Thermotechnical Foundations for Creation of Fireless Locomotives Run on Stored Steam

The article deals with the problems of creating and using of locomotives run on stored thermal resources (steam) and intended for industrial enteerprises. The objectives of their development and introduction are still relevant and consist in implementation of economical and environmentally friendly locomotives for nonpublic access roads.

Shunting operations are considered as an independent type of enterprises’ activity that is not related to their main activity. The locomotives of transport workshops used today for this purpose consume diesel fuel, which significantly increases the logistics cost of goods and reduces the final profit.

The article considers one of the possible ways to make the thermal energy (steam) traditionally utilised for technological purposes, to perform other work, which from an energy-economic point of view will be done free of charge, since the cost of energy generation is already covered by the cost of products.

For internal and access roads of enterprises, a version of a fireless locomotive with a traction force of 90 kN (9 t) has been developed. This machine does not need fuel but uses process  am obtained from stationary boilers of enterprises and accumulated in a high-pressure tank with thermal insulation.

The locomotive was created based on the 9P type 0-3-0 tank locomotive, which was common before. The boiler with a furnace was replaced by a steam storage boiler, which is a closed cylindrical tank with a high degree of thermal insulation.

The estimated time of operation of the machine on a single charge is 6–8 hours. The maximum estimated mass of the train on a straight section of the track at a speed of 30 km/h and a traction force of 83 kN•t is 3000 tons.

The use of this type of locomotive makes it possible to save diesel fuel in the amount of 0,75–1,0 t/day, reduce repair costs by 90 % compared to a diesel locomotive, reduce the cost of maintenance personnel, get the opportunity to use it in enterprises requiring increased explosive and fire safety.

An example of calculating the use of six locomotives at an oil refinery is given, which will give an annual saving of 1444 tons of diesel fuel, with a payback period of the locomotive itself of 3,2 years.

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