2006-09-25 06:30:29 · 13 answers · asked by kl 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Rail
It depends on the class of locomotive as to which "prime movers" (diesel engines) are used for principal power.
There are yard switchers, road switchers and heavy freight locomotives and the diesel engine is different in each according to class, manufacturer and when built.
You can expect to find anywhere between 12 and 20 cylinder diesel prime movers, with rack fuel injection and usually with roots blowers, turbo-chargers or a hybrid that combines both of the principles.
The cylinders are quite large, but no where near enough to allow some one to get inside one. If memory serves, the EMD 645 prime movers utilize 45 degree V arrangement, with a bore of 12 inches (I think) with a stroke of 15 inches. (Dirtydog should weigh in on this as his knowledge is greater than mine in this area.) The diesels to be found are both two stroke and four stroke, depending on the manufacturer, EMD supplying the two stroke while GE incorporates the four stroke.
They both utilize a "scavenging" type internal lubricating system and are water cooled.
Most locomotives on US freight railroads are diesel-electric, but there was some experimentation with diesel-hydraulics that failed to meet the demands of tonnage and grades. Manufactured in the early sixties by Kraus Maffei, the drive shafts broke on a regular basis and their tenure was very short lived. Diesel-hydraulics are in use elsewhere in the world, as well as steam.
There was also a time of brief flirtation with turbine powered locomotives. To my knowledge, the UP was the only railroad to give these beasts a try. Too loud and too expensive to maintain, they joined the Kraus Maffeis under the scrappers cutting torch.
The prime mover supplies mechanical power for the main alternator, companion alternator and auxilliary generator. The main alternator supplies electriciry for the traction motors, which are axel hung and connected to the drivers via a pinion and ring gear arrangement (most commonly geared 62:15), the companion alternator provides excitation for the main alternator as well as running cooling fans and the auxilliary generator handles low voltage needs, such as lights, electronics and battery charging.
In addition, the prime mover provides mechanical power to run a two stage, three cylinder high output air compressor (I don't remember the cfm, but it is a bunch!).
Good question!
2006-09-25 10:35:32 · answer #1 · answered by Samurai Hoghead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Diesel-electric locomotives are driven by electric motors mounted on the locomotive trucks. The motors are powered by a generator which is driven by a diesel engine, known as the prime mover.
Of the two U.S. diesel-electric locomotive manufacturers you have EMD owned by Greenbriar Financial (formerly owned by General Motors) and GE.
EMD produces two diesel engines. The 645 (645 cu. in./cylinder) and the 710 (710 cu. in./cylinder). The 645 is a 2-cycle 9-1/16" bore x 10" stroke and comes either in roots-blown or clutch-driven turbocharged configuration. The 710 is also a 2-cycle with a 9-1/16" bore x 11" stroke and comes only in clutch-driven turbocharged configuration. EMD has been trying to develop a 4-cycle 6000 horsepower prime mover to meet future EPA requirements for exhaust and fuel-efficiency. To date they have not been successful.
GE produces two diesel engines as well. The FDL and the HDL (found in the 6000 and EVO series locomotives). The FDL has a 8-15/16" bore x 10-1/2" stroke. The HDL has 9-27/32" bore x 12-1/2" stroke. Both engines are 4-cycle turbocharged prime movers. The HDL in the EVO series locomotive currently exceeds the EPA mandates for exhaust emission and fuel-efficency.
2006-09-26 06:56:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Two types of electric motor are used in trains: DC and AC. The DC (direct current) type can be supplied with DC current via varying resistances or by thyristors to vary the voltage.
The AC types are normally three phase. DC current would be fed into an inverter which supplies the motor with three phase current at varying frequencies.
2006-09-25 22:59:32 · answer #3 · answered by gfminis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have two kinds electric and diesel electric one has one souce of power which draws the power from either a overhead wire or third rail the other is a diesel engine that runs a generator that powers a electric motor that is connected to a gear on the wheel
2006-09-25 07:54:53 · answer #4 · answered by accomacgeo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Railroad engines are diesel electric powered. The engine powers a generator that powers an electric powered motor that drives the wheels. The diesel engine may well be v 8, v 12, or v sixteen. they are in fact the comparable diesel engines that are in trucks yet lots extra desirable.
2016-10-01 08:37:22 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Final drive is almost always electric, as has been said diesel engine running a generator to power an electric motor.
Some run driectly from electricity, overhead power lines or third rail.
The reason being that it is easier to build an electric equivalent to a gear box than it is to build a mechanical one with sufficient gears, also the diesel engine can be kept running at its optimum speed.
2006-09-25 06:41:47 · answer #6 · answered by a tao 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US it's diesel electrics, that's big diesel motor powering a big generator that powers electric motors.
2006-09-25 06:53:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big generators power a diesel motor
2006-09-25 06:33:22 · answer #8 · answered by Al Bundy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Al Bundy got it backwards. Diesel engines power up an electric generator. They´re called Diesel-Electric.
2006-09-25 06:36:31 · answer #9 · answered by camp1971 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great big diesel motor.
2006-09-25 06:34:48 · answer #10 · answered by jonny666_law33 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋