Photo EPRI s Power System and Railroad Electromagnetic Compatibility Handbook Brian Cramer Project Manager Transmission and Substations bcramer@epri.com 815/478-5344
Problem Periodic false activation of highway grade crossing equipment Transmission line parallels the tracks Only one track causes all the problems Voltages (60Hz): Rail-to-ground: 9V ac rms Rail-to-ground: 4V ac rms Rail-to-rail: 4 to 5V ac rms Other track: 8V r-g (both rails) and 0.1V r-r 2 months later we know that everything tests perfectly: Equipment, Insulated Joints, everything! Tried changing frequencies and increasing power output Called for help 2
Cosponsors Association of American Railroads (AAR) American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Committee 38 Oncor Energy Delivery Services The National Grid Transco Company 3
How to get the Handbook Association of American Railroads (AAR) Provided to member railroads American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Sale to AREMA members: $ to be determined EPRI - Electric Power Companies Provided to members of EMC Program (Program 61) (All others: $25,000) 4 Note: The Handbook is not for open sale. Only members of AAR, AREMA, and EPRI Program 61 have rights to the Handbook.
How to learn to use the Handbook Seminars/Conferences This Handbook is a step in a coordinated approach to providing railroads and electric companies the ability to insure compatibility Seminars and Conferences will be held to provide Handbook users the training necessary to effectively use the tools provided in the Handbook Details of Seminars are being discussed this week EPRI is proposing an annual conference for Handbook users While designed to meet the needs of electric power companies, the conference might be open to railroad personnel 5
Possible EPRI Conference Power System and Railroad EMC Handbook Conference Conference would be offered at a sponsoring company 2½ day conference could involve both EPRI and contract instructors, and member presentations of case studies Attendees could receive a field edition of the Handbook The field book will include those sections most useful to personnel studying interference problems in the field 6
Chapter Structure Introduction Quick-start Version Allow the user to work effectively in the shortest time Length from 1 page to 6 pages Detailed Version In depth study Length from 4 pages to 153 pages 7
Chapter Organization 1. Introduction/Background 2. Fundamentals of EMC 3. Overview of power systems 4. Overview of railroad signal circuits 5. Abnormal-operation of railroad equipment 6. Damage to railroad equipment 7. Personnel safety 8. Measurements 9. Investigation 10. Diagnostic flow chart 11. Graphic evaluation 12. Computer modeling 13. Mitigation options 14. Case studies 15. Planning guidelines for Railroads 16. Planning guidelines for power companies 17. Conclusions 18. Glossaries 8
Back to our problem Diagnostic Flow Chart A p ro b le m e x is ts a c in te rfe re n c e is s u s p e c te d P o te n tia l s a fe ty h a z a rd c o n s i d e r s p e c i a l w o r k r u l e s s u c h a s w o rk in g w ith in s u la te d g lo v e s If p ro b le m c o m e s a n d g o e s (in te rm itte n t), try to m a k e m e a s u r e m e n t s w h i l e p ro b le m e x is ts. M e a s u r e a c v o l t a g e r a i l - t o - g r o u n d a n d a c ro s s IJ s (A m p litu d e a n d F re q u e n c y ): T ests # 1 an d #2 D o e s c o n t i n u o u s a c v o l t a g e a t a n y l o c a t i o n e x c e e d 5 0 V o lts? Y e s S a f e t y H a z a r d c o n s i d e r s p e c i a l w o r k r u l e s s u c h a s w o rk in g w ith in s u la te d g lo v e s G o t o A N o G o t o C N o D o e s p r o b l e m i n v o l v e d a m a g e t o s i g n a l e q u i p m e n t? Y e s A sk p o w e r c o m p a n y fo r a re c o rd o f e v e n ts s u c h a s fa u lts, trip s, a n d s w itc h in g o p e ra tio n s o n a ll tra n s m iss io n a n d d is trib u tio n lin e s n e a r t h e a f f e c t e d t r a c k N o D o e s th e tim e o f t h e d a m a g e c o r r e s p o n d to th e tim e s o f p o w e r system events? Y e s G o t o B N o D i d d a m a g e o c c u r d u r i n g a n electrical storm? Y e s P r o b a b l y a d i r e c t l i g h t n i n g s t r i k e W o rk w ith p o w e r c o m p a n y to try to id e n tify p o s s i b l e s o u r c e s o f p o w e r s u r g e s n o t p r e v i o u s l y r e p o r t e d. S o u r c e s c o u l d b e p o w e r, r a i l r o a d, o r t h i r d p a r t y. 9
Back to our problem Diagnostic Flow Chart (continued) S t e a d y -S ta te E ffe c ts to E q u i p m e n t O p e r a t i o n C M e a s u r e a c v o l t a g e r a i l - t o - r a i l : T e s t # 3 N o Is ra il-to -ra il v o lta g e g re a te r th a n 1 0 % o f r a i l - t o - g r o u n d v o l t a g e? Y e s C h e c k p o w e r s y s t e m e q u i p m e n t : C a p a c i t o r b a n k s f o r b l o w n f u s e s a n d f a i l e d c a p a c i t o r s D is trib u tio n n e u tra l in te g rity M e a s u r e r a i l - t o - r a i l f r e q u e n c y s p e c t r u m C h e c k t r a c k c i r c u i t b a l a n c e : T e s t a n d re p a ir IJ s T e s t a n d r e p a i r a r r e s t o r s ( S P D s ) C h e c k b y - p a s s c o u p l e r s a n d te rm in a tio n s h u n ts E l i m i n a t e c o n d u c t i v e p a t h s t o g r o u n d a n d f o r e i g n s o u r c e s Is a c i n t e r f e r e n c e s p e c tru m in c o m p a tib le w ith t h e s i g n a l e q u i p m e n t p r e s e n t N o C o n c e n t r a t e o n n o n - a c i n t e r f e r e n c e c a u s e s o f t h e p r o b l e m Y e s E v a lu a te m itig a tio n o p tio n s P o w e r s y s t e m m i t i g a t i o n t o c o n s i d e r i n c l u d e s : O p t i m i z e p h a s i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s M in im iz e p h a s e s p a c in g R e d u c e l o a d c u r r e n t A e r i a l o r u n d e r g r o u n d c o u n t e r p o i s e I n c r e a s e s t r u c t u r e h e i g h t O p t i m i z e p h a s e c u r r e n t b a l a n c e S p l i t p h a s i n g F i v e - w i r e d i s t r i b u t i o n R a ilro a d m itig a tio n to c o n s id e r in c lu d e s : I n c r e a s e e q u i p m e n t p o w e r o u t p u t A d j u s t o p e r a t i n g f r e q u e n c i e s S h o r t e n t r a c k b l o c k s Im p r o v e tra c k c irc u it b a la n c e R e p l a c e e q u i p m e n t f o r m o r e i m m u n i t y U n d e r g r o u n d c o u n t e r p o i s e E l i m i n a t e I J s f r o m c r o s s i n g a p p r o a c h c i r c u i t s U s e h e a v y d u t y t e r m i n a t i o n s h u n t s 10
Back to our problem Benefits Eliminates unnecessary testing Eliminates unnecessary equipment changes Reduces train delays Reduces highway traffic delays Saves time and money Improved relationships with neighbors 2+ months 1+ hour 11
Power System and Railroad EMC Handbook Questions 12