New Sensor Prevents Overheating

Mantena has developed and installed boxes with temperature sensors on the battery packs of Norske tog's Type 93 trains. This prevents overheating, ensuring a safer operation and better punctuality.

The Type 93 trains have experienced challenges with overheating battery packs, an issue that train owner Norske tog, along with Mantena and others, have addressed by finding several effective solutions.

Overheated batteries can disrupt train operations, cause delays, and, in the worst case, pose a fire hazard. Preventing this has therefore been a high priority, providing value for passengers, the train operator, and the train owner.

Alerting and Securing

At Mantena in Marienborg, Trondheim, a programmable logic controller (PLC) has been developed – a box that is placed near each battery pack at both ends of the train sets. The box is equipped with temperature sensors that alert if the batteries become too hot or fall outside defined thresholds. Additionally, it has fuses that disconnect the affected battery if it overheats.

"While temperature was previously measured on one of three battery packs, now all of them have temperature monitoring. If the temperature gets too high, an SMS alert is sent out," explains Vegar Røe, maintenance engineer at Mantena.

He, along with his colleague Torgrim Gjelsvik, is responsible for the development and installation of the PLC boxes on the 15 trains. Type 93 trains are operated by SJ on the Rauma Line, Røros Line, Nordland Line, Meråker Line, and Salten Commuter.

"We have also adjusted the charging voltage downwards and are avoiding complete battery discharge to a greater extent – which is also a risk factor for overheating," says Torgrim Gjelsvik.

In addition to the work being done at Marienborg, Norske tog has conducted a comprehensive review of the condition and maintenance program for the batteries and charging circuits, as well as a verification of the operating conditions of the batteries. This work was also carried out in collaboration with Mantena at their workshop in Hamar.

Doing What's Best for the Trains

Håkon Ellingsen, project manager at Norske tog, is pleased with the work that Mantena has done and is continuing to do.

"The people at Mantena in Trondheim and Hamar are great to work with, and they truly want the best for the trains. We have now implemented several excellent measures that will help minimize overheating and should provide more stable operations," says Ellingsen.

Luca Cuppari, Technical Director at Norske tog, also praises the upgrades.

"We are experiencing a positive collaboration with Mantena. This modification on Type 93, which includes several improvements to the battery system, is a great example of that," says Cuppari.

He adds that they are currently in dialogue with Mantena about measures to improve punctuality.

"There is also an ongoing discussion about overhauls of diesel locomotives, which we hope to resolve shortly. We are working together to find a common way forward."

Impressive solution

Erik Suul Comerford, responsible for rolling stock management at SJ Norge, is impressed with the solution Mantena has designed for Type 93.

"Mantena has developed a forward-looking solution that communicates with the older existing system in the train. With this solution implemented on all Type 93 sets, we will see improvements in several areas. For passengers, this means an improvement in availability and punctuality."