This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
July 2023
Compiled by Michael Popke
New York Air Brake LLC (NYAB) offers LEADER®, an onboard train-control system that can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 6% to 17%, NYAB officials said in an email.
It is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an energy-saving device and earns railroads EPA credits for carbon dioxide reduction through their locomotive manufacturer.
LEADER AutoPilot™ is an onboard computer with a database containing the track profile of a given trip (hills, curves, speed limits and distance) and the makeup of the consist (train length, weight, car types, car position, locomotive power and power distribution).
Using GPS to pinpoint the location and speed of the train, LEADER software performs hundreds of simulations per second that predict train performance miles ahead, NYAB officials said. It evaluates multiple train operating strategies and provides precise automatic operation of throttle, dynamic brake, independent brake and air brakes for increased fuel economy, extended rail-car life and on-time schedule performance.
LEADER technology also improves crew performance by providing information that results in better train handling and fuel efficiency, allowing the locomotive engineer’s focus to shift from monitoring screens to safely operating the train, company officials said.
PTC-compliant and responsive to enroute signal changes, changing weather conditions and locomotive performance, LEADER has been deployed on more than 5,000 locomotives worldwide. It was the first onboard energy-management system for heavy-haul freight trains, the first onboard train-control system to demonstrate the ability to start and stop a freight train under the sole control of a computer, and the first autonomous heavy-haul train-control system (driverless train) in revenue service, NYAB officials said.
The patented PowerHouse™ Hybrid from Power Drives Inc. is the newest model in the company’s idle reduction technology lineup. The PowerHouse system heats the engine oil and circulates heated coolant through the locomotive engine block and cooling system to maintain a fluid temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing operators to shut down the prime mover in cold weather.
Idling locomotives use between five and eight gallons of fuel per hour, while the PowerHouse uses only 0.38 gallons per hour, company officials said.
The Hybrid model eliminates the need for an additional engine as a power source by powering itself directly from the locomotive battery bank. The Hybrid can run off the locomotive batteries for up to seven days without starting the engine, and when plugged into an external 120 VAC power source, it operates while charging the locomotive batteries.
Customer savings have surpassed the investment in as few as three months, according to company officials, who add that typical fuel usage savings is more than 10,000 gallons in one season.
Progress Rail offers Talos™ Energy Management, train automation software designed to automatically control the throttle and dynamic brakes. Talos EM is the only energy management system leveraging artificial intelligence/machine learning, according to company officials.
“Customer deployments are experiencing up to a 10% to 20% reduction in fuel consumption, lower in-train forces and more consistent train operation,” said Sammy Akif, Progress Rail’s executive director. “Talos also enables locomotive engineers to focus more on the overall situational awareness of the train’s surroundings, which increases train safety.”
Progress Rail also offers NitroMP Movement Planner and Pacing NitroMP through its acquisition of decision-support software company Nitryx. NitroMP uses machine learning and optimization tools to improve railroad network operations.
Connecting the movement plan to Talos train automation can further improve network efficiency and fluidity, company officials said.
For example, during a “meet and pass” situation, Movement Planner can optimize the train’s speed (and fuel consumption by Talos Automation train), thereby avoiding a delay caused by one train waiting for the other and resulting in up to a 15% additional decrease in fuel consumption, they added.
Meanwhile, Progress Rail’s PowerView Sense unit connects to any open power over an ethernet port on the PowerView network. It enables ultrasonic fuel sensor readings while comparing X, Y and Z acceleration data to create accurate tank volume measurements.
ZTR’s SmartStart IIe is an Automatic Engine Stop/Start (AESS) solution designed to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency.
SmartStart IIe optimizes fuel usage during idle periods by monitoring critical parameters and initiating engine shutdown based on preset parameters. The Extended Fuel Saver feature is designed to prevent battery discharge to extend shutdown time, thereby saving fuel, while APU integration further minimizes consumption.
Intelligent algorithms ensure fuel efficiency by managing engine shutdown and restart based on real-time conditions, company officials said.
Additionally, AESS systems such as SmartStart IIe automatically shut down the engine during idle periods, lowering emissions. Load shedding and APU integration minimize power demand and emissions, while intelligent engine control algorithms optimize usage during extended idle periods, ZTR officials said.
SmartStart IIe also enhances locomotive availability by monitoring engine health, managing start/stop cycles, preventing battery depletion and integrating with maintenance systems. Proactive maintenance minimizes unplanned failures and downtime, which can improve engine performance and reliability.
Hotstart APUs and electric engine heaters operate when a locomotive is parked — either in the yard or remotely — and help keep the prime mover and oil heated in cold weather. Depending on the solution, battery charging, cab heat and Automatic Engine Shutdown/Startup interfacing are available.
The APU operates on the locomotive’s diesel source, using 0.5 gallons per hour compared with four or five gallons per hour by the locomotive, company officials said.
Shore power systems connect to power in the yard, eliminating the need to use diesel for idling. Keeping a locomotive heated with a Hotstart system also eliminates wet stacking and emissions, company officials said.
Additionally, Hotstart’s idle reduction equipment can play a key role for railroads upgrading locomotives from Tier 0 to Tier 0-plus standards, according to the company, whose equipment is SmartWay-verified with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Wi-Tronix energy management solution combines sustainable energy practices with advanced technology for diesel, electric, hydrogen and liquified natural gas locomotives, company officials said. By optimizing kinetic energy recovery, integrating sustainable energy sources and minimizing energy storage losses, the solution enhances locomotive performance and reliability, they added.
The Wi-Tronix solution provides actionable fuel alerts for excess idle, enabling railroads to analyze historical data patterns to reduce idle time and decrease fuel costs and environmental impacts from emissions.
By enabling “easy calculations” of emission outputs for a railroad’s fleet, building business sustainability cases for green funding and providing metrics for ESG reporting, Wi-Tronix can help railroads meet regulatory compliance goals, company officials said.
Also, Wi-Tronix Refuel Detection uses artificial intelligence technology to improve the accuracy of refuel alerts. The company receives refuel data from third-party vendors at fixed fueling locations and integrates it with ultrasonic sensors installed in the locomotive. The aim: to enable easier fuel accounting with fuel vendor reconciliation and streamlining invoices, company officials said.
Michael Popke is a Madison, Wisconsin-based freelance writer. Email comments or questions to prograil@tradepress.com.
Related Topics: