Brain Drain Limited

1. APPLICATION 1:

ELECTRIC TRAINS CONTACT WIRE’S STATE OF HEALTH REAL-TIME MONITORING AND TRENDING SYSTEM

Patent pending GB1701425.9 applied Nov 2017, published July 2018.

FACTS:

When the locomotive is moving, the Pantograph applies an upwards mechanical tension upon the Contact Wire and pushes upwards the Contact Wire. This upwards pressure is causing elastic deformation of the Contact Wire and is causing the Contact Wire to bend.

The Bend Radius of the Contact Wire is an indication of the state of health of the Contact Wire.

Lower than usual values of the Bend Radius indicate potential cracks or thinning of the Contact Wire (wear and tear).

When the locomotive is moving, an Electric Current flows through the Contact Wire.

This Electric Current generates a proportional Magnetic Field around the Contact Wire, as follows:

• Magnetic Field Intensity Vector, having a value that is proportional with the instantaneous value of the Current flowing through the Contact Wire.
• Magnetic Field Intensity Vector, having an inclination (angle Vs the vertical direction) that is proportional with the inclination (angle Vs the vertical direction) of the Contact Wire.

The new method is to monitor in real-time the Bend Radius imposed by the Pantograph upon the Contact Wire by measuring in real-time the magnitude and, more important, the orientation of the Magnetic Field Intensity Vector.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

HARDWARE

1. Pantograph = either existing Pantograph (used for transmission of electric power to locomotive) or separate mechanical device pushing the Contact Wire upwards with constant force.
2. Array of 3D Magnetic Sensors situated under node between Contact Wire and Pantograph.
3. Data acquisition box for measuring and logging value and the inclination of the Magnetic Field Intensity Vectors, GPS coordinates, Date/Time.

 

SOFTWARE

The software performs the following tasks:

1. Calculation of Contact Wire’s instantaneous Bend Radius together with respective GPS coordinates.
2. Determination and historical trending of Contact Wire’s state of health.
3. Other info: instantaneous distribution of current at the node between Contact Wire and Pantograph.
4. Remote reporting of above info.

BENEFITS:

• Real time detection of cracks and over-thinning of the Contact Wire.
• Real time detection of abnormal Contact Wire sag.
• Real time detection of abnormal tension in the Contact Wire.
• Real time detection of Electric Current abnormalities (Sparks, Interruptions, Etc.) and monitoring of Load Impedance.
• Real time monitoring of the Overhead Electric Power Distribution Systems

2. APPLICATION 2

COMMS COMES FREE BATTERY, GB1803868.7, Patent pending.

Firstly, this invention presents a data communication method between two battery monitoring systems located the battery enclosures, method that uses as data transmission medium a frequency modulated magnetic field and uses as data transmission path the positive or negative battery power terminals and the power leads that interconnect battery power terminals. 

The new type of battery presented here looks and feels like a traditional battery but, additionally, it has means of communicating digital information using its positive and/or negative power terminals.

Individual battery parameters (Voltage, Ripple, Current, Capacity, Temperature, Internal Impedance, Interconnection Impedance, Electrolyte Level and PH, Etc.) of batteries connected in series or in parallel are usually monitored using individual battery monitoring systems that are installed externally with reference to the battery. 

Traditionally, individual battery monitoring systems communicate info by using hardware means that are usually installed external to the battery and separate from the battery. The communication hardware medium is usually either electrically non-isolated (wire, cables, connectors) or electrically isolated (galvanic, capacitive, optical or other electrical isolation means). 

THE COMMUNICATION METHOD

The method presented here is to use magnetic induction and magnetic resonance between two solenoids via a frequency modulated magnetic field, used as a carrier of digital information. The two solenoids use as magnetic path the positive and negative battery terminals and the inter-battery power leads that connect batteries in series and/or in parallel.

3. APPLICATION 3

BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM

The batteries used in trains for backup power shall be monitored by individual devices that read battery parameters and send info in real time to a centralised maintenance system. The small devices are daisy chained for data transmission.

This system is currently under development.

Year of foundation:  2016

Number of employees:  1

Annual turnover:  80k

No Investors

The research is funded from owner’s revenue working on engineering consultant

All software and hardware development takes place with the director.

Areas of Interest

• Maintenance of rolling stock and infrastructure
• Manufacture of rolling stock and infrastructure (and components of)
• Augmented reality
• Artificial intelligence
• Train control/signalling
• Alternative power solutions
• High-speed travel
• Safety/incident management and response
• Security/cyber-crime prevention