TEOL K3 traction switch remote control system

The TEOL remote traction switch control system consists of two subsystems:

• TEOL K3 is designed for controlling switches (disconnectors or isolators) in the overhead traction network equipped with electric drives powered by 230V 50Hz (using motors with 230V 50Hz or 24V DC motors powered by a rectifier). Additionally, these drives must include transformers enabling them to open and close by applying the appropriate control voltage in a three-wire system. This system also allows for signaling the position of the switch and detecting cable faults.
• TEOL600 is designed for controlling switches (disconnectors or isolators) in the overhead tramway or trolleybus traction network. A characteristic feature of this system is its power supply from the traction network voltage through a 600/24 V DC converter working with batteries. The switch drives are powered by 24V DC.

In the TEOL K3 system, the control and signaling of drives are performed via three-core cables connecting individual drives to the TEOL K3 switch control cabinets. The switch control cabinets are available in indoor or outdoor versions and enable individual control of 3 to 40 switches. Together with the drives, they form a standalone system that provides control and supervision of switch operations. The cabinets are equipped with a controller from the SESTO E1000 family, which monitors the electrical system and ensures communication with supervisory systems. Integration with supervisory systems is achieved using:

• data communication cables,
• fiber-optic connections,
• GSM networks.

The TEOL K3 switch control system is widely used in the PKP traction network. Over the years, it has undergone numerous modifications due to the development of the traction network and user requirements and is currently replacing outdated older solutions (control devices Usb-2A and USLOS-3m). The TEOL K3 system is also used in tram, trolleybus, and medium-voltage networks.

Main functions of the TEOL K3 cabinet:

• control of switch position (via current measurements) and control of switch position (opening/closing) using a three-wire line,
• selection of remote/local operating mode:
  • local control via an operator panel with a color graphic screen and a touch panel,
  • remote control from a local control terminal, Central Control Room, or TEOL master cabinet;
• the possibility of determining higher voltage for remote drives to eliminate voltage drops in cables,
• individual configuration for each disconnector:
  • increased control voltage for remote drives to eliminate voltage drops in cables,
  • current thresholds determining the position of the controlled drive;
• event recording (with timestamps):
  • possibility of saving events to flash-type mass memory,
  • possibility of reading events from the controller via Ethernet network;
• enabling/disabling local or remote control blocking for individual disconnectors,
• automatic system diagnostics (including cables and drive).

System scalability:
Special attention was paid during the design of the system to ensure the economic selection of system components for both small individual installations and extensive systems.
From a single TEOL K3 cabinet, it is possible to control up to 40 switches, directly connected to the given cabinet or indirectly through subordinate cabinets. The architecture of the TEOL K3 system has been designed to enable the creation of a distributed structure consisting of several subordinate cabinets connected to the master cabinet. As a result, such configured devices are seen as a single station from the supervisory system's perspective. From the master cabinet, it is possible to view the states and change the positions of switches connected to subordinate cabinets. If there is a need to control more than 40 disconnectors from a single location, SESTO offers a solution in the form of a master Computer Terminal with ZEO software, which can also be integrated into the higher-level system.