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York... what does it mean to you?
To some York means the Knavesmire, the Ebor and the Magent Cup, the 800-year old Minster, the Railway Museum or the famous Shambles shopping area and then to some, the city near Tadcaster where the lovely Sammy Smith’s bitter is brewed. But to almost everyone in the world of EMC it is the home of EMC. We asked Dr Chris Marshman (‘Mr EMC’) to give us the background on York EMC Services.
Dr Chris Marshman, Managing Director, York EMC Services Ltd
York Electromagnetics York Electromagnetics is the umbrella name under which both York EMC Services Ltd. and the Applied Electromagnetics Research group of the University of York, operate.
York EMC Services Ltd
York EMC Services Ltd (YES) employs 28 people and is a subsidiary company of the University of York. YES is a provider of commercial EMC services.
The Managing Director of YES Ltd is Chris Marshman and the Technical Director is Prof. Andy Marvin, also head of the Applied Electromagnetics Research Group at the University of York.
Commercial EMC Services commenced at the University in 1982 with the provision of short courses. In 1986 pre-compliance EMC testing activities and consultancy services were added. Initially these services were available through the York Electronics Centre, the commercial arm of the department of Electronics.
YES Ltd was established in December 1995 and in addition to the services mentioned it now operates state of the art EMC Test Facilities in Castleford, West Yorkshire, and also in Donibristle near Edinburgh. These laboratories have been accredited by UKAS to perform EMC Testing (UKAS 1574) and appointed by the Civil Aviation Authority for EMC Testing of aeronautical RF transmitting apparatus. YES Ltd is also a Department of Trade and Industry appointed European Competent Body for the preparation and assessment of Technical Construction Files (TCF). The Technical Construction File is one of the routes for demonstrating compliance of Electrical/Electronic equipment and systems with the provisions of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and the implementing legislation.
Castleford Test Site
With particular reference to the railway industry, YES is accredited by UKAS for EMC testing to RIA 18, and to the full range of European EMC Standards and the Railway Standards EN 50121-1 to 5. On-site testing and site surveys are also undertaken to assess ambient EMI threats.
YES Ltd has provided services across the whole of the electrical and electronics industry sector. In particular skills have been developed in the EMC assessment of physically large equipment, such as locomotives or substations, and performing on-site measurements. Projects have included: automotive systems, railway applications, large earth moving machinery - Draglines, large aeroengine fan blade precision grinding machines, large grinding machines for the automotive industry and the in-situ measurement of a 45m long textile production line.
The Applied Electromagnetics Research Group, University of York
Whilst YES Ltd has acquired a wealth of practical EMC experience we have the back up and access to the Applied Electromagnetic Research Group (AEG) within the Department of Electronics, University of York led by Professor Andy Marvin. The AEG is comprised of 20 academic research staff. Much of the research work has been involved in EM modelling and measurement methods. The Bilog wideband antenna was invented and modelled within the Research Group. In excess of 3000 Bilogs are now in use, worldwide.
Comparison Noise Emitter III
The Comparison Noise Emitter (CNE) was originally developed by the Research Group and has been marketed by YES. This stable broadband noise source is used, world wide by testing laboratories.
Much of the group’s work has been associated with the development of new EMC measurement techniques. These have included techniques for low frequency resonance damping in screened enclosures and transfer standard techniques for low frequency emission measurements. Both of these have been incorporated into a new revision of Def Std 59/41. Work is currently being undertaken on inter-site correlation techniques for radiated emission measurements, which account for the complexity of the EUT and imperfections in the measurement sites (including GTEM cells). This work forms the basis of-York’s contribution to a joint IEC/CISPR study on TEM cells.
The AEG is active in a number of areas related to the EMC of mobile telecommunications systems. In particular we were a leading partner in the recently completed LINK Personal Communication Programme project “EMC Aspects of Future Radio-Based Mobile Telecommunication Systems”. This major three study considered the fundamental and practical issues raised by the increasing use of mobile radio transmitters in the vicinity of other electronic equipment including wired IT networks. The report is available at http://emc2.ohm.york.ac.uk/reports/linkpcp/index.html. We have also contributed to the understanding of mobile radio EMC issues in sensitive environments, such as hospital intensive care units, where we have demonstrated that specific characteristics of a mobile system can have a large impact on the immunity of some equipment. Our expertise in this area recently resulted in an invitation to give a presentation at the 1999 TETRA Seminar of the TETRA Forum Norge on EMC and TETRA.
Representative work completed by York EMC Services Ltd in the Railway Environment
There follows a selection of EMC consultancy and testing work that has been carried out in the following relevant major project areas since 1996.
• Analysis of conductive interference measurements carried out on the LRVs in respect of Audio Frequency Track Circuits on main line from Midland Metro - std GS/ES 1914.
• EMC system testing carried out on the Midland Metro Line, UK, including whole vehicle testing of LRVs to ENV 50121-3-1 and testing of the sub-station to ENV 50121-5.
• Whole vehicle EMC testing to ENV 50121-3-1 of a Plasser and Theurer Track Maintenance Vehicle for UK based operator at the request of Railtrack.
Whole - vehicle emission measurement on a Plasser+Theurer track maintenance machine
• EMC consultancy and testing services for rail borne power and control electronics equipment. Competent Body for Class 57 locomotive TCF.
• EMC testing and consultancy for the Hong Kong Locomotive control electronics and GTO Gate drive unit amongst others.
• Competent Body for TCF assessment of wheel slip protection equipment used on the Central Line, London Underground.
• Several bespoke training courses of up to one week in duration provided specifically focusing on EMC in railway environments and the requirements of the ENV 50121 and the prEN 50121 series of standards.
• EMC consultancy for the Manchester Metro Link upgrade project.
• EMC testing of a range of public address systems for use in the railway environment including Turbo Star Audio Communication System a public emergency telephone system, slam door announcer, control system for the Midland Metro.
• EMC testing and consultancy services for high-speed DC breakers and control equipment for the jubilee Line Extension Project. Competent body for the associated TCF.
• Expert witness EMC consultancy for video system for use on the Channel Tunnel train.
• EMC testing of brake control unit for Australian SW 220.
• EMC testing and consultancy services for fluorescent lamp inverters for lighting applications for use in the railway industry.
• EMC consultancy services for Euston Remodelling project.
• EMC site assessment and consultancy services for Thameslink 2000 project.
• EMC consultancy services on the LUL Connect project.
• EMC consultancy services as part of the West Coast Route Modernisation (WCRM) Train Control System (TCS) Joint Project Team (JPT).
• Analysis of electromagnetic emissions from Auto Transformers as part of the WCRM.
• EMC consultancy and testing services for the Tilt Authority and Speed Supervision (TASS) project which is part of WCRM.
Customers
For confidentiality reasons a selection of major customers relevant to the projects listed above is listed separately:
ADtranz, Alstom Signalling, Ansaldo Trasporti SpA, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Brush Traction, BWI Dawson, Clifford Chance, Datel Technology, EBAC, Euston Alliance, Excil Electronics, Findlay Irvine, First Engineering, Fugro, Halcrow Transmark, ICI Tracerco, Interfleet Technology, Jarvis Fastline, Land Infrared, Loksafe, London Underground Ltd, Metro Cammel (GEC Alstom), Millbank, O&K Escalators, Park Air Electronics, Pepperl + Fuchs, Pickersgil-Kaye, Plasser & Theurer, Racal MESL, Railtrack, Robert Bosche, Sab Wabco Davis & Metcalfe, Shepherd Engineering, Symonds Construction Ltd, Thrall Europa, Transmitton, Vultron International, Westinghouse, Whipp & Bourne, Whitley Electronics, Woodbank Governors and WS Atkins Rail Ltd.
York EMC Services can be contacted on +44 (0)1904 434440, enquiry@yorkemc.co.uk or visit http://www.yorkemc.co.uk/
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