Researchers are working to improve railways safety
In the first days and weeks of the full-scale war, Ukrzaliznytsia (national Ukrainian railway operator) became the main evacuation route for thousands of Ukrainians. Evacuation trains transported people free of charge, day and night, despite the shelling and the danger of missile attacks. It was critical railway infrastructure facilities that became one of the enemy’s targets. Enemy’s missiles hit the stations in Kramatorsk, Chaplyn and dozens of other settlements. In April 2022, the russians hit the traction station in Fastiv, and in June, the Darnytsia Railcar Repair Plant (the author of these lines lives near the railcar repair plant and remembers well the metallic sound of a missile over her house).
The strategic importance of the railway cannot be overestimated. That is why the safety of Ukrzaliznytsia’s critical facilities is the focus of the project of researchers from the State University of Infrastructure and Technology ‘Development of research principles for comprehensive improvement of safety, efficiency of operation and management of critical railway transport facilities in the context of post-war development of Ukraine’. The project became a winner in the call ‘Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods’ and was awarded grant funding from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine.
In the morning of February 24, 2022, Serhii Gulak, the project PI, associate professor of the Department of Electromechanics and Rolling Stock of Railways of the University, was getting ready for work. His working day starts very early, at six he is already on his way to Kyiv. At that time, the Professor was acting head of the department, so when he heard the news, he immediately ‘adapted’ his work processes and enquired if his colleagues were safe.
The windows of the classrooms of the Department of Electromechanics and Rolling Stock of Railways overlook the workshops of the Kyiv Electrical Carriage-Repair Plant. The researchers work closely with railwaymen and are well aware of the needs and challenges faced by Ukrzaliznytsia in wartime.
The project led by Serhii Gulak is dedicated to addressing these challenges. One of the main objectives of the project is to create methods and technical solutions to normalize the operation of the traction power supply system and improve the quality of electricity. It is the traction system that powers the lion’s share of locomotives and railways electric trains. Many businesses and households near the railways also receive power from traction substations. “Unfortunately, the operation of electric rolling stock introduces various distorting factors into the system from which electricity is supplied to households. For instance, changing the operating modes of electric rolling stock creates an overvoltage and very short (for a split second) voltage ‘spikes’ or ‘dips’ occur. Such a short-term ‘spike’ (when there may be 2000 volts instead of 220 volts in the network) can be compared to an awl striking the insulation of the power grid. The consequence of this strike can be a short circuit. Our team is working to reduce the distortions introduced by the electric rolling stock into the traction power supply system,” the PI explained.
The researchers are also thinking about how to stabilize the so-called higher harmonic components in the current system. Despite the beautiful name, these components are good neither for the grid, nor for household appliances, or the consumer’s wallet. “As you know, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities has set a minimum value of the power factor of 0.9. This means that out of 100 kW of energy you use, only 90 kW will be useful. Higher harmonic components in the traction power supply system cause this figure to fall even lower”, explained the professor. “That is, the useful power may be 70 percent, but you will have to pay for 100”.
By the way, a journal published by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (indexed in Scopus and Web of Science) has recently published an article by Serhii Gulak on the removal of higher harmonic components in electric locomotive traction systems. The author proposes to introduce a new traction motor diagnostic system. One of the innovations provides for the driver to have the right to immediately shut down the engine even in the event of the slightest malfunction. “This will help to comply with the highest safety standards”, the PI emphasized. “As part of the project, we plan, in particular, to develop algorithms for diagnosing rolling stock elements”.
Another objective of the project is to optimize the train schedule (as a result of numerous shellings, the railway infrastructure was partially damaged and its capacity decreased). To address this issue, the researchers propose to apply decision theory methods. These methods allow you to choose the most optimal algorithms from a variety of them. The researchers also propose to introduce a system of maintenance ‘not according to a calendar plan’, but as soon as the driver suspects a malfunction in the rolling stock. According to the researcher, this is exactly what is done in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries.
We asked the PI whether the team has a plan for applying the results of the project.
The Professor said that before the war the researchers suggested that Ukrzaliznytsia analyze the impact of distortions caused by the railway rolling stock on the traction supply system. In January 2022, the managers of Ukrzaliznytsia decided to create a separate structural unit at the institute’s department to study this topic. Unfortunately, the war put these plans on hold, but the researchers continue to work. “We have been cooperating with the railways for many years and clearly understand where the results of our research can be applied”, the PI mentioned.
The project is being implemented by leading and early-career researchers. These are, in particular, Yuriy Dudnyk, a risk manager of technological processes, Oleksandr Horobchenko, a specialist in smart systems in railway transport, Vyacheslav Matsyuk, a specialist in optimization of logistics (he teaches at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine), and Igor Hrytsuk, a specialist in monitoring the efficiency of vehicle operation (Kherson State Maritime Academy). Also, Halyna Holub, a telecommunication systems specialist, Ivan Kulbovskiy, a metrology specialist, and Oles Haidenko, a specialist in automation and mathematical modeling (Kyiv Electromechanical College).
The project also involves graduate students Oleksandr Nevedrov, Denys Zaika, and Olena Kozachuk, and undergraduates Oleksii Stupko and Roman Vaskevych.
“The NRFU grant allows students to earn money”, the professor added. “Even if it’s not much money, it’s earned through their own work and intellect. In addition, early-career researchers learn to implement important projects and the results. This is an important experience that will definitely be needed in the postwar period.”
By the way, the PI also asked the interviewer a question. “Why don’t you ask me why we applied to the NRFU?”, he asked with a smile. And he answered: “Cooperation with the Foundation is a ‘quality mark’ for any research team. The Foundation selects projects most carefully and has an impeccable reputation. Therefore, the implementation of the project at the NRFU opens up new opportunities in other foundations”.
Interviewed by Svitlana Galata
