Assessment of Locomotive Receivers’ Sensitivity Using Test Loop with Crossing

Main technical and operational characteristics of the locomotive receiver of the automatic locomotive signalling system, which is part of all types of core locomotive safety devices, comprise its sensitivity. This characteristic makes it possible to estimate by indirect methods the signal/noise ratio at the input of the locomotive receiver, and, therefore, to evaluate the noise immunity of its operation at the nominal parameters of amperage and current frequency of signals of automatic locomotive signalling system in the track circuit under operating conditions.

Thanks to correct adjustment of the sensitivity of the locomotive receiver, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of failures in operation of the main locomotive safety devices. Checking the sensitivity of the locomotive receiver and other parameters of safety devices is carried out at control points, usually equipped in depots, using stationary test loops that simulate the electromagnetic field generated by the signal current flowing in the track circuit. Sensitivity measurement results are influenced by various factors, primarily the position of the receiving coils along the test loop performed with crossings, as well as the distance between adjacent crossings. The influence of these factors may lead to the impossibility of checking the correct operation of locomotive safety devices at nominal signal parameters, as well as to an incorrect assessment of sensitivity.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of these factors on the results of measuring the sensitivity of a locomotive receiver. A model developed as part of the work and based on the well-known methods of analysis and synthesis and the Biot−Savart− Laplace law describes the inductive connection «test loop−coil». Several characteristic dependencies have been also obtained. The results have been compared with the existing requirements for the position of the coils relative to the test loop performed with crossings.

To ensure the most accurate results of measurements of the sensitivity of the locomotive receiver, it is proposed to place the receiving coils of the locomotive safety devices at an equal distance from adjacent crossings of the test loop.

1. Lisenkov, V. M. Statistical Theory of Train Traffic Safety [Statesticheskaya teoriya bezopasnosti dvizheniya poezdov]. Moscow, VINITI RAS publ., 1999, 332 p. ISBN 5-900242-29-3.

2. Zakolesnik, V. V., Merkulov, P. M., Kuzmin, V. S. How to improve the operation of ALSN checkpoints [Kak uluchshit rabotu kontrolnykh punktov ALSN]. Lokomotiv, 2019, Iss. 10 (754), pp. 9−10. [Electronic resource]: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=40808094 [access restricted for subscribers only].

3. Tabunshchikov, A. K., Baryshev, Yu. A., Yakimov, S. M. New principles and directions of work to improve the noise immunity of ALSN [Novie printsipy i napravleniya rabot po povysheniyu pomekhoustoichivosti ALSN]. Problems of safety in transport: proceedings of VIII International scientific-practical conference, dedicated to the year of science: in 2 parts. Part 1. Gomel, BelSUT, 2017, pp. 201−202. [Electronic resource]: http://elib.bsut.by/bitstream/handle/123456789/3167/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%8B%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B5%202017%20%D1%871-201-202.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Last accessed 14.05.2022.

4. Shamanov, V. I. Problems of electromagnetic compatibility of rail circuits with a traction network [Problemy elektromagnitnoi sovmestimosti relsovykh tsepei s tyagovoi setyu]. Avtomatika na transporte, 2019, Vol. 5, Iss. 2, pp. 160−185. DOI: 10.20295/2412-9186-2019-5-2-160-185.

5. Bindyug, A. S., Kuzmin, V. S., Merkulov, P. M., Tabunshchikov, A. K. Diagnostic complex for automated testing of relay equipment for automatic locomotive signaling of continuous operation: Pat. 2700241 Russian Federation No. 2018144988; dec. 19.12.18; publ. 13.09.19, Bull. No. 26, 17 p. [Electronic resource]: https://rusneb.ru/catalog/000224_000128_0002700241_20190913_C1_RU/. Last accessed 14.05.2022.

6. Leonov, A. A. Maintenance of automatic locomotive signaling [Tekhnicheskoe obsluzhivanie avtomaticheskoi lokomotivnoi signalizatsii]. 5th ed., rev. and enl. Moscow, Transport publ., 1982, 255 p.

7. Teslev, A. N. Checking the locomotive signaling in the middle of ISh-74 loop [Proverka lokomotivnoi signalizatsii v seredine shelfa ISh-74]. Lokomotiv, 2019, Iss. 4 (748), p. 24. [Electronic resource]: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=38536129 [access restricted for subscribers only].

8. Teslev, A. N. Reconstruction of PTOL loops [Rekonstruktsiya shleifov PTOL]. Lokomotiv, 2018, Iss. 9 (741), p. 27. [Electronic resource]: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=35533528 [access restricted for subscribers only].

9. Teslev, A. N. Automatic switching on and off of the ISh-74 loop near the PTOL building [Avtomaticheskoe vklyuchenie-vyklyuchenie shleifa ISh-74 u zdaniya PTOL]. Lokomotiv, 2022, Iss. 5 (785), p. 31. [Electronic resource]: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=48379729 [access restricted for subscribers only].

10. Kuzmin, V. S., Ryadchikov, R. O., Petrov, S. A. On the issue of requirements for laying a test loop [K voprosu o trebovaniyakh k prokladke ispytatelnogo shleifa]. Education‒ Science‒Production: Proceedings of IV All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference, December 24, 2020. Chita: Trans-Baikal Institute of Railway Transport ‒ branch of FSBEI HPE Irkutsk State Transport University, 2020, pp. 149−154. [Electronic resource]: https://www.irgups.ru/sites/default/files/zabizht/docs/sciences/sbornik_dekabr_2020_tom_1.pdf (the entire proceedings only). Last accessed 14.05.2022.

11. Shamanov, V. I. Inductive connection of locomotive coils ALSN with track circuits [Induktivnaya svyaz lokomotivnykh katushek ALSN s relsovymi liniyami]. Avtomatika, svyaz, informatika, 2011, Iss. 11, pp. 2−5. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=17110803. Last accessed 14.05.2022.

12. Lisenkov, V. M. Inductive connection with trains [Induktivnaya svyaz s poezdami]. Moscow, Transport publ., 1976, 112 p.

13. Borodkin, A. V., Ovsyannikov, S. A., Kosyanenko, V. V. Improving the quality of repair and maintenance of receiving coils [Uluchshat kachestvo remonta i obsluzhivaniya priemnykh katushek]. Lokomotiv, 2021, Iss. 12 (780), pp. 15−17. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=47275872 [access restricted for subscribers only].

14. Bader, M. P. Electromagnetic compatibility of traction power supply with communication lines, railway automation devices and power supply networks. D.Sc. (Eng) thesis [Elektromagnitnaya sovmestimost tyagovogo elektrosnabzheniya s liniyami svyazi, ustroistvami zheleznodorzhnoi avtomatiki i pitayushchimi elektrosetyami. Dis... doc. tekh. nauk]. Moscow, MIIT publ., 1999, 475 p.

15. Hou, W., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Sarris, C. D. Hybrid Numerical Modeling of Electromagnetic Interference in Train Communication Systems. IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, 2020, Vol. 62, Iss. 3, pp. 715−724. DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2019.2920656 [access restricted for subscribers only].

16. Feng, J., Cao, J. G., Wu, Z. H. Analysis and Research on Electromagnetic Compatibility of High Speed Railway Traction Current Harmonics to Track Circuit. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 2021, Vol. 31, Iss. 8, pp. l−4. DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2021.3090347 [access restricted for subscribers only].

17. Yang, L., Hian, L. C., Leong, L. W., Kevin, O. M. C. Induced voltage study and measurement for communication system in railway. Proceedings of 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC/APEMC), 2018, pp. 32−35. DOI: 10.1109/ISEMC.2018.8393733 [access restricted for subscribers only].

18. Zhang, L., Zhu, Y., Chen, S., Zhang, D. Simulation and Analysis for Electromagnetic Environment of Traction Network. Proceedings of 2021 XXXIVth General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI GASS), 2021, pp. 1−4. DOI: 10.23919/URSIGASS51995.2021.9560338.