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The scheme proposes for working of all equipments on OFC in place of copper cable. The benefits of OFCover copper are far too well known. The scheme has been approved in SCR for implementation in doublingProjects.

1. The scheme proposes to work IBS, Block on OFC cables. As the stations on either side of IB hut arehaving EI, Object controllers are proposed in the IB Huts separately for UP & DN Directions.. Theseobject controllers are driven by E.I at the station direction wise i.e, UP IB OC by Up line EI & DN IBOC by DN line EI.

2. For double line working the block sections with IB are proposed with OC and MSDAC and BlockInstruments SSBPAC(D)/UFSBI-BPAC

3. Automatic change over facility through standby OFC in case of failure/cut of primary fibers of OFC isproposed by use of suitable media convertors.

4. Relay operation : All the relay logic is carried through fibre using Electronic interlocking and objectcontrollers.

5. Axle counter: Multi section Digital Axle counters (MSDAC) have been proposed. These are con-nected at entry stn-A , at IB hut and at exit stn-B direction wise through OFC and as shown in thesketch enclosed.

6. Block working : Block working between the two Block stations are proposed through UFSBI(D/L)/SSBPAC(D)for Double Line working.

7. Datalogger: Datalogger at either Block stations and RTU at IB hut are connected through ECAT with2 Mbps

8. Telephone : IB & Block telephone are connected through Mapple& ECAT equipments.9. Duplicated OFC is laid in separate trenches providing space diversity.10.The fibre allocation for working of various equipments has been given in a separate sheet.11.IPS : IPS will be provided to feed power supply to the equipments at IB Hut.12.RTU : RTU is provided at IB Hut for repeating interface relays and voltages to Data loggers at the

stations.13.Detection Systems:

Intermediate Block signalling is divided into AS Section and BPAC section. For this station wise and IBHut wise following detection points are required.

Station A I.B Hut Station B

4 8 4

MSDAC – Multi section digital Axle counters with dual sensors are planned to be provided for Train detection.

Quad cable will be used from I.B Hut/Station to each detection point. At IB Hut, Entry unit of BPAC sectionand Exit unit of AS section will be kept at Location boxes near DPs and Modem Outputs (V.21) will be connectedthrough Quad cable to IB Hut

MSDACs are inter connected on OFC using suitable media convertors.

14.Power & Power Cables: The main power supply to IB hut will be from Auxiliary Transformers.15.BPAC, BLOCK, MSDAC, EI-OC communication shall be on OFC with standby fibres available for

automatic switching/changeover.16.RESETTING: The resetting feature will be achieved either through MSDAC interconnection or through

EI-OC .

IB on OFC with BLOCK, MSDAC and OCs

Shri B K Agrawal, GGM/S&T/RVNL/SC

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Gyandeep - Anniversary Issue ‘16

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Gyandeep - Anniversary Issue ‘16

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The first Panel in our Indian Railways was started way back in the early 60s or so. Since then, we havedeveloped a lot on the functionalities of Panel working; we have accepted the route setting type panels andfurther the Electronic Interlocking. The outdoor gears have also changed from old Semaphore type to newerCLS type, CLS three & four aspect and now the LED lamps, i.e., a lot development in all these have taken placetowards both the route setting and the Signal Display technologies. But strangely, there had been no developmentstowards intelligence of Panel, except few cosmetic changes. It is strange that despite so much up-gradation onthe technological front, we have not upgraded the intelligence of Panel system. From PI type systems – whichrequires each point to be operated individually, we had gone for RRI – a system, which sets the routesautomatically, ensuring the needed forward/reverse movement of the related points/crossover automatically asneeded, to set the route whose just the top-end buttons are pressed, and not every points need to be operatedindividually.

But somehow, we got stuck on the Panel’s intelligence side with this. While the outdoor got tremendouslyimproved with the LED signal lamps, Universal Point machines & Axle Counters for point zone – the MEACs& ACBP type Block working. From Central PI/RRI to EI or SSI, we have only changed the electronic methodologyon which the logic will work, while keeping the logics same, depending on the personal judgment of the personhandling the panel, not using the vast resources and artificial intelligence available / can be made availablefrom the machines / equipments we are using already.

If we spread our spectrum wider, and look around other industries using almost the same type of Panels, onething that will immediately strike our mind is use of machine intelligence through the PLC (ProgrammableLogic Controller). PLCs are basically a special type of hardware; a unit embedded with EPROMs and havingdirection interaction with system “logic and action tree”, so that it may initiate the small actions embedded init’s EPROMs directly, without having a need of a Human or an Operator to initiate that ONLY suitable action.

For example, if a PLC is deployed on a panel portion, and its program is defined to keep the temperature ofcontents passing on a belt through it to 100O C, and a ventilation/fan hole plug and a water spray plug areconnected to it, the PLC will ensure; even without the need for Human intervention every time; that wheneverthe contents passing on the belt below it are having temperature crossing 100O C, the monitoring PLC willensure that first the turbo fans re put “ON”, and if even after one minute, the temperature continues to be high,the water spray jets will also be put on. And all this is accomplished automatically, without even a minutestneed of Human intervention. The above figure may make a more clear perception.

Through there are actuating buttons available on the Control Panel the PLC can be so programmed as tokeep the temperatures on the prescribed written value automatically. In case of their inability in keeping thesame, Alarm button will glow on the panel, also with some Audio Alarm indication to immediately drawattention of the panel operator towards the situation, and if no activity from the Panel Operator, than the wholeactivity stops with the schute of Hot Hopper getting closed by itself, keeping with the axiom that “No action isbetter than troublesome action”. This complete working of PLC based panel is thus inherently safe, and withoutthe chances of mis-happening. The very-very long history of such PLC based panels in all industries by itselfproves the plausity and ease of working of this method.

This methodology is very much pliable for current Railways working, especially in view of the day-of-dayincreasing complexities of the operation and increasing sizes and options in the yards. Railways’ own inclinationis towards more and more of automation of the complex processes and use of MIS wherever feasible andpossible. Increasing acceptability and dependability on the BPAC, MSDAC, EI are example of this trend issignaling and the some desire & satisfaction for & from the MIS, mainly the widely accepted PRIME, AFRES,MMIS, FOIS, COMIS etc. are a sure indication towards this. From my own experience of using PLCs & PLCs

New Dimension for Panels modernisation- making the Panels intelligent by using PLC

(Programmable Logic Controllers)Shri Lokesh Vishnoi,GM S&T/RVNL/Raipur