Automatic drainage unit

The existing protection does not provide protective potential of traction substation grounding grid for the entire period of operation. This disadvantage is removed by improving of automatic drainage unit. The basis of the automatic drainage system is automatic control of drainage current by changing the pulse width of current. This method of current control allows the defined potential remain at the set value. The article presents a functional diagram describing the basic units of the improved automatic drainage unit. The results of the automatic drainage unit tests illustrate that the automatic drainage unit limits the current flowing through the grounding grid to the traction substation, allowing the potential remain at the set value Improved automatic drainage unit has great advantages in relation to existing and operated drain units at this moment and it can be recommended for introduction to the electrification infrastructure of the railway industry. Also this automatic drainage unit can be used for protection of other metal underground structures such as pipelines and other metal structures influenced by stray currents.