Detailed Table of Contents
Diesel-Electric Locomotives
How They Work, Use Energy, and Can Become More Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable
Foreword – Bryan Schlake
Preface – Why Energy?
Acknowledgements
1. Introducing the Diesel-Electric Locomotive
• 1.1 Diesel Engine + Electric Transmission
• 1.2 The Advantages of Diesel-Electric Locomotives
• 1.3 Critical Energy Systems for Diesel-Electric Locomotives
Diesel Engine
Electric Transmission
Sidebar: Understanding Force, Energy, Power, and Velocity
• 1.4 Performance Criteria for Diesel-Electric Locomotives
• 1.5 Today’s Diesel-Electric Locomotive Fleet
2. How Diesel-Electric Locomotive Energy Systems Work
• 2.1 Locomotive Configuration
• 2.2 Operator’s Cab
• 2.3 Electronic Control Systems
Locomotive Energy Management Programs
Event Recorder
Positive Train Control (PTC)
• 2.4 Diesel Fuel and Fuel Tank
Sidebar: Diesel Fuel Tanks vs. Coal Tenders
• 2.5 The Diesel Engine or “Prime Mover”
Engine and Locomotive Operation
Engine Control Unit
Fuel Injection System
Combustion Air System
Lubrication Oil System
Cooling Water System
Idle-Reduction Technologies
Sidebar: What’s the Right Amount of Horsepower?
• 2.6. Traction and Other Alternators/Rectifiers
Traction Alternator and Rectifiers
Auxiliary and Companion Alternators
Magnitude of Power Production
• 2.7 Traction Inverters
• 2.8 AC Traction Motors
Superiority of AC Traction Motors
• 2.9 Locomotive Trucks and Running Gear
The Challenge of Adhesion
Sidebar: Use of Rail Lubricants and Friction Modifiers
• 2.10 Auxiliary Energy Systems
• 2.11 Locomotive and Train Braking Systems
Locomotive Independent Brakes
Locomotive Dynamic Brakes
Train Air Brakes
Locomotive and Train Parking Brakes
• 2.12 Head-End Power
Sidebar: The Evolution of Head-End Power
• 2.13 Locomotive Aerodynamics
Sidebar: Top Speeds of Diesel-Electric Passenger Locomotives
• 2.14 Other Types of Locomotives
Genset Locomotives
Slug Locomotives
Repowered Locomotives
De-Rated Locomotives
3. Diesel-Electric Locomotive Fuel Economy and Energy Efficiency
• 3.1 Energy Advantages of Railroads and Trains
Rolling Resistance Advantage
Aerodynamic Advantage
• 3.2 Railroad Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Association of American Railroads Revenue Ton-Miles per Gallon
Individual Railroad Company GTM and RTM per Gallon
Amtrak BTUs per Passenger-Mile
Sidebar: Fuel Use vs. Fuel Economy
• 3.3 Locomotive Fuel Economy
Types of Locomotive Horsepower
Net Traction Horsepower
Traction Horsepower
Brake Horsepower
Measures of Locomotive Fuel Economy
Net Traction Specific Fuel Consumption
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption
Brake Horsepower-Hours per Gallon
Fuel Consumption Rate for Different Throttle Settings
Fuel Economy by Manufacturer
Fuel Economy and the Purchasing Process
Sidebar: Confidentiality about Locomotive Fuel Economy and Efficiency
• 3.4 Locomotive Design Energy Efficiency
• 3.5 Locomotive Operational Efficiency
• 3.6 Prospects for Diesel-Electric Locomotive Efficiency Improvement
4. Energy Efficient Diesel-Electric Locomotive Operation
• 4.1 Engineer Recommendations for Efficient Locomotive Operation
Sidebar: Incentive Programs for Locomotive Engineers
• 4.2 Role of Energy Management Systems
Cruise Control for Locomotives
Sidebar: Advances in Semi-Truck Technology Challenge Railroads
Locomotive Black Box
• 4.3 Dispatcher and Trainmaster Recommendations
• 4.4 Railroad Management Recommendations
• 4.5 Distributed Power Operation
Sidebar: Longest, Heaviest Trains
5. EPA Emissions Standards, Tier 4 Locomotives, and Energy Impact
• 5.1 EPA Locomotive Emissions Regulations Overview
• 5.2 Achieving Tier 4 Compliance Without Aftertreatment
• 5.3 Urea SCR Aftertreatment to Achieve Tier 4 Compliance
Sidebar: GE, EMD, and EPA Tier 4 Negotiating History
• 5.4 Impact of Tier 4 on Fuel Economy
• 5.5 Tier 5 Emissions Standards?
6. Future Directions for Diesel-Electric Locomotives
• 6.1 The Challenge of Climate Change
• 6.2 Waste Heat Energy Recovery
• 6.3 Hybrid Locomotives, Battery Tenders, ZEBLs
Green Goat Hybrid Locomotive
GE Hybrid Locomotive
Energy Storage Tenders for Hybrid Locomotives
Motorized Battery Tenders or ZEBLs
• 6.4 Alternative Fuels for Diesel-Electric Locomotives
Natural Gas
Fischer-Tropsch Process Fuel
Biofuels
Biodiesel
Renewable Diesel
Biogas, Renewable Natural Gas, or Biomethane
• 6.5 Hydrogen Fuel Cells as Alternative Prime Mover
How Fuel Cells Work
Barriers to Fuel Cell Locomotives
• 6.6 Conventional Electrification
How Electric Locomotives Work
Cost/Benefit of Railroad Electrification
Electrification of Freight Railroads
Estimating the Cost of Partial Electrification
Sidebar: How Many Wind Turbines Would It Take?
Low- or No-Carbon Power for Electrification
• 6.7 Carbon Credits to Offset Carbon Emissions
7. Railroad Environmental Sustainability
• 7.1 Railroad Sustainability Reports
• 7.2 The Cargo Conundrum
Passenger and Freight Rail in Low Carbon Economy
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix – Selected Sources and Recommended Reading
About the Author
Endnotes