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   Gas turbine  evaluated  
Gas turbines have been in use in railways for decades, especially outside Europe. In recent times, with pollution standards becoming tougher and modern micro gas turbines arriving on the market, gas turbines have returned to discussion as an alternative to diesel traction.
Technology field: Innovative traction concepts and energy sources
open main section General information
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: in use
    Gas turbine powered rail vehicles have been in use for decades in some isolated railway sectors (in USA, Egypt and Iran). New high performance micro gas turbines offer new potential. Railway industry claims it can produce a prototype with high tech micro turbines within 2-3 years (if turbine manufacturers co-operate in development)
  Time horizon for broad application: 5 - 10 years
    (no details available)
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
    Micro gas turbines may constitute a quantum leap in gas turbine driven propulsion.
    Motivation:
   
  • Weight and volume reduction (compared to diesel-electric system).
  • LCC reduction (low maintenance).
  Benefits (other than environmental): big
   

Weight

Low weight and volume compared to diesel-electric system: two diesel engines are replaced by one turbine. Interesting for high speed trains.

LCC

Low maintenance requirements of the turbine-driven system as compared to diesel-electric traction are low (the rotor of the turbine being the only moving part).

Noise and vibration

Low noise and vibration levels

Fuel variability

The gas turbine can be driven by virtually any gas or liquid fuel.
  Barriers: medium
   

Initial costs

High manufacturing costs (complicated design).

Operation

Strength of gas turbines lies in constant high load operation (e.g. for base load). For low load operation efficiency is low. Furthermore, a turbine engine responds slowly to changes in speed request.
    Success factors:
   

Legislation

Environmental legislation (emission standards)

Technological development

Railways depend on innovation dynamics of gas turbines in other fields, especially power generation.
  Applicability for railway segments: medium
    Type of traction:  diesel
    Type of transportation:  passenger - main lines, passenger - high speed, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines, freight
    Gas turbines are an alternative to today’s diesel traction. They are especially interesting for high speeds (high load operation!).
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: < 5%
  Share of newly purchased stock: < 20%
    (no details available)
  Market potential (railways): highly uncertain
    Potential could be especially high in USA where currently diesel locos are used for high speeds. In Europe the potential is somewhat smaller, since European diesel fleets are mainly used at lower speed operation.
    Example:
    (no details available)
open main section Environmental criteria
open main section Economic criteria
open main section Application outside railway sector
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:  Roger, Watier 1997;  Turbomeca 2001;  www.ott.doe.gov;  www.bhkw-infozentrum.de;  www.truck.volvo.se;  www-3.abb.de
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Related projects:
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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