Lube-Tech
Trains have been the most efficient mode of transportation on land since the advent of steam engine locomotives. Their contribution to the Industrial Revolution and subsequent societal development cannot be overstated. Though their dominance has diminished in passenger transport, due to the aviation industry taking off in the latter part of the 20th century in most countries, locomotives still move the lion’s share of freight and goods. To make the net-zero carbon emission ambitions of the world a reality, railways have a significant role to play due to their efficiency and comparative sustainability. Trains can move a ton of goods approximately 520 miles on a single gallon of fuel. From an emission point of view, locomotive emission requirements have been continuously improved to reduce their carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate emissions.
Locomotives have the option to rely on either direct electricity or a diesel engine as their primary power source. Electric locomotives use direct current from an electric line to propel the locomotive through the traction motors. On the other hand, diesel locomotives typically use a diesel engine to drive a generator, which generates electricity to power the traction motors. Electric and diesel locomotives have achieved widespread success globally. In the United States alone, they remain crucial in various industrial
PUBLISHED BY LUBE: THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
No.148 page 1
The evolution of locomotive lubricant specifications
Dr. Raj Shah, Director, Koehler Instrument Company Inc., Dr. Najeeb Kuzhiyil, Customer and Application Development Advisor, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Dr. Jerainne Heywood, Senior Engineer, Wabtec Corporation, Ms. Mrinaleni Das, Intern, Koehler Instrument Company
sectors, responsible for transporting approximately 40% of the country’s cargo [1].
As Figure 1 shows, the railway industry is growing in every country, and the energy demand is projected to double in some countries by 2050 [2].
Figure 1: Projected rail energy demand growth in selected regions by scenario, 2017-2050 [2].
Locomotives are environmentally friendly alternatives compared to other existing modes of transportation. A study conducted by the Association of American Railroads showed that replacing the loads carried every day by trucks with trains can contribute to up to 75% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [3]. However, in recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also placed strict regulations on locomotives to minimise their environmental impact.
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.177 OCTOBER 2023 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
