01.11.06
Points To Consider During The Cold Snap
With the winter weather fast approaching, the big challenge for rail operators is to keep trains running efficiently, and one of the biggest barriers to this is frozen points.
Now Power4, from Fox and Cooper, is providing a successful and cost-effective solution to this age-old problem – thanks to a sophisticated points heating power generator system.
The system is powered by a diesel generator and controlled by an on-board Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Power4’s points heating system is designed to keep ice away, even in the coldest weather, and can be used in remote locations where there is no mains electricity supply or where regular access would be problematic.
Once set in place, the Power4 points heating generator will start up automatically whenever the temperature drops to a point where freezing is likely.
The on-board equipment enables a Power4 engineer to remotely monitor the generating set, checking fuel, oil and water levels and identifying any potential problems before they threaten rail network operation. Any issues requiring attention are either dealt with remotely from the control centre, or a field service engineer is dispatched immediately, providing rail operators with peace of mind and continuous operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The PLC charges the start-up batteries at certain periods during the day to ensure they never fail to start the generating set when it is required.
Richard Spencer, operations director at Power4, says:
“The Power4 points heating system provides a reliable way to avoid frozen points, allowing rail services to run safely and efficiently during the cold winter months. The round-the-clock monitoring facility ensures that the system always works effectively, even in the most remote locations. The modern diesel generators are very fuel efficient and a sound-proof enclosure ensures that the local environment is not disturbed during periods of operation”.
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