The new and most effective broken rail detection system, known as RailAcoustic® is designed and manufactured by Enekom. Apart from all other broken rail sensing methods, RailAcoustic works on the principle of applying a specific frequency of vibration to rails at a certain point and then sensing this vibration both from a sensor located near to the signal injection point and from another sensor which is located at a far away point and correlating both detection results and reaching to an accurate and precise final conclusion.
Most basic characteristics of the RailAcoustic® broken rail detection system are as follows;
It can be used satisfactorily at the continuosly welded rail systems and also at the conventional railway lines with approximately 1 Km apart insulated joint rail segments.
It can work independently from the ballast resistor value,
The system works completely isolated from the electrical properties of the track and it can sense the broken rail segments on any AC, DC or unelectrified tracks,
The system modules can easily be installed or dismantled without any damage to the rails,
Performance tests have been completed satisfactorily on an existing high-speed railway track which is in compliance with the UIC60 standards,
It works effectively, reliably and responsively under all weather conditions.
Currently the most commonly used broken rail sensing method is based on the track circuits which works with the basic principle of electrical continuity of the rails.
However, the track circuit method may induce misdetection because of tracks being used also as a electrical current return path.
RailAcoustic® (RKAS-V1 model) “Broken Rail Detection System” which is being developed and manufactured by Enekom works on the basis of sensing the vibrations generated by the system on the rails. These vibrations on the rails are generated with a specific frequency and waveform from a point at a far away location. With this recent and unique system, for which the application of 2 patents have also been done internationally and the first system tests have been performed successfully on a high-speed railway line. A broken rail segment, a fracture or a crack on the rail section lying between the vibration application point and the detector at far location is detected and this information is conveyed to control and data center via a fiber optical or rf communication line.
RailAcoustic® has already been introduced into the national and international markets.
On the track, one RAG100, the signal application unit, and one RAR100, the signal sensing and detection unit are mounted on to the exterior surface of the rail on approximately every 2 kilometers. Both modules are designed and manufactured for easy installation and removal onto the rails mechanically and electrically. Both the installation and the long-term usage of these modules do not require any mechanical intervention such as punching or welding onto the rails. There is no chance of causing to any damage on the static structure of the track. A sensor is installed on the rails at a distance of 1 meter distance to each signal application unit. Both of them are connected to the same track-side electronic control/communication cabinet.
The signal applied at a certain point on the rail is immediately detected by the sensor which is located just next to the signal application unit. If the signal is at the pre-defined reference level and if this is perceived by the system then the relevant system board in the control/communication cabinet conveys this respecting information to the sensors which are positioned at a 2 kilometers distance on the right and 2 Km distance on the left of the signal application point, through the fiber optical or rf network communication system.
Two neigbouring sensors, which retrieve the information regarding the applied acoustic signal and the exact application time via the fiber optical network system and which are at a distance of 2 kilometers, start to work for signal processing. The detectors which obtain the signals at the predicted time frame decide if there is a damage on the track by comparing the related acoustic signal information with the reference level and transmit the consequent information to host computer of the central control station again through the same fiber optical network. The system modules are also capable of processing the reflected signal coming from the faulty area and retrieve a highly detailed break, crack and fracture information regarding the rail segment which is under test.
This acoustic detection method generates the most reliable and precise broken rail detection and warning signal ever exist in the industry.
RAILACOUSTIC MODULES AND OPERATIONAL DETAILS:
RAG-100 : RailAcoustic signal Generator
RAR-100 : RailAcoustic signal Receiver
RASP-100 : RailAcoustic System Process
CCSM-100: Control Center Software Module
RailAcoustic signal Generator (RAG100): This signal generator module is an electromechanical unit which operates with the commands coming from the central control room computer thru the track-side fiberoptical communication system. Its main task is to apply an acoustic signal on to the rails at certain times.
Rail Acoustic Receiver (RAR100): This signal sensing module is attached to the rail for sensing the acoustic signals generated by the RAG100 unit. It first detects and processes the detected acoustic signal and communicates with the track-side electronic board for additional signal processing and communication.
RailAcoustic Signal Processing Unit (RASP100): This electrical signal processişng, control and communication cabin is located along the track at each 2 Kms distance along the track for housing the electronic boards, power supply and the fiberoptical network communication controller. It is made of stainless steel and IP65 rated.
Electronic Circuit Boards: A number of electronic circuit boards for signal processing, driving
the electromechanical system units, supplying power to the system components and IP based network communication boards.
Control Center Software Module (CCSM-100): A central command and monitoring program for operating the system under the supervision of a system operator. The system consists of a computer with a multi screen display, a program running in this computer, a data base operation for controling, monitoring and remote accessing to each system module in real time.
The system modules are connected to the fiberoptical IP network of 2 x 1 Gbps and network communication can continue uninterrupted when one or more of the modules are in error.
The most important feature of the system is that it is economical and can easily and quickly expanded to a large number of new nodes when needed.
Why RailAcoustic ?
We can summarize the major characteristics of RailAcoustic® technology with a number of shortcut features:
It works purely on acoustic principle.
It performs reliably under all weather conditions.
It is suitable to use with continuously welded or insulated railway tracks.
No possibility of interfering with any signalling equipment.
It is easy for installation and removal from the rails.
It detects the rail breaks very early. It is the most reliable and effective method of detecting rail breaks in time, because the signal is picked up directly from the rails.
It detects rail breaks continuously. It is real time. It operates remotely and automatic.
Self Learning and Adapting Algorithm For All Conditions
The most distinct characteristic features are:
Generates an acoustic signal with a very special characteristic.
It is exempt from all climatic conditions.
It is a self learning and adaptive system to all conditions.