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30-07-2015, 12:50 AM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/29...-of-insulator/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/29/train-disruption-due-to-weak-electrical-resistance-of-insulator/)
Train disruption due to ‘weak electrical resistance’ of
insulator
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png?0f3d89 http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png?0f3d89
July 29th, 2015 | http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png?0f3d89
Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/desmondkuek.jpg?0f3d89
LG (NS) Desmond Kuek, SMRT President and CEO
At a media briefing in LTA HQ today (29 Jul), SMRT said that the massive
train disruption on 7 Jul was due to “weak electrical resistance” of the train
network’s third rail insulator. The third rail supplies electrical power to
trains.
On 7 July about 7pm, both the North-South and East-West MRT lines suddenly
broke down during evening peak hour. Train service was disrupted for a good
3-and-a-half hours and 250,000 commuters were severely inconvenienced. It was
the biggest and most serious breakdown in SMRT since its inception in 1987.
At today’s briefing, SMRT added that a confluence of factors triggered the
train incident. This included water dripping onto the third rail cover in an MRT
tunnel between Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place.
To address the issue, it has started replacing all third rail insulators, a
process which should be completed by the first quarter of 2017. And to monitor
the condition of the insulators, data loggers will be installed at all 47
traction power substations on the NSEWL within the next two months, SMRT
said.
“We have reviewed all existing work instructions and we’re satisfied that
they have been complied with. Arising from the Jul 7 incident, we will be taking
very firm steps to review and improve all work instructions to tighten (checks
on) the most vulnerable spots in the system,” said SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek.
“The weak resistance of an insulator can allow electricity to flow through
the insulator to the ground, resulting in a higher than normal voltage
difference between the running rail (the surface on which the train wheels run
and through which the electricity returns to the source to complete the circuit)
and the ground.”
This – exacerbated by the movement of the trains – resulted in the activation
of the a safety mechanism known as 64P, or the Touch Voltage Protection Relay,
at multiple locations in the network, tripping the power system.
“We thank our commuters for their patience and understanding over the
incident. We continue to adopt a zero-defect attitude, learning from each and
every incident that takes place and we’re committed to ensuring a high level of
safety and reliability in our system,” Mr Kuek stated.
Angry commuters
Mr Kuek and LTA Chief Executive Chew Men Leong held a joint press conference
on 8 Jul, one day after the incident to apologise to the public (‘Lui, SMRT CEO and LTA apologise for service disruptions (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/08/lui-smrt-ceo-and-lta-apologise-for-train-disruption/)‘). But
Mr Kuek, in his reply to reporters’ questions as to why the problems were not
identified earlier, said that even with intensified maintenance, it was
impossible to find out all the inherent problems. His reply did not go down well
with his audience, who felt he was looking for excuses.
Mr Kuek said that over the past few years, SMRT has progressively implemented
various measures to improve the reliability of the system. However, due to the
testing and progressive rolling out of new trains, and the aging MRT system, new
problems have surfaced. Anticipating the timing of breakdowns is getting
tougher, he said. He then said that even with increased maintenance, it was
impossible to discover all the inherent problems in the decades old MRT
system.
But he didn’t mention that other countries whose subways are older than
Singapore’s do not seem to have the kind of problems we have.
Mr Kuek went on, “One of the solutions is to renew the whole system, upgrade
the current signalling system, and change the third power supply track,
etc.”
But the Chinese media reported that instead of helping, Mr Kuek’s attempt at
justifying the frequent breakdowns has further upset the public (‘MSM reports public condemnation of SMRT CEO (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/10/msm-reports-public-condemnation-of-smrt-ceo/)‘).
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMAG1042.jpg?0f3d89
Roping in other Govt agencies to help SMRT
Later on 14 Jul, ME8 (NS) Lee Ling Wee admitted on national TV that SMRT was
not able to handle the massive train disruptions on its own, despite deploying
700 staff that night.
He even suggested setting up a taskforce by roping in the Land Transport
Authority and other enforcement agencies to help SMRT.
ME8 (NS) Lee was brought in by LG (NS) Kuek in 2013 to lead and manage all
matters of Train Operations, Engineering and Maintenance.
Before going to SMRT, he was the head of Air Engineering & Logistics
Department, HQ RSAF. He was said to have 25 years of experience in engineering
and maintenance of combat air planes.
In 2011, he became the first military domain expert (ME) to be raised to the
rank of ME8 – equivalent to a Brigadier-General. He started his career as an
air-force engineer in 1991. He was a colonel in the RSAF before he switched in
2010 to the new service scheme.
He was the 6th person with military background to join LG (NS) Kuek in SMRT.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?211492-Train-disruption-due-to-‘weak-electrical-resistance’-of-insulator&goto=newpost).
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/29...-of-insulator/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/29/train-disruption-due-to-weak-electrical-resistance-of-insulator/)
Train disruption due to ‘weak electrical resistance’ of
insulator
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png?0f3d89 http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png?0f3d89
July 29th, 2015 | http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png?0f3d89
Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/desmondkuek.jpg?0f3d89
LG (NS) Desmond Kuek, SMRT President and CEO
At a media briefing in LTA HQ today (29 Jul), SMRT said that the massive
train disruption on 7 Jul was due to “weak electrical resistance” of the train
network’s third rail insulator. The third rail supplies electrical power to
trains.
On 7 July about 7pm, both the North-South and East-West MRT lines suddenly
broke down during evening peak hour. Train service was disrupted for a good
3-and-a-half hours and 250,000 commuters were severely inconvenienced. It was
the biggest and most serious breakdown in SMRT since its inception in 1987.
At today’s briefing, SMRT added that a confluence of factors triggered the
train incident. This included water dripping onto the third rail cover in an MRT
tunnel between Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place.
To address the issue, it has started replacing all third rail insulators, a
process which should be completed by the first quarter of 2017. And to monitor
the condition of the insulators, data loggers will be installed at all 47
traction power substations on the NSEWL within the next two months, SMRT
said.
“We have reviewed all existing work instructions and we’re satisfied that
they have been complied with. Arising from the Jul 7 incident, we will be taking
very firm steps to review and improve all work instructions to tighten (checks
on) the most vulnerable spots in the system,” said SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek.
“The weak resistance of an insulator can allow electricity to flow through
the insulator to the ground, resulting in a higher than normal voltage
difference between the running rail (the surface on which the train wheels run
and through which the electricity returns to the source to complete the circuit)
and the ground.”
This – exacerbated by the movement of the trains – resulted in the activation
of the a safety mechanism known as 64P, or the Touch Voltage Protection Relay,
at multiple locations in the network, tripping the power system.
“We thank our commuters for their patience and understanding over the
incident. We continue to adopt a zero-defect attitude, learning from each and
every incident that takes place and we’re committed to ensuring a high level of
safety and reliability in our system,” Mr Kuek stated.
Angry commuters
Mr Kuek and LTA Chief Executive Chew Men Leong held a joint press conference
on 8 Jul, one day after the incident to apologise to the public (‘Lui, SMRT CEO and LTA apologise for service disruptions (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/08/lui-smrt-ceo-and-lta-apologise-for-train-disruption/)‘). But
Mr Kuek, in his reply to reporters’ questions as to why the problems were not
identified earlier, said that even with intensified maintenance, it was
impossible to find out all the inherent problems. His reply did not go down well
with his audience, who felt he was looking for excuses.
Mr Kuek said that over the past few years, SMRT has progressively implemented
various measures to improve the reliability of the system. However, due to the
testing and progressive rolling out of new trains, and the aging MRT system, new
problems have surfaced. Anticipating the timing of breakdowns is getting
tougher, he said. He then said that even with increased maintenance, it was
impossible to discover all the inherent problems in the decades old MRT
system.
But he didn’t mention that other countries whose subways are older than
Singapore’s do not seem to have the kind of problems we have.
Mr Kuek went on, “One of the solutions is to renew the whole system, upgrade
the current signalling system, and change the third power supply track,
etc.”
But the Chinese media reported that instead of helping, Mr Kuek’s attempt at
justifying the frequent breakdowns has further upset the public (‘MSM reports public condemnation of SMRT CEO (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/07/10/msm-reports-public-condemnation-of-smrt-ceo/)‘).
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMAG1042.jpg?0f3d89
Roping in other Govt agencies to help SMRT
Later on 14 Jul, ME8 (NS) Lee Ling Wee admitted on national TV that SMRT was
not able to handle the massive train disruptions on its own, despite deploying
700 staff that night.
He even suggested setting up a taskforce by roping in the Land Transport
Authority and other enforcement agencies to help SMRT.
ME8 (NS) Lee was brought in by LG (NS) Kuek in 2013 to lead and manage all
matters of Train Operations, Engineering and Maintenance.
Before going to SMRT, he was the head of Air Engineering & Logistics
Department, HQ RSAF. He was said to have 25 years of experience in engineering
and maintenance of combat air planes.
In 2011, he became the first military domain expert (ME) to be raised to the
rank of ME8 – equivalent to a Brigadier-General. He started his career as an
air-force engineer in 1991. He was a colonel in the RSAF before he switched in
2010 to the new service scheme.
He was the 6th person with military background to join LG (NS) Kuek in SMRT.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?211492-Train-disruption-due-to-‘weak-electrical-resistance’-of-insulator&goto=newpost).