summary Summary How C&S Are Addressing:How C&S Are Addressing:

Lightning and other surge energy AC Power Failures- Short Term AC Power Failures- Long Term Power Line Faults Power Line Induction Problems:

energy coupled from adjacent Power lines into the rail – Blue Book-EPRI

Keeping Equipment Cool / Warm

Keeping Signals WorkingKeeping Signals WorkingWhat it Takes!What it Takes!

Peter Brackett- Canadian Pacific [email protected]

Chair ARMEA C38

http://www.arema.org/comm/c38.htm

Robert MacMillan- CSX

[email protected]

Earl Chapman – Consultant

[email protected]