Exploration of key traction-running equipment and its problems on heavy-haul trains and research on technology development

In recent years, heavy-haul train technology has seen a number of innovations worldwide, and train traction-running technology has also made great progress, resulting in a rich pool of experience and a range of promising applications. This paper summarizes the key technologies of traction running in heavy-haul combined trains, especially locomotive and rolling-stock technology, traction technology, braking technology, control technology, communication technology and safety technology. At the same time, based on an analysis of practical applications, this paper further explores the main problems and urgent needs of traction equipment on heavy-haul trains. With an eye to the future, the heavy-haul railway system will develop in the direction of informatization, automation and intelligence, in order to build a greener, more energy-saving, safer and more efficient railway. This paper therefore looks forward to the technical developments of heavy-haul combined trains, and provides a reference for the development of heavy-haul railways.

Investigation of Operational Efficiency using Stochastic Models for Electric propulsion in Ships

In various models of vehicle drive trains, issues such as improving electric propulsion reliability, environmental performance, and economic efficiency has been enabled by the recent developments in electric power engineering in terms of materials, equipment and technologies. The increasing requirements in ecological parameters, efficiency for fault tolerance and reliability, accurate selection of design features and type of electric propulsion drive as well as the limitations on the traction equipment weight and installation space are the important parameters for execution of the system approach. The automobile electric propulsion systems consisting of one or more traction motors and few generating elements and their operational efficiency are analysed by means of stochastic models. Aircrafts, hybrid cars, diesel-electric locomotives, arctic cargo ships and icebreakers are ideal platforms for implementation of the propulsion system. The load modes of traction electric motors, operational fuel consumption, energy output of thermal engines and several other probabilistic characters of operational processes and random factors that influence the simulation result accuracy cannot be evaluated using the deterministic approach.

Integrative management of infrastructure and traction equipment at the railway area

Railway transport is in condition of preparation for fulfillment of the forecast increase of transportation. The level of effectiveness and quality of the railways operation is assessed by the period of delivery to the point of destination of required volume of transported freight, which growth increases intensity of infrastructure wear and tear, which requires breaks in trains movement for providing “gaps” for the track repair operations and inevitably results in the delivery time increase.The use of the best speed path of trains is an important component of ensuring energy effectiveness. Transition to the ground process of trains’ movement control allows JSC “RZD” to arrange rhythmic movement of the car traffic movement providing “gaps” in the single opening for the entire ground.Conducted SWOT-analysis determined the risks and potential results of use of the single infrastructure of the railway area in terms of possible additional expenses in the future. Control mechanism of operation costs was proposed, which allows analyzing actual direct expenses and comparing deviations with regard to the set values. Overall algorithm of the model of integrative control of infrastructure and traction resources was formalized, which is illustrated by the example of participants of transportation process at the railway area. The basis of their interaction is the results of integral assessment that generalized various quantity of indicators and assessment factors of transportation process.Mathematical support of procedures of establishing the cost price is implemented in the Intellectual system of control and handling of the locomotive fleet at the area of the railway production infrastructure. Obtained results are integrated in the Automated control system of operation of the single center of infrastructure control and are set for transformation, effective use of the industrial companies potential.Key trends of the geo-economic condition having direct relation to the transportation and logistic operation in Russia determine necessity of effective management of traction resources by means of arrangement of the uniform process of transportation operation of JSC “RZD”, which results in the best use of transportation infrastructure, balanced increase of the volumes of loading and attraction of investments to the railways.

Improving the theory for calculating the rational modes of traction electrical equipment

Research shows that the existing theory and methods for calculating rational operating modes of traction electrical equipment do not provide a sufficient level of adequacy under real operating conditions of urban electric transport, which is due to the high complexity of the processes and the lack of a sufficiently developed methodology for their interpretation in industry theory. The purpose of the study was researching the process of electric traction as a result of transformation electrical energy in purposeful mechanical movement of electric rolling stock with the implementation of all technological conditions of production and technical system of urban electric transport. The scientific hypothesis that the modes of operation of electric traction equipment as part of an automated electric drive of the rolling stock of urban electric transport are formed under the influence of a complexly organized technological process of electric traction and are the topological basis of its structure is theoretically substantiated. The main result of the research is the formulated theoretical system which allows us to present the process of electric traction as a system consisting of five levels that are in hierarchical relations and solve each specific problem of building the movement of electric transport. Such an approach will contribute to the development of theory and methods for calculating rational operating modes of traction electrical equipment of urban electric transport, the improvement of the energy efficiency of which is the actual scientific problem.

Lean implementation for rail substation processes

Purpose Traction substations are an integral part of the railway infrastructure. In order to ensure that machinery and equipment is available and utilised at full capacity, intelligent maintenance methods should be implemented. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of lean maintenance strategies implemented on traction substations and offer the maintenance manager an alternative maintenance method to be utilised during optimisation initiatives. Design/methodology/approach The rail company under consideration has various improvement options, the maintenance supply chain is a priority. The existing maintenance process of 3 kVDC traction substations is examined and all operations and activities directly and indirectly associated with maintenance are analysed with lean methodologies. The analysis of maintenance operations and activities reveals that some of these operations and activities are non-value-adding and, therefore, regarded as waste. These activities only prolong the maintenance process without adding value to the process. Alternative operations and activities are suggested and simulated. Findings The application of lean indicates that the maintenance process could be optimised to deliver on a more efficient process, which would improve the quality of maintenance by ensuring that maintenance is timeously carried out. Through reducing the downtime caused by maintenance, the availability of the system is preserved and the railway lines could be used to capacity. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to 3 kVDC traction substations and the associated maintenance process, as this was the area of opportunity for the company. The track and overhead traction equipment maintenance is not included. Practical implications The practical application of this research is in optimisation of the value chain for maintenance, specifically in the rail industry. Originality/value This research could be applied by maintenance managers to effectively implement if a run-to-failure (RTF) maintenance philosophy is being utilised. The research offers maintenance techniques within the RTF maintenance scope which reduces the maintenance cycle and equipment downtime.