SUBSTATIONS

SCMS
Stray Current Monitoring System
SCMS / STRAY CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEM

Stray current definition

The operation of DC traction systems requires suitable measures to prevent corrosion caused by stray currents on railway and
non-railway installations. In this scope, the European standard EN50122-2:2011 (Annex B) recommends a continuous supervision
of the rail insulation. Sécheron Stray Current Monitoring System is a straightforward and efficient method of stray current monitoring
avoiding manual repetitive measurement and any interference with the stray current collecting system. The system measures
continuously the rail-to-earth potential under operational conditions, complete with central analysis, visualization, signaling and
archiving capacities.

The stray currents are defined as the currents that has deviated from their intended paths.
Any metallic structures, for examples a pipe line, buried in soil represents a low resistance current path and is therefore
fundamentally vulnerable to the effects of stray currents.
1 ampere of stray current can oxidize 9.11 kilograms of iron per year.

Principle of Stray Current Monitoring in floating case

As the return is floating, the potential between earth and rails fluctuates.

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A healthy system’s presents a specific voltage profile called ‘’reference’’ or ‘’imprint’.
A deficiency of insulation between the rail and the earth will modify this voltage distribution.
The track potential can be used to ensure the healthy of the insulation and determine a modification in behavior of the stray
current by comparison with the reference curves.

Based on a rail potential measure.

Advantages:
• Measure more simple and practical
• No interference with Stray Current Collecting System
• Best arrangement to limit level of stray current
Disadvantages:
• Relative and indirect measure
• Dependent of the line operation (trains, headway, TSS out)
• The line must be certified healthy and compliant with
the requirements of the standard before the reference
recording.

Architecture

The Stray Current Monitoring System (SCMS) continuously collects voltage data between the return circuit and the earth structure
along the line. The potential value is measured through the Voltage Limiting Device (VLD).

The SCMS includes the following functions:

• Set up of network lines & stations, up to 10 lines and 60 control points
• Data acquisition and transmission through the communication network
• Determination on data reference
• Integration of specific algorithm depending on type of network
• Supervision of status of VLD at all stations and alarm if the device has operated
• Permanent automatic analysis of recorded values, realized by the Central Evaluation Unit plus alarm in case stray current
increases
• Localization of the detected fault
• Manual analysis of recorded values possible
• Archiving of the measured values into CEU
• Export of the measured and recorded values
• Communication with SCADA system

The SCMS can adapt to either an existing or a new network.

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SCMS / STRAY CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEM

Central Evaluation Unit (CEU)

Functions of SCMS are performed at the CEU. The CEU includes an interface program to plot the real-time data being captured by
the SCMS, as well as the data stored in the database. This interface program also allows the user to visualize the data in different
ways, export the plotted data, perform various manual analyses of stored data and to parameter the SCMS.

The CEU is designed with enough memory to keep at least 16 weeks of instantaneous values and archiving average values for
10 years. Stored data at the CEU is safely kept in a redundant RAID-1 hard drive system. The data can be exported to text files.

The CEU communicates with the network and SCADA system through different types of communication protocols: IEC61850,
IEC60870-5-104 (-5-101), Modbus-TCP, DNP3.0 with flexible connectivity (copper cable RJ45, optical fiber).

Alarm and event management

Measure
Maximum number of lines 10
Maximum number of measuring points Min. 60 for one system
Frequency of acquisition 1 sec
Communication
Communication protocol Standard fieldbus protocol
Visualization and archiving
Instantaneous values • In function of time
• Last 16 weeks
Short analysis values • Average values / Average of the absolute value
• In function of time or position
• Average window from 1 to 60 min
• Archiving for 10 years min
Long analysis values • Average values / Average of the absolute value
• In function of time or position
• Average window from 1 to 30 days
• Archiving for 10 years min
Total memory size 1 TB
Available languages English
Histogram of the operation number of the contactor
Analysis
Number of acquisition for the reference profile 10 most relevant measurements
Number of acquisition (global) All points for 16 weeks
Mean values saved for 10 years
Daily recording period Adjustable

Overview of the line Alarms list

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 Representation in function of location
• Typical values of the line potential during operation (digital imprint)
• Reference the localization of the insulation deficiency

Representation in function of time

• The short term values allows the analysis of insulation deficiency
• The long term values allows the analysis of tendency

At the end of each day, the software generates automatically an analysis file of the data recorded during the day and saved it as
csv files.

The analysis window allows having access to the history files and to generate a pdf report.

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SCMS / STRAY CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEM

Measurement and certification of track

The variation of the

structure potential can
be considered as null
and so compliant with
the requirement of
EN50122-2 (<200mV).

Before the recording of the reference data, Sécheron can provide the service of its earthing and bonding experts for the
certification of the track. This expertise allows checks if the installation meets the characteristics defined in the standard
EN50122-2: 2010:
• Rail resistance measure
• Conductance per length between running rails and structures
• Insulating rail joints certification
• Stray current interference of reinforced concrete structures
• Stray current emission
• Expertise and recommendation
• Training of personal
• Assistance with reference data recording
• Parameterization support

Project Start
Construction

Earthing and bonding engineering service

Design &

phase

Training to control the conductance between

earth and rails before welding

Certificate of Rail Insulation Joint

Commissioning phase

Certificate of structure potential change

less than 200 mV
Certificate of trackwork (rail insulation)

Simulation of rail – earth potential

Operation phase

Reference recording phase

Definition of protection settings

Monitoring for maintenance (test interval)

Time

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 Data collection from VLD

The Stray Current Monitoring System (SCMS) continuously collects datas from the Voltage Limiting Device (VLD) along the line:
• voltage between the return circuit and the earth structure through a high accuracy sensor,
• potential current flowing in the VLD through a high accuracy sensor,
• VLD status.

STRAY CURRENTS
MONITORING SYSTEM

BUS

PLC PLC PLC

A A A
V V V
VLD

VLD VLD VLD

How to manage stray current?

• Floating negative return (ungrounded)

• Traction substation close to passenger station
• Traction substations reasonably spaced
• Continuously welded rail
• Track slab rebar electrically continuous (“stray current
collector”)
• High resistivity concrete for track slab, e.g. silica fume
additive
• Depot electrically isolated from the mainline
• Relocated utilities designed with stray current control
provisions
• High track to earth resistance

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SG825868BEN_B00-09.14

Sécheron SA Tel: +41 (0)22 739 41 11

Rue du Pré-Bouvier 25 Fax: +41 (0)22 739 48 11
1217 Meyrin - Geneva substations@secheron.com
CH-Switzerland www.secheron.com
This document is not contractual and contains information corresponding to the level of technology at the date of printing. Sécheron reserves the right to modify and/or improve the product, whose
characteristics are described in these documents, as required by new technology at any time. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to inform himself, no matter what the circumstances, of the product’s
maintenance conditions and requirements. Sécheron reserves all rights, especially those arising from our “General Delivery Conditions”.
Copyright© 2007 Sécheron SA