Rail circuit capacitance fault diagnosis method and device, computer device and medium

Abstract

This application relates to a method, apparatus, computer equipment, and medium for diagnosing capacitor faults in a track circuit. The method includes: with a shunt actuator deployed within a preset distance of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and short-circuiting the two rails, acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test, and acquiring the current operating frequency of the track circuit; determining the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the rail surface voltage signal, branch current signal, and operating frequency; comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test to obtain a comparison result; and performing fault diagnosis on the capacitor under test based on the comparison result to obtain a fault diagnosis result. This method effectively improves the efficiency and accuracy of fault diagnosis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of track circuit testing technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus, computer equipment, and computer-readable storage medium for diagnosing track circuit capacitor faults. Background Technology

[0002] Electrified track circuits are the foundational equipment of modern urban rail transit signaling systems, responsible for train positioning and detecting train occupancy status. They mainly consist of track circuits within sections of the track and track circuits within stations. Because track circuit sections are often long, exceeding 300 meters, the signal current transmitted along the rails gradually attenuates due to the rail's impedance. To ensure long-distance signal current transmission, a capacitor is installed every 100 meters between the two rails in the track circuit. This capacitor has charging and discharging capabilities, enabling long-distance signal current transmission within the track circuit section and ensuring reliable activation of the track relays.

[0003] When routine signal personnel detect track voltage fluctuations (voltage values ​​fluctuating) in a certain section through computer monitoring, they usually troubleshoot the problem by testing the voltage at the ends of the capacitors on the rails with multimeter probes. However, this method can only detect faulty capacitors with hard damage, while in general voltage fluctuations, the faulty capacitors are all soft damage problems. Conventional testing methods cannot accurately determine the location of the faulty capacitors, and are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient in troubleshooting. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an efficient and accurate method, apparatus, computer equipment, and computer-readable storage medium for diagnosing track circuit capacitor faults, addressing the aforementioned technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for diagnosing capacitor faults in track circuits, the method comprising:

[0006] With the branch actuator deployed within a preset distance of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails short-circuited, the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test are obtained, and the operating frequency of the current track circuit is obtained.

[0007] Based on the rail surface voltage signal, the branch current signal, and the operating frequency, the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test is determined.

[0008] The measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test to obtain the comparison result;

[0009] Based on the comparison results, the capacitor under test is subjected to fault diagnosis to obtain the fault diagnosis results.

[0010] In one embodiment, acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test includes:

[0011] Monitor the branch current in the branch circuit formed by the branch actuator;

[0012] Determine whether the shunt current remains stable within a preset amplitude range;

[0013] When the branch current meets the preset stability conditions, the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test are acquired.

[0014] In one embodiment, acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test includes:

[0015] The multi-channel analog-to-digital converter is controlled by a shared clock source to perform hardware synchronous sampling of the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal.

[0016] In one embodiment, before comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, the method further includes:

[0017] The fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component are extracted from the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal, respectively.

[0018] Determine the phase difference between the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component;

[0019] Based on the phase difference, the amplitude of the fundamental voltage component, the amplitude of the fundamental current component, and the operating frequency, the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor under test is determined.

[0020] The measured capacitance value is corrected based on the equivalent series resistance.

[0021] Comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test includes:

[0022] The corrected measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0023] In one embodiment, before comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, the method further includes:

[0024] Obtain the ambient temperature;

[0025] The measured capacitance value is temperature-compensated based on the ambient temperature to obtain the compensated measured capacitance value.

[0026] Comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test includes:

[0027] The compensated measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0028] In one embodiment, the step of performing fault diagnosis on the capacitor under test based on the comparison result to obtain a fault diagnosis result includes:

[0029] If the measured capacitance value deviates from the nominal capacitance value by more than a preset range, it is determined that the capacitor under test has a hard fault. The measured capacitance value includes the corrected measured capacitance value or the compensated measured capacitance value.

[0030] In one embodiment, the branching actuator is a magnetic branching actuator.

[0031] Secondly, this application also provides a track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device, the device comprising:

[0032] The data acquisition module is used to acquire the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test, and to acquire the current operating frequency of the track circuit, when the branch actuator has been deployed within a preset distance range of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails have been short-circuited.

[0033] The data determination module is used to determine the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the rail surface voltage signal, the branch current signal and the operating frequency.

[0034] The data comparison module is used to compare the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, and obtain the comparison result;

[0035] The fault diagnosis module is used to diagnose the faults of the capacitor under test based on the comparison results and obtain the fault diagnosis results.

[0036] Thirdly, this application also provides a computer device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps in any of the above embodiments of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method.

[0037] Fourthly, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in any of the above embodiments of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method.

[0038] The aforementioned method, device, computer equipment, and computer-readable storage medium for diagnosing capacitor faults in track circuits only require deploying a branch line at a predetermined distance from the receiving end of the capacitor under test to form an effective branch. Simultaneously acquiring the rail surface voltage and branch current signals at both ends of the capacitor allows for rapid determination of the measured capacitance value based on the voltage amplitude, current amplitude, and track circuit operating frequency, compared with the nominal value, thus instantly identifying capacitor faults. This method does not require altering the existing track circuit structure or interrupting normal train operation. Operators only need to connect the branch line at the front end of the capacitor, clamp the capacitor leads with clamping clamps, and measure the rail surface voltage with test leads. The testing device can then automatically complete the diagnosis, significantly lowering the implementation threshold. Furthermore, because the test is conducted under simulated train branch conditions, the signal response is strong and the signal-to-noise ratio is high, enabling sensitive detection of minute capacitance value shifts. This significantly improves the detection rate of latent faults such as early deterioration and soft damage, achieving "instant detection and accurate positioning," effectively improving fault diagnosis efficiency and solving the problem of high false negative rates in existing troubleshooting methods. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing capacitor faults in a track circuit, as shown in one embodiment.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps for acquiring current and voltage signals and operating frequency in one embodiment;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing track circuit capacitor faults in another embodiment;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing track circuit capacitor faults in yet another embodiment;

[0044] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing track circuit capacitor faults in another embodiment;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the branch execution mechanism in one embodiment;

[0046] Figure 7 This is a structural block diagram of a track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device in one embodiment;

[0047] Figure 8 This is an internal structural diagram of a computer device in one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0049] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, as used in this application, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The term "multiple" as used in this application refers to two or more. The term "and / or" as used in this application refers to one of the solutions, or any combination of multiple solutions.

[0050] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a method for diagnosing capacitor faults in a track circuit is provided. Taking the application of this method to a testing device as an example, the method can also be applied to computer equipment, or a testing system including computer equipment and a testing device. The method includes steps 200 to 800. Wherein:

[0051] Step 200: With the branch actuator deployed within a preset distance range of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails short-circuited, the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test are acquired, and the operating frequency of the current track circuit is acquired.

[0052] A shunt actuator is an electromechanical device used to temporarily establish a low-impedance path in a track circuit to simulate the shunt effect of a train wheelset; it typically includes conductive contacts that can be attached to the rail. The capacitor under test (UTC) is a tuning capacitor installed in the electrified railway track circuit section to compensate for signal transmission attenuation. The rail surface voltage signal is the AC voltage signal measured between two points on the track surface; this signal is emitted by the track circuit transmitter and is affected by the parameters of components within the section. The branch current signal is the current flowing through the parallel circuit containing the UTC capacitor; its magnitude is related to the capacitance value, track voltage, and operating frequency. The operating frequency refers to the frequency shift keying carrier frequency used by the current track circuit; different sections or directions may use different frequencies to achieve adjacent track isolation.

[0053] In practical applications, the operator can use a branching actuator to branch the capacitor under test 2-3 meters in front (close to the receiving end), and then use clamps to hold the capacitor leads, thus entering the effective measurement window of the testing device. At this time, the track circuit is in a simulated train occupancy state, and the signal energy mainly flows back through the branching line, which significantly enhances the branch current flowing through the compensation capacitor, thereby improving the measurement signal-to-noise ratio. The testing device synchronously acquires the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor through a high input impedance differential probe, and uses clamps to non-invasively hold the capacitor leads to obtain the branch current signal; simultaneously, the built-in frequency identification module of the testing device performs real-time spectrum analysis on the acquired signal to determine the current operating frequency of the track circuit.

[0054] Step 400: Based on the rail surface voltage signal, branch current signal, and operating frequency, determine the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0055] The measured capacitance value refers to the actual capacitance parameter of the capacitor under test, obtained through on-site electrical measurement methods. It reflects the equivalent capacitive reactance characteristics of the capacitor under specific track circuit conditions. This value is used to compare with the nominal capacitance value from the manufacturer to determine whether the capacitor has deteriorated or failed.

[0056] Following the previous step, after the testing device has completed the synchronous acquisition of the rail surface voltage signal, branch current signal, and operating frequency, it enters the stage of determining the measured capacitance value. Based on the fundamental principles of AC circuits, given the known effective voltage, effective current, and operating frequency, the capacitance value can be initially estimated using the capacitive reactance formula. Specifically, the testing device can first digitally filter the acquired raw voltage and current waveforms to remove the 50 Hz and its harmonic interference introduced by the traction return current, and then extract the fundamental component using a phase-locked loop or Fourier transform. Subsequently, the ratio of the fundamental voltage amplitude to the fundamental current amplitude is calculated to obtain the equivalent impedance modulus of the capacitor branch. Then, combined with the identified operating frequency, the initial measured capacitance value is derived using an ideal capacitance model.

[0057] In other embodiments, taking the application of the solution to computer equipment as an example, the computer equipment can use a lookup table mapping method to determine the measured capacitance value: A four-dimensional calibration database of "voltage-current-frequency-capacitance value" is pre-established in a laboratory environment for different types of capacitors under various frequency and temperature combinations; during on-site testing, the measured triplet (U, I, f) is used as an index, and the corresponding measured capacitance value is quickly obtained through interpolation or nearest neighbor matching, reducing real-time mathematical calculations. In other embodiments, the measured capacitance value can also be determined through an adaptive impedance fitting algorithm: the equipment does not perform hard fundamental wave extraction on the acquired signal, but instead inputs the voltage and current time-domain waveforms within the complete sampling window into a lightweight impedance fitting model (such as least-squares complex impedance fitting), directly fitting the best-matching capacitance parameters, automatically compensating for non-ideal factors (such as slight harmonic distortion or sensor phase shift), and improving robustness in complex electromagnetic environments.

[0058] Step 600: Compare the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor to be tested to obtain the comparison result.

[0059] The nominal capacitance value refers to the rated capacitance parameter specified by the manufacturer when the capacitor under test leaves the factory. It is usually marked on the capacitor body or its protective cover and represents the design capacitance value of the capacitor under standard test conditions.

[0060] After the testing device obtains the measured capacitance value, it performs a comparison with the nominal capacitance value. This process can begin by having the operator manually input the value, scan the QR code on the capacitor's protective cover, read the near-field RFID tag, or automatically retrieve the value from a local database or remote maintenance platform based on the current track section number. Once the nominal value is determined, the testing device begins comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value to obtain the comparison result.

[0061] Step 800: Based on the comparison results, perform fault diagnosis on the capacitor under test to obtain the fault diagnosis results.

[0062] Fault diagnosis refers to the process of judging the operating status of a capacitor under test in a track circuit based on the measurement and comparison results of electrical parameters, in order to identify whether it has performance degradation or functional failure. The fault diagnosis result refers to the explicit output of this judgment process, which may include classification labels such as "normal", "hard fault" or "soft damage", and may also include auxiliary information such as confidence level, degree of deviation and handling suggestions.

[0063] After obtaining the comparison results, the testing device can determine the fault of the capacitor under test according to preset diagnostic rules. Specifically, it calculates the percentage relative deviation between the measured capacitance value and the nominal capacitance value, and determines whether it exceeds the limit based on a preset tolerance threshold (e.g., ±5%). If the deviation is within the allowable range, the capacitor is considered normal; if it exceeds the limit, it is marked as abnormal and identified as a faulty capacitor. The entire process is completed within milliseconds, ensuring "instant testing and diagnosis" in on-site operations and significantly improving troubleshooting efficiency. Compared to the traditional method of relying on manual table lookups and experience-based estimations, this automated comparison mechanism eliminates subjective errors and achieves quantitative and standardized fault identification.

[0064] It is understood that in other embodiments, fault diagnosis may also be implemented using other methods. For example, a dynamic tolerance strategy may be employed, dynamically adjusting the judgment threshold based on capacitor type, installation age, ambient temperature, or historical degradation trends. For instance, for capacitors that have been in service for more than 8 years, the threshold may be automatically relaxed to ±6% or other values ​​to reduce false alarms; while for newly replaced capacitors, a stricter ±3% threshold may be used to ensure quality. This strategy improves the adaptability and accuracy of diagnosis by introducing contextual information to optimize the comparison logic.

[0065] Because the test is conducted in a split circuit, the signal response is sensitive, and even slight capacitance drift can be effectively captured, thus enabling rapid identification of early-stage deteriorated capacitors.

[0066] In practical applications, the device's internal diagnostic engine maps comparison results to predefined state categories: when the deviation is minimal and there are no other abnormal characteristics, it outputs "normal"; when the deviation is significant and the capacitor is completely failed (e.g., an open circuit causing near-zero branch current), it is determined to be a "hard fault." After the diagnostic results are generated, the device immediately provides feedback to the operator through screen highlighting, voice announcements, or indicator light flashing, and simultaneously records the timestamp, location, capacitor number, and diagnostic conclusion, forming a structured log. The entire process requires no manual intervention, achieving a closed loop from data to decision-making, greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of on-site troubleshooting.

[0067] In other embodiments, a tiered alarm mechanism can also be used: instead of directly outputting a single diagnostic conclusion, multiple risk levels (such as "attention," "warning," and "fault") are divided according to the degree of deviation, with corresponding different handling suggestions—for example, the "attention" level only records data for subsequent tracking, the "warning" level prompts for arranging a retest in the near future, and the "fault" level forces the generation of a maintenance work order. This approach supports more refined operation and maintenance strategies by refining the diagnostic granularity.

[0068] In other embodiments, context-aware diagnostics can be introduced: before making a final judgment, the device automatically retrieves the microcomputer monitoring voltage curve of the capacitor for the past 7 days. If it finds that the recent rail surface voltage has been rising continuously and is consistent with the current low capacitance value, the confidence of the "soft damage" judgment is enhanced; conversely, if the historical data is stable, the critical deviation may be attributed to transient interference, and the alarm may be temporarily delayed. This approach improves the robustness and engineering practicality of the diagnosis by integrating static measurements and dynamic trends.

[0069] In the above-mentioned method for diagnosing capacitor faults in track circuits, it is only necessary to deploy a branch line at a predetermined distance from the receiving end of the capacitor under test to form an effective branch line, and simultaneously acquire the rail surface voltage and branch current signals at both ends of the capacitor. Based on the voltage amplitude, current amplitude, and operating frequency of the track circuit, the measured capacitance value can be quickly determined and compared with the nominal value, thereby instantly identifying capacitor faults. The above method does not require changing the existing track circuit structure or interrupting normal train operation. Operators only need to connect the branch line at the front end of the capacitor, use clamping pliers to hold the capacitor leads, and measure the rail surface voltage with test leads. The testing device can then automatically complete the diagnosis, significantly reducing the implementation threshold. At the same time, because the test is conducted under the real operating conditions of simulating train branch lines, the signal response is strong and the signal-to-noise ratio is high, which can sensitively capture small deviations in capacitance value, greatly improving the detection rate of latent fault capacitors such as early deterioration and soft damage, achieving "instant detection and accurate positioning", effectively improving the efficiency of fault diagnosis, and also solving the problem of high missed detection rate of existing inspection methods.

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment, the shunt actuator is a magnetic shunt actuator.

[0071] A magnetic shunt actuator is a mechanical device that uses a built-in electromagnet or permanent magnet to quickly attract and form a low-impedance electrical connection with the surface of a rail. It can temporarily short-circuit two rails during track circuit testing to simulate the shunt effect of a train wheelset. It usually integrates contact status detection and automatic release functions and is suitable for portable on-site operation.

[0072] In practice, the operator can attach the magnetic shunt actuator to the surface of two rails within a predetermined distance (usually 2 to 3 meters) of the capacitor under test near the receiving end, forming a reliable 0.05-ohm standard shunt. After attachment, the device verifies the validity of the shunt through a built-in contact feedback circuit (such as loop voltage detection or Hall switch). If no stable shunt current is detected, the operation fails and sampling is prohibited. Once the shunt is confirmed to be valid, the device starts the multi-channel synchronous acquisition system. Under the stable operating condition of the track circuit simulating train occupancy, it synchronously acquires the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor, the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor leads, and the current operating frequency of the frequency-shifted track circuit. After all signals are filtered and converted from analog to digital, the embedded processor extracts the fundamental component and calculates the voltage amplitude, current amplitude, and phase relationship to determine the measured capacitance value. This measured capacitance value is then compared with the nominal capacitance value obtained through QR code scanning, RFID reading, or section number matching. Finally, based on the degree of deviation, a diagnostic conclusion such as "normal," "hard fault," or "soft damage" is output.

[0073] In this embodiment, a magnetic shunt actuator can quickly establish a stable shunt at the front end of the capacitor under test, allowing the test to be conducted under conditions close to those of a real train, thereby enhancing the branch current signal, improving the detection sensitivity to small capacitance deviations, and facilitating on-site immediate identification of faulty capacitors.

[0074] In other embodiments, the shunt actuator can also be a mechanical clamping shunt device, which uses a manually or electrically driven lever, screw, or spring mechanism to forcefully press conductive contacts (such as copper alloy jaws) onto the top surface or web of two rails to form an electrical connection.

[0075] In other embodiments, the branching actuator can also be a slipper-type / roller-type mobile branching device, which can be installed on the bottom of a rail trolley or inspection vehicle. It is continuously in contact with the two rails by conductive slippers or metal rollers, and dynamically establishes branching during the movement of the equipment. It can be applied to vehicle-mounted continuous inspection systems and can realize section-level automatic testing.

[0076] like Figure 2 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, step 200 includes:

[0077] Step 220: Monitor the branch current in the branch loop formed by the branch actuator.

[0078] Step 240: Under the condition that the branch current meets the preset stability conditions, acquire the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test, and acquire the current operating frequency of the track circuit.

[0079] A shunt loop is a low-impedance current path established between two rails by a shunt actuator to simulate the shunt effect of a train wheelset track circuit. The shunt current is the current flowing through this shunt loop, and its magnitude reflects the operating intensity of the track circuit under shunt conditions. The preset amplitude range is a reasonable fluctuation range of the shunt current pre-set according to the track circuit type and transmission power, used to determine whether the signal is under typical operating conditions. The stability condition refers to the duration and fluctuation amplitude of the shunt current within the preset amplitude range meeting the steady-state requirements for measurement.

[0080] In practice, after the magnetic shunt actuator completes the rail short circuit, the testing device does not immediately collect capacitance parameters. Instead, it first initiates real-time monitoring of the shunt current in the shunt circuit. This shunt current is sampled by a built-in precision shunt or Hall sensor and sent to the signal processing unit for dynamic analysis. The device continuously monitors the instantaneous value of the shunt current to determine whether it falls within a preset amplitude range (e.g., hundreds of milliamperes to several amperes) that matches the current track section. At the same time, it assesses the degree of fluctuation. If the peak change of the current within a set time (e.g., 1 second) is less than a certain percentage threshold, it is determined that the stability condition is met. Only when this condition is met does the device trigger the high-precision synchronous acquisition module to synchronously acquire the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through its leads. This mechanism ensures that the data relied upon for subsequent capacitance value calculation is obtained after the track circuit has truly entered a stable shunt state, effectively reducing transient interference caused by locomotive start-stop, modulation switching, or poor contact.

[0081] In this embodiment, by first monitoring whether the branch current is stable before starting the capacitor signal acquisition, the measurement is ensured to be performed under the actual steady state of the track circuit branch, which improves the reliability of the track surface voltage and branch current data, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the measured capacitance value.

[0082] In one exemplary embodiment, acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test includes: controlling a multi-channel analog-to-digital converter via a shared clock source to perform hardware synchronous sampling of the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal.

[0083] A shared clock source refers to a clock signal generator that provides a unified sampling timing reference for multiple analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels, ensuring that each channel starts sampling at exactly the same time. A multi-channel ADC refers to an ADC chip or module that integrates two or more independent analog input channels, capable of synchronously converting multiple continuous-time analog signals into discrete digital signals. Hardware synchronous sampling refers to using hardware circuitry rather than software scheduling to trigger the acquisition of multiple signals on the same sampling clock edge, thereby eliminating time offsets between channels.

[0084] In practical implementation, when the testing device performs capacitor fault diagnosis, in order to accurately obtain the electrical characteristics of the capacitor under test, and simultaneously accurately measure the rail surface voltage signal at its two ends and the branch current signal flowing through its leads: the voltage acquisition channel (connected to the differential probe) and the current acquisition channel (connected to the switchable current sensor) inside the testing device are both connected to the same high-stability clock signal, and all channels latch the analog input at the same moment in each sampling cycle; this hardware synchronization mechanism ensures that even under high-frequency shift signals (such as 2600 Hz) in the track circuit, the relative phase of the voltage and current waveforms can be accurately restored, and the acquired digital samples are then sent to the processor for fundamental wave extraction and parameter inversion; the entire process does not rely on software polling or asynchronous reading, fundamentally eliminating measurement errors caused by sampling timing deviations.

[0085] In this embodiment, a shared clock source is used to control a multi-channel analog-to-digital converter for hardware synchronous sampling, ensuring that the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal are strictly aligned in time, accurately restoring their phase relationship, and providing a reliable data basis for accurately calculating the measured capacitance value.

[0086] like Figure 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, prior to step 600, the method further includes:

[0087] Step 500: Extract the fundamental voltage component and fundamental current component from the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal respectively, determine the phase difference between the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component, and determine the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor under test based on the phase difference, the amplitude of the fundamental voltage component, the amplitude of the fundamental current component and the operating frequency, and correct the measured capacitance value according to the equivalent series resistance.

[0088] Step 600 includes: Step 620, comparing the corrected measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor to be tested.

[0089] The fundamental voltage component refers to the sinusoidal component of the rail surface voltage signal that has the same operating frequency as the track circuit, representing the main signal that is effectively transmitted. The fundamental current component refers to the sinusoidal component of the branch current signal that has the same operating frequency, reflecting the response of the capacitor branch to the main signal. The phase difference refers to the relative offset angle between the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component on the time axis, used to characterize the impedance characteristics of the circuit. The equivalent series resistance refers to the resistance value that is equivalent to a resistor connected in series with the ideal capacitor, which represents the non-ideal factors such as dielectric loss and lead resistance of the actual capacitor. Its magnitude can reflect the degree of internal degradation of the capacitor.

[0090] In practice, after the testing device initially determines the primary measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the amplitude of the rail surface voltage signal, the amplitude of the branch current signal, and the operating frequency, in order to further improve the diagnostic accuracy, the synchronously acquired original voltage and current signals are digitally processed. The fundamental voltage component and fundamental current component consistent with the current operating frequency of the track circuit are extracted by bandpass filtering or fast Fourier transform. Subsequently, the phase difference between the two can be accurately determined by using zero-crossing detection or complex phase calculation methods. On this basis, the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor under test is calculated according to the AC impedance model, combining the fundamental voltage amplitude, fundamental current amplitude, phase difference, and known operating frequency. This resistance value reflects the energy loss inside the capacitor due to aging, drying, or poor contact. Then, the device uses this equivalent series resistance to correct the primary measured capacitance value to obtain a corrected measured capacitance value that is closer to the actual physical state. Finally, when comparing with the nominal capacitance value, this corrected value is used instead of the initial measured value.

[0091] In this embodiment, the measured capacitance value is corrected by extracting the fundamental component and calculating the equivalent series resistance, so that the capacitance parameters on which the comparison is based are closer to the real physical state, which helps to improve the accuracy of identifying soft-damaged capacitors that are internally degraded but whose capacitance value changes are not obvious.

[0092] like Figure 4 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, prior to step 600, the method further includes:

[0093] Step 520: Obtain the ambient temperature, and perform temperature compensation on the measured capacitance value based on the ambient temperature to obtain the compensated measured capacitance value.

[0094] Step 600 includes: Step 640, comparing the compensated measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0095] Ambient temperature refers to the real-time temperature of the air or rail surface surrounding the test device in the track section, which directly affects the dielectric properties of the capacitor. Temperature compensation refers to correcting the measured capacitance value to an equivalent value at a standard reference temperature (e.g., 20°C) based on the known temperature characteristics of the capacitor material, thereby eliminating the interference of temperature fluctuations on capacitance value determination. The compensated measured capacitance value is a standardized parameter used for comparison with the nominal capacitance value after temperature correction.

[0096] In practice, after determining the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test, the testing device does not directly compare it with the nominal capacitance value. Instead, it first obtains the current ambient temperature through a built-in temperature sensor or a connected external temperature sensor. Then, based on the typical temperature coefficient of the dielectric type (such as ceramic or thin film) used in the capacitor under test, it calculates the theoretical deviation that the ideal nominal capacitance should have at the current temperature and performs a reverse correction on the measured capacitance value to obtain the compensated measured capacitance value. Subsequently, the device compares the compensated measured capacitance value with the factory nominal capacitance value and executes the subsequent fault diagnosis logic.

[0097] In this embodiment, by acquiring the ambient temperature and performing temperature compensation on the measured capacitance value, the capacitance parameters on which the comparison is based are free from the influence of temperature drift, which helps to more accurately determine whether the capacitor has actually deteriorated under different climatic conditions.

[0098] like Figure 5 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, step 800 includes:

[0099] Step 820: If the measured capacitance value deviates from the nominal capacitance value by more than a preset range, it is determined that the capacitor under test has a hard fault. The measured capacitance value includes the corrected measured capacitance value or the compensated measured capacitance value.

[0100] A hard fault refers to a clear fault state in which the capacitor under test is unable to perform its track circuit compensation function due to open circuit, short circuit, or severe capacitance failure.

[0101] In practice, after the testing device completes the correction or compensation of the measured capacitance value, it enters the fault diagnosis stage: The device first confirms the type of measured capacitance value used for comparison. If the system enables phase analysis, the corrected measured capacitance value is used; if temperature sensing is enabled, the compensated measured capacitance value is used; if both are enabled, the correction and compensation are completed sequentially to obtain the final measured value used for judgment. Subsequently, the device compares this value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test to determine whether its relative deviation exceeds the preset range (e.g., ±5%). Once it exceeds the range, the capacitor is determined to have a hard fault. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the determination result is then marked as a high-priority event, triggering a local alarm (such as a red screen notification or a buzzer) and generating a structured record containing the capacitor location, measured value, nominal value, and fault type. The entire process is fully automated, requiring no manual table lookup or experience-based judgment. It faithfully reproduces the efficient operation mode of the original solution of "connection route - pressure and current measurement - real-time identification," and improves the consistency and traceability of diagnosis through standardized thresholds and clear fault classification. In particular, regardless of whether the measured capacitance value has been corrected or compensated, as long as its final form deviates from the nominal value by more than a preset range, it constitutes a hard fault determination basis, improving the compatibility and robustness to different enhancement paths.

[0102] In this embodiment, when the measured capacitance value (including the value after correction or temperature compensation) deviates from the nominal value by more than a preset range, it is determined to be a hard fault, so that the fault identification has a clear quantitative standard and it is easy to quickly identify obviously failed capacitors on site.

[0103] To provide a more detailed explanation of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method provided in this application, a specific embodiment is presented below. Figure 6 The specific embodiment is described below:

[0104] The operator will use a magnetic shunt actuator (such as...) Figure 6 The capacitor (as shown) is placed on two rails approximately 2 to 3 meters from the receiving end of the capacitor under test. Then, the start button is pressed, causing the electromagnetic adsorption device to firmly adhere to the rail surface and automatically short-circuit to form a low-resistance shunt. The testing device then detects the current in the shunt circuit. After confirming that it has entered a stable state, the multi-channel acquisition system is simultaneously activated. The rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor is acquired using a multimeter-type voltage probe, and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor leads is measured non-contactly using a clamp. Simultaneously, the operating frequency of the current rail circuit is identified. Under shared clock control, the device performs hardware synchronous sampling of the voltage and current signals, extracts the fundamental component, and calculates its amplitude and phase difference. First, a primary measured capacitance value is obtained based on the voltage, current amplitude, and frequency. Then, the equivalent series resistance is calculated using the phase difference to correct the capacitance value. Simultaneously, data from the built-in temperature sensor is read to perform temperature compensation on the results, resulting in the final measured capacitance value used for comparison.

[0105] Subsequently, the device retrieves the corresponding nominal capacitance value based on the capacitor number or section information, compares the corrected and compensated measured value with the nominal capacitance value, and if the deviation between the two exceeds 5%, it is determined to be a hard fault, and the "Fault" prompt, the specific deviation percentage and the suggested handling measures are highlighted on the screen. For example, if a 50uf capacitor (with a 50uf capacitor protection cover) is tested and the capacitance value is 47.3uf, or a 40uf capacitor (with a 40uf capacitor protection cover) is tested and the capacitance value is 42.3uf (the capacitor models used in railway signaling include 33uf, 40uf, 46uf, 50uf, 55uf, and 80uf; the capacitors installed in each section are of the same model; 40uf, 46uf, 50uf, and 55uf are used in the track sections of the railway section, while 33uf and 80uf are used in the track sections within the station), both indicate a capacitor fault. Furthermore, a structured report containing location, parameters, and diagnostic conclusions can be automatically generated and uploaded wirelessly to the electrical maintenance platform, thereby completing the entire process from physical deployment to intelligent diagnosis and achieving efficient on-site troubleshooting with "instant testing and accurate positioning".

[0106] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above may include multiple steps or multiple stages. These steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages in other steps. It is understood that the steps in different embodiments can be freely combined as needed, and all non-contradictory solutions formed by such combinations are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0107] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device for implementing the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method described above. The solution provided by this device is similar to the solution described in the above method; therefore, the specific limitations in one or more track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device embodiments provided below can be found in the limitations of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0108] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, a track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device 700 is provided, including: a data acquisition module 710, a data determination module 720, a data comparison module 730, and a fault diagnosis module 740, wherein:

[0109] The data acquisition module 710 is used to acquire the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test, and to acquire the current operating frequency of the track circuit, when the branch actuator has been deployed within a preset distance range of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails have been short-circuited.

[0110] The data determination module 720 is used to determine the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the rail surface voltage signal, branch current signal and operating frequency.

[0111] The data comparison module 730 is used to compare the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test and obtain the comparison result.

[0112] The fault diagnosis module 740 is used to perform fault diagnosis on the capacitor under test based on the comparison results and obtain the fault diagnosis results.

[0113] In some embodiments, the data acquisition module 710 is further configured to monitor the branch current in the branch circuit formed by the branch actuator, and acquire the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test when the branch current meets the preset stability conditions.

[0114] In one embodiment, the data acquisition module 710 is also configured to control a multi-channel analog-to-digital converter via a shared clock source to perform hardware synchronous sampling of the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal.

[0115] In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a data adjustment module for extracting the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component from the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal, respectively; determining the phase difference between the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component; determining the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor under test based on the phase difference, the amplitude of the fundamental voltage component, the amplitude of the fundamental current component, and the operating frequency; correcting the measured capacitance value according to the equivalent series resistance; and the data comparison module 730 is further used to compare the corrected measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0116] In one embodiment, the data adjustment module 722 is further configured to acquire the ambient temperature; perform temperature compensation on the measured capacitance value based on the ambient temperature to obtain the compensated measured capacitance value; and the data comparison module 730 is further configured to compare the compensated measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor to be tested.

[0117] In one embodiment, the fault diagnosis module 740 is further configured to determine that the capacitor under test has a hard fault when the measured capacitance value deviates from the nominal capacitance value by more than a preset range. The measured capacitance value includes the corrected measured capacitance value or the compensated measured capacitance value.

[0118] Each module in the aforementioned track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in the processor of a computer device in hardware form or independent of it, or stored in the memory of a computer device in software form, so that the processor can call and execute the corresponding operations of each module.

[0119] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer device is provided, which may be a terminal, and its internal structure diagram may be as follows: Figure 8As shown, the computer device includes a processor, memory, input / output interface, communication interface, display unit, and input device. The processor, memory, and input / output interface are connected via a system bus, and the communication interface, display unit, and input device are also connected to the system bus via the input / output interface. The processor provides computing and control capabilities. The memory includes non-volatile storage media and internal memory. The non-volatile storage media stores the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage media. The input / output interface is used for exchanging information between the processor and external devices. The communication interface is used for wired or wireless communication with external terminals; wireless communication can be achieved through Wi-Fi, mobile cellular networks, Near Field Communication (NFC), or other technologies. When executed by the processor, the computer program implements a method for diagnosing capacitor faults in a track circuit. The display unit is used to form a visually visible image and can be a display screen, projection device, or virtual reality imaging device. The display screen can be an LCD screen or an e-ink screen. The input device of the computer device can be a touch layer covering the display screen, or buttons, trackballs, or touchpads set on the casing of the computer device, or external keyboards, touchpads, or mice, etc.

[0120] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 8 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the present application is applied. Specific computer devices may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0121] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer device is provided, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps in any of the above embodiments of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method.

[0122] In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is provided having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in any of the above embodiments of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method.

[0123] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in any of the above embodiments of the track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis method.

[0124] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties, and the collection, use and processing of the relevant data must comply with relevant regulations.

[0125] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. Any references to memory, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile memory and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can take many forms, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The databases involved in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one type of relational database and non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors involved in the embodiments provided in this application may be general-purpose processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic devices, artificial intelligence (AI) processors, etc., and are not limited to these.

[0126] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0127] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing capacitor faults in track circuits, characterized in that, The method includes: With the branch actuator deployed within a preset distance of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails short-circuited, the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test are obtained, and the operating frequency of the current track circuit is obtained. Based on the rail surface voltage signal, the branch current signal, and the operating frequency, the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test is determined. The measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test to obtain the comparison result; Based on the comparison results, the capacitor under test is subjected to fault diagnosis to obtain the fault diagnosis results.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test includes: Monitor the branch current in the branch circuit formed by the branch actuator; When the branch current meets the preset stability conditions, the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test are acquired.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of acquiring the rail surface voltage signal across the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test includes: The multi-channel analog-to-digital converter is controlled by a shared clock source to perform hardware synchronous sampling of the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, the method further includes: The fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component are extracted from the rail surface voltage signal and the branch current signal, respectively. Determine the phase difference between the fundamental voltage component and the fundamental current component; Based on the phase difference, the amplitude of the fundamental voltage component, the amplitude of the fundamental current component, and the operating frequency, the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor under test is determined. The measured capacitance value is corrected based on the equivalent series resistance. Comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test includes: The corrected measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, the method further includes: Obtain the ambient temperature; The measured capacitance value is temperature-compensated based on the ambient temperature to obtain the compensated measured capacitance value. Comparing the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test includes: The compensated measured capacitance value is compared with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The step of performing fault diagnosis on the capacitor under test based on the comparison result to obtain the fault diagnosis result includes: If the measured capacitance value deviates from the nominal capacitance value by more than a preset range, it is determined that the capacitor under test has a hard fault. The measured capacitance value includes the corrected measured capacitance value or the compensated measured capacitance value.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The branching actuator is a magnetic branching actuator.

8. A track circuit capacitor fault diagnosis device, characterized in that, The device includes: The data acquisition module is used to acquire the rail surface voltage signal at both ends of the capacitor under test and the branch current signal flowing through the capacitor under test, and to acquire the current operating frequency of the track circuit, when the branch actuator has been deployed within a preset distance range of the receiving end of the capacitor under test and the two rails have been short-circuited. The data determination module is used to determine the measured capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the rail surface voltage signal, the branch current signal and the operating frequency. The data comparison module is used to compare the measured capacitance value with the nominal capacitance value of the capacitor under test, and obtain the comparison result; The fault diagnosis module is used to diagnose the faults of the capacitor under test based on the comparison results and obtain the fault diagnosis results.

9. A computer device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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