Most locomotives have pressurized carbodies, the U25B being among the first. What is that and what are the advantages of having a pressurized carbody?
It basically means what it sounds like, the long hood is kept under pressure. It keeps dirt out.
So the long hood is air tight? What if one of the engine doors is opened... is there a sudden reduction in pressure?
The whole long hood? I would have thought it would be the electrical cabinet. Keep dirt and moisture out.
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Ulrich So the long hood is air tight? What if one of the engine doors is opened... is there a sudden reduction in pressure?
I don't think I'd go that far - it's not like the carbody is a pressure vessel - it's just at a higher pressure than outside, which, as mentioned, serves to keep dirt out.
It's not like you'll get blown off the walkway when you unlatch a door.
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Here's a snip from an article about the U25B.
"a pressurized car body and a centralized air processing system that provided filtered air to the engine and electrical cabinet, thus reducing maintenance."
Now, knowing what I do about aircraft pressurization, I would think about 2 in. hg. or 1 PSI would be adequate to keep dirt, rain, snow,etc out. At that level of pressure one could open doors without problems. It would likely be bleed air from the turbocharger or could be an independent system.
Norm
Heck, an inch of water (less than 0.05 PSI) should be adequate for keeping the bad stuff out.
Norm48327 Here's a snip from an article about the U25B. "a pressurized car body and a centralized air processing system that provided filtered air to the engine and electrical cabinet, thus reducing maintenance." Now, knowing what I do about aircraft pressurization, I would think about 2 in. hg. or 1 PSI would be adequate to keep dirt, rain, snow,etc out. At that level of pressure one could open doors without problems. It would likely be bleed air from the turbocharger or could be an independent system.
Maybe they could use the same technique to keep buildings clean... raise the pressure inside by a couple of PSI. And then the people who work in them could truly say they work in a high pressure environment. Or raise the psi in your home and no more dusting!
erikem Heck, an inch of water (less than 0.05 PSI) should be adequate for keeping the bad stuff out.
And,that's what it is...probably even less.
They just blow cyclonically cleaned air into the carbody so it can flow out through the myriad of gaps at all those carbody doors. You can't feel it at all when you open and close the carbody doors.
It's the exact opposite of what they did before - having the engine intake air being sucked into the carbody through louvers on the doors. A lot of dirt took the easy way around those carbody fiberglass filters behind the louvers.
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UlrichOr raise the psi in your home and no more dusting!
I've heard of pulling some portion of the cold air intake to one's furnace from outside, and pretty much to help keep the wind from blowing in through the tiny openings that most homes have plenty of.
Of course, that means just that much more energy to heat the outside air instead of warming up the inside air that's already close to the desired temperature.
It's also a way to keep a certain amount of fresher air in really "tight" houses.
Ulrich Norm48327 Here's a snip from an article about the U25B. "a pressurized car body and a centralized air processing system that provided filtered air to the engine and electrical cabinet, thus reducing maintenance." Now, knowing what I do about aircraft pressurization, I would think about 2 in. hg. or 1 PSI would be adequate to keep dirt, rain, snow,etc out. At that level of pressure one could open doors without problems. It would likely be bleed air from the turbocharger or could be an independent system. Maybe they could use the same technique to keep buildings clean... raise the pressure inside by a couple of PSI. And then the people who work in them could truly say they work in a high pressure environment. Or raise the psi in your home and no more dusting!
This is actually used quite a fair bit, as far as I know. I don't have too much experience, but I know many buildings have pressure differentials within themselves as well, such as a higher pressure inside stairwells to keep smoke on a floor in case of a fire.
Now steam engines, there's a pressurized locomotive!
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