Page 2 - dehn-protects-the-railway-infrastructure

Avoid system downtime and dis-

ruptions – with DEHN protection
concepts

For more than 200 years, the railway system has connect-
ed countries and continents. It ensures mobility and has an
important function as a sustainable form of transportation
for passengers and goods. Current socio-political themes
like the expansion of safe transport routes to congested
urban areas and the desire for increased electromobility
using “green” energy, have lent the railway system a con-
stantly growing significance worldwide.

As a result, the railway infrastructure is under massive ex-
pansion in many countries. Railway lines branch out widely
over great distances. In a storm, their expansiveness and
exposed position make them the perfect target for light-
ning. Railway buildings, systems and electronic devices are
also vulnerable to lightning strikes and other electromag-
netic sources of disturbance. Damage is caused by direct
lighting strikes in the overhead contact lines, rails or masts.
The danger from indirect lightning strikes should also not
be underestimated; Induced overvoltages and partial light-
ning currents, e.g., from a lightning strike in a nearby sys-
tem, present a considerable risk. Overvoltages specific to
the railway which are evoked, e.g., by switching opera-
tions or permanent interference voltage in nearby trackside
cables are an additional threat. As modern control and
safety technology is regulated by highly sensitive electron-
ics, it is particularly susceptible to faults. System failure due
to lightning and overvoltages leads to late trains and often
high costs. However, it is possible to increase availability,
even during thunderstorms, with a carefully planned light-
ning protection concept. As a world-renowned specialist
for lightning and surge protection, DEHN provides specific
protection concepts for applications in the railway infra-
structure on the themes:
• External and internal lightning protection
• Surge protection
• Equipotential bonding
• Earthing
Safety and reliability through • Safety equipment

lightning and surge protection

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