DEVELOPMENT OF A FUNCTIONAL SCHEME OF AN AUTOMATED COMPLEX FOR CHECKING THE PARAMETERS OF RAILWAY AUTOMATION RELAYS

Аннотация

Railway transport control systems make extensive use of electromagnetic and electromechanical relays to ensure the safe operation of train traffic. However, the widespread use of these components increases the likelihood of faults and failures. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to monitor and analyze the parameters of railway automation relays regularly. This article presents the development of a functional scheme of an automated complex designed for testing and analyzing the electrical and timing parameters of relays used in railway automation systems. Keywords: Relay, microcontroller, automated operator workstation, Ethernet module, PWM module, power supply, rectifier, voltage divider, galvanic isolation module. Introduction. Relays are among the most widely used devices in railway automation and telemechanics. They play a critical role in processes such as automatic control, regulation, and traffic management—ensuring the safety of railway operations. Currently, tens of millions of relays are installed across railway systems worldwide. Given their importance, reliability is the most crucial characteristic of these components. The article introduces a functional schematic of an automated testing complex aimed at verifying the operating parameters of railway automation relays (Figure 1). Functional Structure of the Automated Complex. The developed system comprises the following main components: - AOW – Automated Operator’s Workstation; - ENC28J60 – Ethernet Module; - STM32F103 – Microcontroller; - PWM Module; - Rectifier; - Galvanic Isolation Module; - Voltage Divider; 252 SCIENCE SHINE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL Issue 10(45), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 20.05.2025 - Relay; - Power Supply. R1 Voltage Divider R2 Analog Input Relay AOW Ethernet SPI PWM - ENC28J60 STM32F103 Rectifier Module Digital Input R + Galvanic Isolation Module Power Supply 220 V Figure 1. Functional diagram of an automated complex for checking the parameters of railway automation relays 1. Automated Operator’s Workstation (AOW) The AIJ consists of a computer equipped with specialized software for initiating relay tests, receiving parameter data, and printing reports. The software communicates with the system via a network connection and interprets incoming signals. 2. Ethernet Module (ENC28J60) The ENC28J60, developed by Olimex, is a compact (30x24 mm) Ethernet controller that allows microcontrollers to interface with TCP/IP networks through an SPI interface. It enables communication between the AIJ and the microcontroller, supporting simultaneous multi-user access from PCs or mobile devices. This module is ideal for network-based automation tasks and educational use in TCP/IP and web server development. 3. Microcontroller (STM32F103) The STM32F103 belongs to the STM32 family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3- based microcontrollers produced by STMicroelectronics. It features integrated RAM, flash memory, and various peripheral interfaces. In this project, the microcontroller serves as the central control unit: it receives testing commands from the AIJ, sends control signals to the relay, reads feedback from sensors, and transmits results back to the workstation. 253 SCIENCE SHINE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL Issue 10(45), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 20.05.2025 4. PWM Module The Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) module is used for power control by switching the electrical energy to the relay on and off rapidly. This method allows the microcontroller’s 3.3V signals to be scaled up to 24V—sufficient to operate the relay—while also providing control over the activation timing. 5. Rectifier The rectifier converts the PWM’s pulsed DC signal into a stable direct current needed for the correct operation of the relay. This step ensures that the relay receives continuous power without fluctuations. 6. Galvanic Isolation Module Galvanic isolation allows signal and power transfer without direct electrical contact. In this setup, it provides safe and interference-free signal feedback from the relay to the microcontroller, enabling accurate state detection without ground loops or voltage spikes. 7. Voltage Divider The voltage divider scales down the 24V output from the relay to a microcontroller-compatible input range (0–3.3V). This ensures that the microcontroller can safely and accurately read voltage signals coming from the relay circuit. 8. Power Supply The power supply unit ensures consistent power delivery to all components, especially the microcontroller and PWM module, which require different voltage levels to operate efficiently. Conclusion. The functional scheme presented in this article lays the foundation for the development of a complete technological solution for the automated analysis of relay parameters in railway automation systems. By integrating microcontrollers, network communication, galvanic isolation, and power management components, the proposed complex allows for efficient monitoring and evaluation of relay performance, r