Remote Temperature Monitoring
Railway networks can now remotely monitor the temperature of the railway tracks quickly and easily using the Metron2 from Powelectrics, therefore being able to identify when speed restrictions need to be put in place to prevent the tracks from buckling. The temperature sensor clips onto the track and the telemetry unit is hidden under the rails. There's no cable required to install the system.
GSM Phone Networks
The track temperatures are transmitted using the GSM mobile phone network back to a central data server running the Metron VIEW software where it can be interfaced to 3rd party software systems.
Large sections of steel, such as railway tracks, will shrink as the temperature drops and expands as it increases. As railways tracks are fixed at either end then as the temperature increases then so does the risk of the track buckling and leading to a train derailment. 
Railway track sections are manufactured and installed in such a way to minimise the risk of buckling and derailment but there is a need to monitor the track temperature and apply speed restrictions to prevent derailments from happening.
In July 2003 a freight train carrying a cargo of Guinness came off the tracks to the North of Birmingham, England. Fortunately there was just the driver on board and he walked away from the incident, but it is a harsh reminder of how serious track temperature is. Had this been a high speed passenger train the consequences could have been catastrophic.
The track is pre-stressed before installation so it cannot stretch any further, but if you stretch it too much then it will crack at lower temperatures, so you have to compromise in many climates.
If you can’t stop the track from buckling, how do prevent trains from derailing..? In the past blanket speed limits have been imposed, but it’s 399 miles from London to Glasgow and if you impose a 60 mph speed restriction on a line that normally averages double that then a journey that would normally take nearly 4 hours would approach 8. The timetable would be in chaos.
This is where telemetry comes in – by measuring the temperature of the track, and by knowing whether the track is in direct sunlight, the type, speed and frequency of trains and the condition of the track then informed decisions can be made.
Telemetry Devices
The sensor has been developed so that it easily clips to the underside of the track and integrated into it is another sensor that confirms the device is securely fixed. The advent of reliable, battery powered GSM/GPRS based telemetry devices (such as the www.powelectrics.co.uk/metron2) means that installation is quick and easy and communications is cost effective. Units are configured to transmit every 2 hours but they are only needed to be used in the summer months so devices easily be maintained in the winter months.
The Rail temperature monitor is installed by fitting the unit under the rails and tightening the clamp. It can be fitted to running rails in less than a minute without any tools.
To ensure operational safety, the clamp-on rail temperature monitors are tamperproof.
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Remote Monitoring System
The Metron2 makes remote monitoring simple and affordable, whatever your application, wherever your
location, wherever your equipment is, whatever your industry. The Metron2 interfaces to your sensors, periodically taking readings and transmitting them over the mobile phone network. It can run from an internal battery, a solar cell or an external source of power. The Metron2 can send data and alarms directly to your mobile phone, a hosted data collection service or directly into your computer systems.
Remote Temperature Monitoring
If you would like more information regarding our Remote Temperature Monitoring applications then contact us direct today. Call us on 01827 310 666 or fill in the online enquiry form below.
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