VEC RESOURCE MANUAL July 2014 TRIM REF: DOC/14/11519 Page 1 of 110 Table of Contents 1 Definitions and Abbreviations ......................................................................................... 5 1.1 Definitions ............................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... 5 2 Electricity Safety Act 1998 ............................................................................................. 6 2.1 Electricity Safety (Cathodic Protection) Regulations 2009. ...................................... 6 2.2 VEC Code of Practice ............................................................................................. 7 3 Stray current corrosion ................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Basics ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Rail to earth voltages .............................................................................................. 9 3.4 Stray current mitigation systems ........................................................................... 10 3.4.1 Straight drainage ........................................................................................... 10 3.4.2 Negative resistor ............................................................................................ 13 3.4.3 Boosted drains ............................................................................................... 13 3.5 Other protective measures .................................................................................... 18 4 Components of the stray current mitigation systems .................................................... 19 4.1 Feeders ................................................................................................................ 19 4.1.1 Positive feeders ............................................................................................. 19 4.1.2 Remote Negative feeders (tram only) ............................................................ 19 4.1.3 Electrolysis feeders ........................................................................................ 19 4.2 Relay and contactor .............................................................................................. 21 4.3 Forced drainage systems ...................................................................................... 21 4.3.1 Thyristor drainage unit ................................................................................... 21 4.3.2 Variable conductance drainage bond ............................................................. 23 4.3.3 Remote monitoring......................................................................................... 25 4.4 Diodes .................................................................................................................. 26 4.5 Resistance wire .................................................................................................... 27 4.5.1 Resistance wire specifications ....................................................................... 27 4.6 Capacitors ............................................................................................................ 28 4.7 Varistors ............................................................................................................... 28 5 Combined area testing ................................................................................................. 30 5.1 Area testing........................................................................................................... 30 5.1.1 Advantages of area testing ............................................................................ 30 5.1.2 Area testing procedure ................................................................................... 30 5.1.3 Criteria to be used for assessment of the submitted charts ............................ 31 Page 2 of 110 5.1.4 Maps used in area testing .............................................................................. 31 5.2 Mobile site office ................................................................................................... 33 5.3 Data logger charts................................................................................................. 34 5.4 Adjusting a drainage bond .................................................................................... 35 6 Historical Background .................................................................................................. 36 6.1 World experience .................................................................................................. 36 6.2 Victorian experience ............................................................................................. 37 6.3 Formation of the VEC ........................................................................................... 38 6.4 History of the VEC – Infrastructure owners overview ............................................ 40 6.4.1 Water ............................................................................................................. 40 6.4.2 Gas ................................................................................................................ 41 6.4.3 Early electric light ........................................................................................... 41 6.4.4 First permanent electric tramway ................................................................... 41 6.4.5 Electricity distribution commences ................................................................. 42 6.4.6 Electric Light and Power Act 1896 ................................................................. 43 6.4.7 Tramway expansion ....................................................................................... 44 6.4.8 Railway electrification .................................................................................... 49 6.4.9 Electricity commissioners ............................................................................... 50 6.4.10 The Code of Practice ..................................................................................... 51 6.4.11 AC traction ..................................................................................................... 51 7 More recent history – The last 60(or so) years ............................................................. 52 7.1 Water .................................................................................................................... 52 7.2 Gas ....................................................................................................................... 52 7.3 Oil ......................................................................................................................... 53 7.4 Telecommunications ............................................................................................. 53 7.5 Tramways ............................................................................................................. 53 7.6 Railways ............................................................................................................... 55 8 Tram and train electricity systems ................................................................................ 57 8.1 Power distribution systems ................................................................................... 57 8.2 Railway Traction Systems ..................................................................................... 57 8.2.1 History ........................................................................................................... 57 8.2.2 High voltage transmission .............................................................................. 59 8.2.3 Overhead wiring systems ............................................................................... 59 8.3 Tramway Traction System .................................................................................... 59 9 Précis of early documentation retrieved from SEC archives ......................................... 61 9.1 The foundations of electrolysis mitigation .............................................................. 61 Page 3 of 110 9.1.1 Electrolysis Investigation Board 15 November 1922 to 18 December 1923 ... 61 9.1.2 Electrolysis Investigation Board 19 March 1924 to 29 November 1926 .......... 64 10 Articles relating to early Electrolysis as printed in The Argus .................................... 72 11 Members of the VEC Electrolysis history .................................................................. 84 11.1 The gas industry ................................................................................................... 84 11.2 The water industry ................................................................................................ 90 11.3 Telstra ................................................................................................................... 92 11.4 Australian Institute of Petroleum ........................................................................... 96 12 APPENDIX 1 – Historical Photographs ....................................................................