Shunting Locomotives Research Articles

Research of unit train loading technologies at the sidings of grain elevators with their shunting locomotives

The purpose of the study is to increase the unit train load efficiency at the elevators having their shunting locomotives. The research is based on the analysis of time series, methods of organizing the operational work of railways, and methods of traction calculations. The paper considers the problem of organizing shunting work at elevators when loading grain unit trains. Critical wear and tear of shunting locomotives in railway transport of general use necessitates using their locomotives at the elevators. As a result of the research, the dependence of the duration of shunting and cargo operations on the number of cars in the unit train and on other factors was established. Various types of shunting locomotives were compared. Based on the analysis, it was established that it is advisable to use four-axle shunting diesel locomotives with hydraulic transmission for shunting work at the elevators. The traction force of such locomotives is sufficient to deliver empty cars to the elevator at a speed of 14–15 km/h. Loaded cars can be removed at a speed of 14–15 km/h with a slope of the connecting track up to 2–5 ‰. With greater slopes, the removal of loaded cars should be performed at a speed of 5 km/h. The main factor affecting the duration of shunting operations is the distance of delivery and removal of cars. Technologies for loading the grain unit trains at the elevators, providing for the presence of cars at the loading stations for two and three days, have also been developed. The main factor affecting the duration of unit train loading is the staff of locomotive assembly teams. The originality of the study is in obtaining the dependence between the parameters of the technical support of the elevators and the duration of the presence of cars in the connecting station – elevator’s siding system. The practical value of the paper is that its results can be used in the design of the reconstruction of existing and construction of new elevators, as well as in the estimation of costs associated with various loading technologies of the unit trains for the corresponding sidings.

The Current Problems Related to the European Shunting Locomotives and the Possible Solutions

The current situation of the shunting locomotives in Europe compared to the whole railway sector is currently the most neglected section. Although these locomotives are necessary for helping the passenger and freight transport, this section is the least financed area in the section and that's why it needs a re-think. In this article we are going to show the current problems and some possible future solutions. The possible future of the hydrogen-powered vehicle is mentioned, as well as the introduction of the Digital Rail Coupling (DAC).

Analysis of operation modes of shunting diesel locomotives when performing shunting work

An overview of modern trends in updating shunting locomotives, which are based on the installation of on-board energy storage devices, multi-diesel propulsion power plants, and power plants operated on hydrogen energy sources, was carried out. The necessity to take into account the operating conditions of a shunting diesel locomotive when choosing an upgrade option is shown. The operation modes of shunting diesel locomotives during shunting operations at the Козятин-I freight station during three shifts were considered. By analyzing the data of the БІС-Р onboard system and processing the route sheets, the parameters of the operating modes were determined. Calculations of diesel engine power utilization indicators were performed, according to which it was determined that the full use of the installed diesel generator power is 7.5...8.4%, and the maximum diesel power recorded under the studied operating conditions is about 50%. The duration of work with traction loads is 49.5...68.8% of the shift time. The longest - 55...60% of the total duration of work under traction - are modes with a power of 0...50 kW. The duration of work without load is 18.1...36.9% of the duration of the shift. The shunting work performed is related to the formation and disassembly of trains, including the use of a sorting slide, as a result of which the traction power transmission operates with a low efficiency. In order to reduce the consumption of fuel and energy resources when performing shunting work, it is necessary to update the fleet of locomotives for shunting work, the characteristics of which are adapted to the operating modes. Key words: hybrid locomotive, modernization, shunting, energy efficiency, energy storage

Increasing the efficiency of using backline and private railway infrastructure in the conditions of the transportation market

Purpose. Improving the efficiency of interaction between enterprises that operate public and private railway infrastructure when performing cargo transportation and cargo operations. Methodology. The studies were carried out using the methods of the theory of railway operation and economic and mathematical modeling. Findings. The study found that the transition from a planned economy to a market economy along with increasing customer requirements for the composition and quality of transport services is an objective reason for an increase in carriage downtime at private sidings and junction stations, a shortage of track capacity and shunting locomotives. It is shown that the existing approaches to assessing the effectiveness of the interaction between train tracks of enterprises and mainline railways are aimed at improving the performance of the rolling stock and do not create incentives to solve the problem of the shortage of transfer and processing capacity of the railway infrastructure. Originality. The paper proposes an improved method for assessing the effectiveness of the interaction of participants in the transportation process when performing transportation and cargo operations on the private sidings of industrial enterprises, based on the time the infrastructure is occupied. This approach, unlike the existing one, encourages railways and industrial enterprises to jointly search for the best technological solutions for the use of public and private railway infrastructure. Practical value. The method proposed in the paper for assessing the interaction of participants in the transportation process makes it possible to separate station services in the tariff for the use of the railway infrastructure into separate services of service facilities and track access to them. This will create a competitive environment and encourage participants in the transportation process to use the existing railway infrastructure and develop a new one to obtain a synergistic effect more efficiently.

Improving use of shunting locomotives based on changes in infrastructure of railway station

It is known that one of the main factors reducing the shortage of shunting locomotives at railway stations and leading to a reduction in their employment time due to increased labor productivity is the state of equipment of the railway station infrastructure with SCB devices. This article presents a way to attract low-mobility shunting locomotives by reducing the duration of employment of shunting locomotives allocated for the daily amount of work performed at the station when equipping them with devices by changing the infrastructure of an electric decentralized railway station. A comparative analysis of the time spent by the shunting locomotive in motion during the day when performing each technological operation for the maintenance of cargo facilities, as well as the amount of time spent on additional actions, is carried out.

Remaining life of main frame and extension of service life of shunting Locomotives on railways of Republic of Uzbekistan

The article is devoted to topical issues of control and calculation of the residual life of the main frame of shunting diesel locomotives operated on the railway of Uzbekistan. The article presents mathematical methods for calculating the residual life of locomotives. Also, it substantiates the expediency of extending the service life of shunting locomotives at the earliest stage of their development. The results were obtained with the help of the Solid works software environment, which allows you to analyze the calculations and identify the forces acting on the main frame of the locomotives. In addition, the 3-D model of the main frame was analyzed with effort. An analysis of the locomotive fleet of Uzbekistan Temir Yo'llari JSC was carried out; based on the fleet data, a detailed analysis of shunting locomotives was carried out. Methods for predicting the main frame's residual life and extending the shunting locomotives' service life have been studied.

Method of Selecting Energy-Efficient Parameters of an Electric Asynchronous Traction Motor for Diesel Shunting Locomotives—Case Study on the Example of a Locomotive Series ChME3 (ЧMЭ3, ČME3, ČKD S200)

One of the assumptions made during the modernization process of diesel shunting locomotives is the replacement of a diesel traction motor with a DC generator with an electric asynchronous traction motor. The article aimed to develop a method of selecting energy-efficient parameters of an asynchronous electric traction motor for diesel shunting locomotives, which will ensure that its operating energy efficiency will be as high as possible. The method was verified on the example of a locomotive series ChME3 (ЧMЭ3, ČME3, ČKD S200). It has been found that using a traction asynchronous electric drive on a ChME3 locomotive, its efficiency increases in comparison with DC electric motors by 3–5% under the long-term operation modes and by 7–10% during locomotive operation with traction at the adhesion limit. Using a new traction gearbox with a higher gear ratio expands the speed range in which the asynchronous traction drive operates with a high-efficiency factor. It is effective to use a traction asynchronous electric drive to modernize ChME3 diesel locomotives in case of their use under the modes requiring the implementation of maximum traction forces at low speeds. A further increase in the efficiency of the traction asynchronous electric drive is possible based on the optimal design of the wheel-motor unit and the asynchronous traction electric drive.

Преобразователь для запуска двигатель-генераторных установок автономных локомотивов

Objective: To confirm the possibility of using a starting converter to spin up the shaft of the motorgenerator set to a speed that ensures stable combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the motor cylinders (starting), as well as of using semiconductor converters based on modern IGBT modules for starting promising motor-generator sets of mainline and shunting locomotives. Methods: The properties, characteristics, and operating modes of starting converters were studied on test benches. Results: The downsides of the currently most commonly used starter-generator circuit for engine starting have been identified. A technical solution has been developed to replace the startergenerator circuit with an inverter starting system using a starting converter for starting the locomotive motor-generator. The device structure has been designed. The basic algorithms of the automatic control system of the starting converter have been implemented. Bench tests of a starting converter prototype have been carried out. Practical importance: The developed technical solution in terms of replacing the starter-generator circuit with an inverter starting system for starting the motorgenerator set of autonomous locomotives makes it possible to increase their reliability by removing the electromechanical drive and replacing a number of engine drive auxiliary camshaft mechanisms (group 69). The inverter starting system will reduce the maintenance and scheduled repair costs, decrease the labor input, and optimize the time-schedule of locomotives. The proposed algorithms for starting the motor-generator set enable increasing the battery life by limiting its starting current, as well as improving the fault tolerance of a locomotive due to the possibility of starting the motorgenerator set at a low battery voltage (lower limit of 45 V).

An Integrated Methodology for the Multi-Objective Optimization of Port Railway Capacity: The Case Study of the Port of Trieste

The relevant pressure exerted on ports following the advent of globalization and containerization has contributed to transform the role of such intermodal transport facilities, increasing their complexity with reference to both performed activities and involved actors. The potential of solid hinterland connections in enhancing port competitiveness has sustained the larger embracement of the railway mode, which has proved to be a financially and environmentally sustainable solution, especially on long hauls. However, the limited residual capacity currently characterizing several railway network and nodes may threaten the accommodation of additional future traffic volumes and, thus, it requires the adoption of a coordinated strategy to more efficiently manage existing railway infrastructures, other than the realization of some new ones. In this regard, an integrated methodology has been developed to specifically model, simulate and optimize port railway processes, as part of a more complex system, imposing the maximization of capacity with the concurrent minimization of used shunting locomotives, to varying of infrastructural and operational conditions. This combination of techniques has been applied to the case study of the Port of Trieste, Italy, showing the greater influence of tracks availability over changes in the operational conditions, in terms of a shorter duration of specific administrative tasks and the employment of more shunting locomotives.

Determining the parameters of a shunting locomotive taking into account the environmental component

The article considers the issues of determining the main technical and economic indicators of the shunting locomotive during its modernization by a hybrid power plant. The analysis of scientific and practical works on the impact of railway transport on the environment and increase the efficiency of shunting locomotives due to design changes, which are aimed at reducing emissions. A model has been developed to determine the rational ecological and energy characteristics of a shunting locomotive, which has been modernized by technical means for energy saving taking into account the ecological component. A procedure, algorithm and program for calculating locomotive parameters have been developed. The main parameters of the shunting locomotive of the ChME3 type at modernization by its hybrid power plant taking into account an ecological component are defined and the estimation of expediency of such modernization is given.

ВЫБОР ТИПА ГАЗОПОРШНЕВЫХ УСТАНОВОК ДЛЯ ТЕПЛО- И ГАЗОСНАБЖЕНИЯ В РОССИИ

In various sectors of the economy, including district heating systems in cities and settlements, steam turbine and gas turbine thermal power plants are mainly used. Their operation is based on cogeneration, which is the conversion of chemical fuel energy into electrical and thermal energy. At the same time, a significant part of the heat supply sources are still represented by heating boilers, which consume electricity for their own needs. In the gas industry, diesel engines are used as the drive for gas pumping plants. One of the factors hindering the organization of combined production of electric and thermal energy in heating boilers is the lack of production in Russia of gas-piston power plants with a capacity of more than 500 kW. The use of imported equipment for these purposes is usually not economically and technologically justified. According to the order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia dated 16.04.2019 No. 1327, the share of imports of gas piston and gas turbine units is planned to be reduced from 70% in 1918 to 25% in 2024. One of the promising directions of creating gas piston installations in Russia is justified: reproduction on a modern technological basis of two-stroke engines produced in the USSR of GD100 series gas piston engines that are still working at a number of facilities. The Russian government is considering converting mainline and shunting locomotives of railway transport to gas-powered fuel. One of the ways of increasing the efficiency of two-stroke engines is shown-in-cylinder mixing of gas with air with pre-chamber-flare spark ignition.

The effect of using an energy accumulator on the level of emissions of pollutant substances by a shunting locomotive

Shunting locomotives at railroad stations account for most emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. A significant share of these emissions depends on the position of the driver's controller that is used to operate a diesel locomotive, as each position of the controller corresponds to a specific rotation frequency and power of the diesel engine. We have investigated the influence of application of the energy accumulator within a power circuit of a shunting locomotive on the level of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere when it performs different shunting operations. The relation has been established between the levels of pollutant emission into the atmosphere and the types of shunting operations performed. We have obtained statistical data regarding the time of a diesel locomotive shunting operation at each position of the driver's controller when performing different types of shunting work. That makes it possible to optimally select the parameters of an energy accumulator for a shunting locomotive, which can meet both the technical and environmental requirements. It was established, based on the results from the current study, that using the energy accumulator within a power circuit of a shunting diesel locomotive reduces the amount of emissions of carbon oxide CO, nitric oxide NO х , sulfur dioxide SO 2 , soot and hydrocarbons, into the atmosphere by 20...30 % depending on the type of performed shunting operations and the capacity of the energy accumulator applied. Bringing down the level of specified emissions would make it possible to improve environmental conditions at a station

Issues of emission evaluation of road-rail vehicles in the aspect of current type approval regulations

One of the ways to reduce exhaust emissions from vehicles is to replace worn-out shunting locomotives with road-rail tractors. The main purpose of this solution is to reduce the negative environmental impact of the vehicle and to reduce the fuel consumption compared to a shunting locomotive performing the same work. The tests on exhaust emissions of rail vehicles are carried out on an engine test bench, making it impossible to determine the environmental performance of these vehicles during real operation. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out measurements in real operating conditions in order to obtain reliable reference results. This enables the verification of vehicles ecological indicators in a wide range of operational work parameters. It is possible to obtain reliable results regarding the impact of the tested vehicle on the natural environment in this way and compare them with the applicable emission standards.

The choice of the strategy of technical operation of modernized shunting locomotives

The choice of the strategy of technical operation of modernized shunting locomotives

Organization of railway freight short-haul transportation on the basis of logistic approaches

For railway short-haul transportation to become a viable alternative to road transport and to compete with them, it is proposed to use trains such as CargoSprinter. The use of this type of autonomous rolling stock in the course of short-haul transportation offers the following advantages: it provides high mobility and high speed of delivery of cargoes due to a decrease in dependence on the schedule of trains while reducing the dependence on weather conditions, traffic congestion, as compared with road transport, disappears the need to use shunting locomotives, it is possible to support production logistics chains, which include local production enterprises based on the organization of transportation using logistics schemes such as D2D (door to door delivery) and JIT (just in time delivery). The mathematical model of organization of short-haul railway transportation based on the use of CargoSprinter trains is proposed. The original method of model optimization based on the use of the mathematical apparatus of genetic algorithms is proposed. The developed software allows to obtain a solution in the form of an operational plan, which provides synchronization of the process of transportation for the railway network subsystem, which has a complex topology.

Investigation and analysis of accumulators for the use of electrochemical storage in hybrid shunting locomotives

This paper evaluates storage batteries with respect to usage in hybrid shunting locomotives. Topics are the status quo of existing technologies as well as future electrochemical storage technologies. A target system is used to evaluate the technologies. Furthermore, relevant battery characteristics for the usage in hybrid shunting locomotives have been identified. The necessary data have been retrieved from current literature (document analysis) and by a survey made with scientific and industrial experts. The results of the study show, that batteries of the lithium-ion-technology with a lithium-titanate anode and a lithium-iron-phosphate cathode are currently the most suitable batteries for the use in hybrid shunting locomotives. Promising future technologies are under investigation, but these technologies are several years away from their market entry.

Tracking and Positioning System of Zigbee Shunting Locomotive Based on Geography Information of Stations

In order to solve the problem of inaccurate positioning of shunting locomotives by the shunting subsystem of the marshalling yard, this paper proposed a Zigbee shunting locomotive tracking and positioning system based on geographical information of station yards. The system adopted a modular design. The hardware of the lower computer included a coordinator node, a fixed node (routing node) and a vehicle-mounted collector node. This paper used BP (Back Propagation) neural network to fit the nonlinear function of RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) to transmission distance. The research shows that the positioning system proposed in the paper can control the positioning error within 2m. Combined with the geographical information of the station site, the locomotive running position can be displayed on the map of the station yard. It can be a more complete solution to practical problems and has a certain practical value in the field.

Повышение топливной экономичности маневрового тепловоза при применении электронной системы управления впрыском топлива

When creating a new rolling stock or during its modernization it is important preliminarily to properly assess its operational efficiency, depending on the technical improvements. Changing the way of energy supply of traction is very important - for example, hybrid engines or two/three power units is used instead of one. The article proposes a new approach to the problem of assessing the effectiveness of operational work of shunting locomotives. Shunting operation is represented as the sum of random single modes, in which the processes in the power plant can be modeled with any degree of accuracy. Summation of performance indicators in individual modes according to the characteristics of random processes allows obtaining an overall assessment of technical and economic indicators of the locomotive in operation. The paper shows results of comparative assessment of the fuel economy of a diesel locomotive ChME3 in operating set of equipment and with installed electronic fuel injection control system (ESUVT. 02), obtained by modeling the working processes of the power plant and auxiliary equipment shunting locomotives in operation modes. Executed calculations show that in the operation of diesel locomotive ChME3 equipped with ESUVT. 02 system saves up to 10.2 % of fuel, particularly by reducing fuel consumption at idle. Application of a new methodology for assessing technical and economic indicators of locomotives in operation allows, in addition to fuel consumption, evaluating a number of other indicators.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Damage Causes of Rail Traction Vehicles

This paper presents the results of the investigation of the causes of the occurrence and the influence of the dynamic effects in the couplers of the remotely controlled electric shunting locomotives and a set of fully loaded rail cars. These are typical rail-road sets, working at the logistic area of the central ore trans-shipment of large steelworks with heavy rail traffic. The stated effects lead to excessive deterioration of the supporting structure of the locomotives, axle gripping, drive mechanisms and braking systems. To achieve the desired goal, the methods and means of numerical and experimental modelling have been used. Based on the performed numerical and experimental analyses were then specified the recommended design and operational measures to prevent the failures mentioned above.

New electrical and climate control equipment for railroad transport

The extended work of specialists at MK Energosberezhenie (MKE) has resulted in so-called “hybrid” air conditioners with integrated converters, new power supply systems for cars with drastically improved performance, and new-generation traction rectifiers for the main types of locomotives in Russia and Ukraine. New solutions for hybrid shunting locomotives have been proposed. Most of the developments are being produced on a mass scale and have been implemented on the Russian and the Ukrainian railroads.