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General information
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Description
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Mechanical friction at the wheel-rail interaction includes:
- Friction on both tangent and curved tracks due to rolling friction on the
horizontal interface between wheel and rail.
- Curve resistance is the additional resistance in curves due to increased
lateral friction forces in curves.
The sum of the two effects usually accounts for about 5 to 10% of a train’s
energy consumption in passenger trains and up to 30% very heavy freight
trains.
Rail and wheel lubrication aims at reducing lateral friction between rail and
wheel. This is especially effective in curves but can also be applied on tangent
tracks.
Rail lubrication is realised by special lubricating vehicles. Wheel
lubrication can be achieved either by on-board or by stationary
lubricators. |
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General criteria
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Status of development: in use |
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Time horizon for broad application: now |
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Expected technological development: basically exploited |
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Benefits (other than environmental): medium |
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Barriers: low |
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Applicability for railway segments: high |
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Type of traction: electric - DC, electric - AC, diesel
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Type of transportation: passenger - main lines, passenger - high speed, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines, freight
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Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
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Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: (no data) |
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Share of newly purchased stock: not applicable |
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Market potential (railways): not applicable |
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Environmental criteria
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Impacts on energy efficiency:
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Energy efficiency potential for single vehicle: < 2% |
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Energy efficiency potential throughout fleet: < 1% |
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According to the All-Russian Railway Research Institute (VNIIZhT), effective lubrication can reduce friction by 10 - 30% depending on curve radius.
Given that mechanical friction usually accounts for less than 10% of total energy demand of trains, lubrication will usually increase energy efficiency by less than 2 %. The effect is somewhat higher on tracks with a high share of curved sections as well as in heavy freight operation.
In view of current lubrication practice in many railways, the future fleet-wide efficiency potential of wheel and track lubrication does not exceed 1%. |
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Other environmental impacts: ambivalent |
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To a certain degree, the environmental impact of lubrication in railways is ambivalent. On the one hand, wear is reduced and thus product life is increased. On the other hand, the extensive use of lubricants along the tracks has certain toxic impacts on the environment. |
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Economic criteria
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Vehicle - fix costs: (no data) |
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(no details available) |
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Vehicle - running costs: (no data) |
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(no details available) |
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Infrastructure - fix costs: (no data) |
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(no details available) |
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Infrastructure - running costs: (no data) |
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(no details available) |
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Scale effects: low |
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(no details available) |
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Amortisation: (no data) |
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(no details available) |
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Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
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Overall rating
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Overall potential: interesting |
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Time horizon: mid-term |
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Lubrication is an effective means to reduce wearing rates of wheels and tracks. Energy efficiency effects are generally small but can be relevant especially on lines with many curves and in heavy freight transport. |