SwRI developed an automatic compressed air leak detection system that may acoustically and visually detect and report air leaks on transferring trains, indicated by spectral signatures within the images. The staff examined the proof-of-concept system on rail vehicles and trains at SwRI’s Locomotive Expertise Middle in San Antonio. Credit score: SwRI
Southwest Analysis Institute (SwRI) has developed a proof-of-concept system to autonomously detect compressed air leaks on trains and relay the situation of the leaks to mechanical personnel for restore. The automated system might scale back the time, prices and labor wanted to search out and restore air leaks, and it might decrease the locomotive trade’s total gasoline consumption and exhaust emissions.
Trains use compressed air for quite a lot of capabilities, together with air brakes, valve actuation, radiator shutters, horns and bells. Every year it’s estimated that the rail trade loses between 2–3% automobile effectivity as a consequence of air leaks that happen at varied factors all through trains. Moreover, these leaks can have a detrimental impact on practice operability and security.
“Air leaks considerably improve gasoline consumption and scale back the effectiveness of a locomotive’s computerized engine stop-start (AESS) techniques, which causes locomotives to run extra usually, burn extra gasoline and reduces the lifespan of components reminiscent of starters, air compressors and batteries,” mentioned SwRI Lead Engineer Christopher Stoos. “We’re speaking probably saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of gasoline and decreasing carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions.”
Presently, discovering air leaks requires railroad staff to manually seek for them, usually happening, underneath or between railway autos to hear or really feel for leaks. The apply is inefficient, time-consuming and introduces pointless threat to mechanical employees. Figuring out this, the Federal Railroad Administration and railroads have outlined acceptable air leak charges for trains.
To considerably scale back these leaks, SwRI has created a system that makes use of audio detection expertise, cameras and machine studying to autonomously detect, establish and report air leaks, even on transferring trains.
The mission is led by Stoos, Senior Analysis Engineer Heath Spidle, and Analysis Engineer Jake A. Janssen.
The system makes use of a small, commercially obtainable Fluke SV600 fastened acoustic imager that makes use of a 64-microphone array and digicam tuned to detect frequencies of 30–45kHz, the frequencies at which compressed air leaks greatest stand out from most background noise. This instrument works in live performance with a secondary visible spectrum digicam. To automate the detection course of, the staff skilled and applied machine studying algorithms to establish air leaks from the sensor outputs whereas ignoring non-leak associated outputs.
Throughout testing, the prototype system efficiently detected a spread of air leaks at varied areas on locomotives with a false optimistic fee of solely 0.03%. The system detected, on common, 11 out of each 13 leaks on a transferring practice. As soon as an air leak was recognized, an alert with an accompanying picture was shared electronically with acceptable personnel exhibiting the world in want of inspection and repairs.
“The system ought to scale back the burden on mechanical personnel and enhance the compressed air system’s efficiency,” mentioned Stoos. “Additional discipline improvement and testing continues to be obligatory, however this method might probably save the locomotive trade hundreds of thousands in fuels financial savings and upkeep if applied appropriately. This expertise might additionally tremendously scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions by enhancing locomotive gasoline effectivity.”
The SwRI staff shared a presentation detailing the event of the system and their findings, titled “Autonomous Detection of Compressed Air Leaks on Trains,” on the 2022 Rail Provide Institute’s Expo & Technical Convention in Fort Value, throughout the Locomotive Upkeep Officers Affiliation’s annual program.
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