Improving the operational efficiency of diesel locomotives by normalizing the power plant capacity

Abstract

The power plant capacity of a diesel locomotive is one of the main factors determining its operational efficiency. As shown by the analysis of data from diagnostic subsystems of 27 sections of 2TE116U series diesel locomotives and 17 TEP70BS series diesel locomotives, up to 80 % of locomotives are operated with a power plant capacity reduced by 5...25 %, which leads to an increase of 2...5 % in fuel consumption for traction operation of the locomotive. As a result of the analysis of the diesel parameter values, it was found that the main reason for the decrease in power is a violation of the adjustment of the lever gear of the fuel pump rack drive under normal technical condition of the fuel equipment and the diesel air supply system. In this case, the normal power level of the power plant can be restored by a microprocessor control system for correcting the setpoint of the position of the power shaft of the actuator of the electronic diesel regulator with simultaneous control of the exhaust gas temperature across the cylinders. It is shown that an additional reduction in fuel consumption for train traction can be achieved by equalizing the loads on the diesel cylinders.