Gen set switchers

[fredswain]

What typically breaks down on them? Is it usually an easy fix? Not that I'm trying to justify it of course.

[joesap1]

we run both the three engine and all battery powered gen-sets at the Mira Loma UP Auto Facility and neither one can go a 12 hour shift without breaking down.

[espeefoamer]

How is the acceleration on the gen set units? Are they any goood at "kicking" cars?

[locoi1sa]

 Thanks.

 The gen sets are put on line as needed. Is there a lag or waiting period for this to happen? I dont imagine the diesel engines will last that long with cold start and full rack on demand?

 The Green goat technology has been around for at least 30 years. My high school shop designed and built a batery/ electric van with a small deisel generator to charge them.

    Pete

[carnej1]

locoi1sa

  Hello 

 I was wondering about the gen set switchers. I understand they use 2 or 3 separate generator sets in each locomotive but only use what is required for the job at hand. Who or what determines how many gen sets are running? Are they actually battery operated and the generators are for charging? When full power is needed is there a time lag for another engine to start and throttle up? Its an interesting concept for a locomotive. Perhaps if it works out in the yards we will see some on the roads.

    Thanks

        Pete

 There are some differences between the Genset units and the hybrid Green Goat units. The Hybrids use a single diesel/alternator set to recharge the batteries which are the main source of current for the traction motors. With the 2-4 engine genset locomotives the computer system turns engines on and off as more power is needed and the alternators feed a common power bus that drives the traction motors.

 However both Railpower and Brookville are offering multi -engine genset units with battery energy storage systems although IINM neither builder has sold one in that configuration yet....

[al-in-chgo]

This is from getransportation dot com: 

Genset switcher. UP is pioneering the new low-emission Genset switch locomotive for use in rail

yards. The locomotive uses modified, Tier 3 certified off-road diesel engines and is expected to

reduce NOx and particulate matter emissions by as much as 80 to 90 percent while achieving a

16 percent reduction in fuel consumption. The railroad began testing a prototype of the Genset in

Long Beach in 2006; the first production unit was delivered to the Los Angeles Basin rail yards in

January 2007; UP expects to have more than 160 Gensets in operation by the end of 2007.

 

The link is  http://www.getransportation.com/na/en/docs/919534_Green_Locomotive_Technology02-09-07.pdf 

Happy research!   -  al 

 

[locoi1sa]

  Hello 

 I was wondering about the gen set switchers. I understand they use 2 or 3 separate generator sets in each locomotive but only use what is required for the job at hand. Who or what determines how many gen sets are running? Are they actually battery operated and the generators are for charging? When full power is needed is there a time lag for another engine to start and throttle up? Its an interesting concept for a locomotive. Perhaps if it works out in the yards we will see some on the roads.

    Thanks

        Pete