Manusa, a world leader in automatic door systems has installed PSD doors at San Nicasio’s Station – Line 12 of the Madrid underground.

Manusa is one of four companies selected to test the viability of the PSD doors at some of the city’s underground network station, with a view to possible future installation at other stations to improve the safety of the users. At present, MANUSA has satisfactorily finished the installation and validation of the system, awaiting the beginning of the real-life tests, when the other choose company also finish the installation and validation of their systems.

The Platform Protection Doors are basically a glass screen consisting of automatic safety sliding and swing doors, the final aim of physically separating the platform from the tracks. The automatic doors positioning coincides exactly with the doors of the train’s coaches, and only open to let the passengers out and in when the train comes to a complete standstill at the station. Once the platform passengers are aboard the train does the train depart the station without any kind of risk to the underground users.

The main function of the PSD doors is to increase the safety of the users. With their installation they can avoid people and objects falling onto the tracks; they also allow the total use of the platform surface and also eliminates the rush and push effect when the train enters and departs the station.

On the other hand, the PSD can suppose an important saving in air conditioning due to the separation of the tracks from the platform areas and also, with regard to the management of the train network, it allows to increase the frequency of train as they can travel at higher speeds when entering or exiting a station. Additionally, they help to improve the punctuality of the train service thanks to a fast passenger loading through the PSD doors.

To be more concise, and after studying the requirements of the project, they would require 12 double leaf Manusa PSD doors, 31 swing doors with anti-panic bar, which also enjoy an automatic return system, with strength regulator to guarantee the closure one the doors have been opened, as well as an access door with lock, to reach the tunnel area.

During the installation of the Manusa PSD doors, the normal functioning of the line was priority. The installation was carried out during the night schedule, and the first PSD were placed along 56 meters of the second half of the platform. This way the train can stop in current service mode for the first half of the platform, and later, once the system was up and running, the halting of the train would be modified to enable the doors of the train to coincide with the PSD doors.

The PSD doors installed at San Nicasio offer one of the highest safety levels within the market. They reach level 3 of safety integrity (SIL3), very close to the safety levels reach by the current underground system that use driverless train, which reach level 4 (SIL 4).

To ensure the correct functioning of the system as a whole ((coordination of train traffic of trains and opening and closing of the PSD doors), a safety PLC constantly controls the signals that come from the train and the locking of the PSD doors. Hereby, the train generates opening and closing signals of the PSD doors, but until the totality of the PSD doors are not shut and locked, these do not authorize the departure of the train.

The doors allow a total regulation of the kinetic energy of the sliding leaves, with an independent control for speed and strength and security system in case of detection of any obstacle which obstructs correct functioning of PSD. The system also accepts local or remote control and is adapted to industrial communication systems and intelligent environments.

On the other hand, the control system enjoy a graphic help panel on the platform which enables the visualization of any specific anomaly and which can be forwarded to any maintenance management centre. This facilitates a rapid response and intervention thanks to the previous knowledge of the problem.

With regard to the operation of each of the automatic doors that are part of the PSD, we must underscore that the mechanism that operates the door is specially designed for railway installations. They are strong, robust, low maintenance and comply with the IEC61508 legislation about the different levels of safety. The engines that drag the door leaves do not require any kind of maintenance as they are asynchronous three phase without brushes, which are most susceptible to wear.

From a mechanical aspect, every leaf (sliding or swing doors) has its own manual opening from the rail track side in case of automatic failure and from the platform side for maintenance operations.. All the elements are accessible from the platform to facilitate rapid interventions in case of breakdown, without need to stop the train traffic on the line. In addition, in case of failure of electrical supply, an uninterrupted supply system (SAI) guarantees the correct functioning of the PSD doors, for a period of just over one hour.

With more than 40 years experience and over 15.000 doors installed annually all over the world, Manusa, has developed its own highly trustworthy and proven technology that also applies to their PSD doors, already installed in various underground networks, such as the Barcelona Metro. Manusa is the only company selected with 100% domestic technology and manufacturing.