In Russo-Belarusian project, no de-energizing required for railroad wire repair

Siberian and Belarusian scientists have developed for Russian Railways a new method of manufacturing and repairing electricity wires for railroads.

Siberian and Belarusian scientists have developed for Russian Railways a new method of manufacturing and repairing electricity wires for railroads, enabling a considerable increase in their service life, news agency RIA Novosti reports citing a statement by Vasily Fomin, the vice chairman of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). He said that the innovation ?is completed and can be put to use.? ?We found that adding some teflon to copper ensures the doubling of the wire?s sliding properties, which makes its deterioration much slower. Teflon is a weaker electricity conductor, though, but the loss is no more than 5%,? Mr. Fomin said. The scientist explained that the new method would also enable railroad workers to repair the existing wires without de-energizing the system. Special equipment would be used to pinpoint the deteriorated section, and a new compound would then be sprayed upon the 25kV wire...