Interference monitoring

The management of electromagnetic compatibility has become a crucial element in the design of each and every electrical and electronic system. All of the sub-systems installed to provide the facilities expected of a modern railway system must operate in harmony, without any form of undesirable interaction. Amongst numerous compatibility issues within the modern railway, ensuring the compatibility of the modern electric vehicle with existing signalling systems has proved difficult. Unless certain precautions are taken, the electronic switching techniques used in the conversion and control of AC traction on modern electric vehicles can cause interference, affecting the safe operation of some types of train detection devices used within the signalling system. ABB Signal Limited has developed two types of fail-safe interference monitor for the real time measurement of interference signals within the traction return current to remove interference and maintain the safety of the signalling system