[drucken] [fenster schliessen] Selectron Systems AG Bernstrasse 70 CH-3250 Lyss +41 32 387 61 61 Newsletter 2/2012 from Selectron Dear customer, We at Selectron Systems are pleased to present you with this second edition of our Newsletter in 2012. We hope that these selected reports will provide you with some interesting news from our company. We hope you find this a pleasant and enjoyable read! Contents Safety Applictions Wheel slide protection on the way to UIC certification Our customers' successes in rapidly growing markets Locomotives from China for transporting coal in Australia using Selectron control and monitoring systems Our customer's success Trucks on track - Selectron technology supports this What's new? Training locomotive drivers efficiently and practically InnoTrans show 2012 in Berlin Selectron Team The Application Engineering team – your contacts when you need to undertake projects Occupational health Tour de Berne, 2012 Safety Applications Wheel slide protection on the way to UIC certification In past newsletters, we have already reported on experience with the new WSP 800 wheel slide protection system. The system has been configured according to the specifications of the UIC (International Union of Railways), and has been used successfully for some time now. Some of our customers have now asked for official certification of wheel slide protection. For this reason, in autumn last year we decided to certify the system in line with UIC leaflet 541-05. To guarantee independent assessment of the system, the UIC assembled a team of experts to accompany coordinated certification and to assess the system. These are renowned brake experts from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), German Railways (DB AG), Dutch National Railways (NSS) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). To obtain the UIC certificate, it is necessary to carry out highly qualified system validations, extensive tests as well as a one-year operations trial with long-term recordings of wheel slide interventions on the brake system. Selectron WSP 800 wheel slide protection unit Measuring carriage with disconnection coupling One of the elaborate tests specified in the leaflet concerns the "disconnection tests". These are practical tests in which a coach is decoupled, i.e. disconnected, from a train unit at a speed of up to 160 km/h. The free-wheeling (disconnected) carriage enters rapid braking in this case. The coach was equipped with a brake operating device in order for this function to be implemented (see illustration). The wheel slide protection system must prevent flats from being formed in the wheels in this case. The operating conditions can be harsh and vary depending on the season; in order to simulate them as realistically as possible, some of the test series were also carried out on wet tracks or even tracks that had been previously treated with lubricating soap. Mobile brake operating unit The partner for implementing the disconnection tests was DB Systemtechnik in Minden (Westphalia). A train comprising a locomotive and two coaches, with a locomotive driver, was hired for this purpose. The vehicles underwent technical preparation in advance. The test drives took place on the Minden – Gütersloh – Neubekum line (approx. 100 km). DB AG had to authorise "slots" (available time windows) within the normal DB timetable. Another exciting test involved braking the train from a speed of 200 km/h. In this case, the entire train unit was stopped by the brake system of the prepared coach, without the brake system of the locomotive and the other coach being operated. The entire track tests lasted about 3 weeks. To ensure an efficient use of this time, 2 further weeks were spent in advance on a detailed optimisation of the governing procedure of our wheel slide protection on the brake simulation test rig at DB Systemtechnik. This simulator makes it possible to run the required profiles of the test series in simulation, thus ironing out problems with possible critical responses in advance. The results of the system optimisation will also benefit future practical wheel slide protection applications. Wheel slide simulation test rig The entire project could be significantly compressed in terms of time because it was only necessary to carry out the UIC requirement profile for coaches. The requirement profiles for railcars and locomotives could be covered by the brake tests for the "Stadler KISS" vehicle. DB Systemtechnik carried out the entire brake tests for Stadler in this case. Selectron can rely on the existing test results. We wish to repeat our expression of gratitude to Stadler Rail for this. The results of the test series were very successful. Selectron will now move on to further operations validation with the WSP 800 wheel slide protection system (also acc. to UIC 541-05). Our customers' successes in rapidly growing markets Locomotives from China for transporting coal in Australia using Selectron control and monitoring systems CSR Quishuyan Co., Ltd. (QSY) decided to use the TCMS System (Train Control and Monitoring System) from Selectron in its locomotive production. The vehicles are being supplied to the customer Pacific National (PN) in Australia. QSY Locomotive is one of the two leading diesel locomotive manufacturers in China. The motors are powered by alternating voltage and are used for transporting coal in Queensland's mining industry. 4 locomotives will be coupled together into 2 sets in order to pull 120 wagons. This results in a train up to 3 kilometres in length. The TCMS system is based on CANopen and Ethernet. The Maestro Designer® GUI configuration tool is being used for the HMIs during the project planning phase. A diagnostic tool will be used for operation, servicing and maintenance. Preventative maintenance will also be handled using the diagnostic tool. QSY Locomotive will be implementing the engineering itself with support from Selectron China and Selectron Switzerland. It is planned for the locomotives to be supplied to Pacific National (PN) in 2012. Our customer's succes Trucks on tracks – Selectron technology supports this Extensive modernisation of the Bcm61 support car of RAlpin AG RAlpin AG is based in Olten (Switzerland) and operates the rolling motorway (ROLA) through the Swiss Alps. Complete trucks are loaded onto the train at ROLA terminals. Their drivers travel in a support car. As a result, RAlpin is making an important contribution to transferring traffic from road to rail. At present, the ROLA operates up to 22 trains a day between Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) and Novara (Italy) as well as two trains on weekdays between Basel and Lugano. The ROLA trains on the Lötschberg-Simplon route are pulled by motive power units from BLS Cargo and SBB Cargo International. They comprise up to 21 low-floor (NT) railcars of the 498 design with type 690 bogies from Talbot, Bombardier Transportation and DB Niesky. These are generally operated with a type Bcm61 or Db51 support car. Bcm 61 support car On 1 December 2010, RAlpin purchased 20 type Bcm61 couchette cars, which were formerly used by SBB Personenverkehr, the passenger transport arm of Swiss Federal Railways, and were built in 1979. In 2011, RAlpin adapted the former long-distance coaches to the requirements of ROLA and extensively modernised the vehicles. The "Bcm61 conversion" project was exceptionally important for RAlpin in terms of volume, time frame, distance, coordination and strategic significance. The order was placed with TecSol GmbH in Anger (Austria). As part of the conversion of the support cars in 2011, the former service compartment and two couchette compartments were converted into an open-plan accommodation area with two permanently installed tables and benches. This means the ROLA support car now offers truck drivers 32 (up to max. 48) comfortable air-conditioned couchette places. The vehicle technology is controlled with Selectron components by a CPU 831-TG as the man computer, while the air conditioning is controlled by a CPU 727-T. In addition, a CPU 723-T, three DDC 701-T units, an MMIC 702 as well as various expansion modules are used. The computers are interconnected via a CAN bus, an RS-485 connection with Modbus protocol and Ethernet. TecSol GmbH and the accompanying consultant have been working with Selectron on retrofit projects for more than 10 years, and they are highly satisfied with the performance and equipment from Selectron. The initial feedback from truck drivers about the new support cars has been entirely positive. They appreciate the significantly greater levels of comfort in the air-conditioned ROLA Bcm61 support cars, and can enjoy a relaxing period of recuperation as the train transports them with low noise levels in the support car. What's new Training locomotive drivers efficiently and practically We are in the lengthy build-up to InnoTrans 2012. Selectron will be presenting not only its current new developments on its trade show stand in Hall 6.2, but also the "Locsim" driver's cab simulation software in conjunction with Berne University's Technology & IT department based in Biel / Switzerland. This will give our visitors to the stand the opportunity to control a rail vehicle realistically in a simulated driver's cab. Although trade show visitors might initially think this is a novelty for the show, actually it has a professional background. In fact, the "Locsim" software on display is used as a practical education and training tool for locomotive and motive power unit drivers at many railway companies within Switzerland and abroad. The idea behind "Locsim" and its benefits are obvious. For example, the ability to practice unusual route situations and driving conditions is highly appreciated. Due to the ever-increasing traffic levels on real lines, it is only possible to carry out real training with restrictions, or else during the night when railway operations are suspended. Furthermore, training on newly purchased vehicles represents a welcome addition to the actual training procedures.