With winter not yet at its harshest, it’s likely that severe weather will have yet more impact on the smooth running of the railway. Ice has the ability to form on any surface. When it develops on the conductor rail head, it can prevent the collector shoe from drawing power and lead to damaging electrical arcing – this in turn brings delays and disruption. So it’s of real benefit for operators to invest in methods of de-icing to stop this from occurring.
An assortment of materials are available to support this process, varying from rapid-melt products which quickly get to work on frozen deposits but offer limited ongoing protection, to longer-lasting solid de-icers that guard against moderate frost for a number of hours. Chemicals succeed in melting snow and ice because the freezing point of the mixture is lower than that of the water but, as with all chemical de-icers, the actual quantity of fluid used will be subject to a number of variables including the ambient temperature, the surface type and condition, and the severity and type of weather.
High-performance solution
One organisation leading the way in de-icing for the rail industry is Kilfrost. Following intensive testing at the University of Birmingham this summer, Network Rail has recently placed an order for its Rail Plus product. The tests were designed to determine its effectiveness in aiding the clearance of ice from the third rail during adverse conditions and, thanks to a successful outcome, it is now being trialled on the Wessex route, from the south-west of England to London Waterloo.
Kilfrost Rail Plus – a viscous, monopropylene glycol, water-based fluid – works by maintaining a high viscosity while ‘at rest’, meaning it adheres strongly to the rail and forms a dense barrier between the rail and the ice. Offering high-performance protection at temperatures of -25C and below, it is designed specifically to protect conductor rails from frost, snow and ice. And yet it doesn’t prevent the formation of ice itself. Instead it ensures that any ice particles that form after application stick to the fluid rather than the rail, allowing them to be removed effectively.
Due to these unique properties of ice-melting chemicals such as Rail Plus, there has been recent industry discussion about the introduction of special trains in affected areas. This would involve a non-stop ‘first train of the day’ run along the line, shearing the fluid – and ice – from the track, clearing it for the services that follow.
Committed to innovation
“When cold weather hits, we appreciate just how important it is to protect electrified third rails from the damage and impairment that causes loss of power” comments Gary Lydiate, Chief Executive of Kilfrost. “We are proud to have developed a range of products specifically for the rail industry which can be used for de-icing purposes whilst also providing extended hold-over (anti-icing) protection. With many rail operators also having to consider the environmental impact of the products they use, together with their practicality and efficacy, we are delighted to be able to offer eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional oil-based parting fluids to treat third rail systems.”
For over 75 years Kilfrost has been at the cutting edge of the global de/anti-icing sector and is proud to work closely with customers in over 50 countries on five continents. With facilities in the UK, Europe, North America and Japan, it can deliver its safety critical products to the rail, ground de-icing, aviation and heat transfer sectors. Kilfrost’s world-renowned research and development facility continues to advance ground-breaking new products and the company is committed to the innovation of ever-more environmentally-friendly de/anti-icing solutions.
