PowerEarth in partnership with MTM performed condition assessment testing at Craigieburn Sidings Substation during November 2019. Using the specialist test equipment of RED Phase Instruments, a Low-Current Off-Frequency Current Injection test was performed. This ensured all power frequency hazards were analysed, tested, and identified addressing safety firsthand.
PowerEarth’s also performed an electrolysis investigation to determine any if at all impact stary DC from the rail traction return was having on the many structures throughout the site. Electrolysis and corrosion from Stray DC tests are a critical asset management assessment to be made in the heavy rail environment. It enables the Rail Infrastructure Manager (R.I.M) operator to determine assets in the various ‘state’ of corrosion protection. Structures can be undergoing normal anodic corrosion (under protected structure); anodic corrosion ‘removes’ metal from the structure, such as from reinforcing or thinning of pipeline walls etc. This is traditionally observed as ‘concrete cancer’ or water / gas pipelines leaking. In other cases, the corrosion could be resulting from significantly overprotected structures, rendering them well into the considered “hydrogen embrittlement” range. This type of corrosion can seriously reduce the ductility and load-bearing capacity of the structure. It can cause cracking and catastrophic brittle failures at stresses below the design values of the structure.