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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

diesel, electric, or diesel-electric

Have you ridden on a diesel-electric train before? The Malaysian KTM trains are pulled by diesel-electric locomotives, and I believe the SMRT maintenance vehicle that broke down yesterday also runs on diesel-electric.

What is diesel-electric? Basically you feed it with diesel to run the diesel generator, which produces electrical power that in turn runs the electric motors, which turn the wheels. From mechanical to electrical and back to mechanical, you must be wondering why not use a direct drive system and directly turn the wheels with the diesel engine?

Unlike a car which normally only has to power 2 wheels, a locomotive has so many axles it will require some really messy gear box for transmission if we are to use direct drive system. And we haven't talked about maintenance.

This sounds like eating vegetable that you fertilised using your own crap.


posted by chillycraps at 7:20 AM | Links  

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6 Comments:

  • hmm then why not fully electric?

    By Blogger yuankang liu, at 1/22/2008 07:54:00 AM  

  • in some countries, laying power cable is not economically viable, and so they go with the diesel-electric.

    In the case of maintenance vehicle, if there's a power outage, how does the vehicle get to the spot if it runs on electricity itself?

    =)

    By Blogger chillycraps, at 1/22/2008 08:03:00 AM  

  • KTM also has electric trains, I think they call it Komuter, which is within Klang Valley.

    By Blogger Keropok Man, at 1/22/2008 02:06:00 PM  

  • yup yup, but I wonder why they don't want to extend it to Singapore.

    Maybe Singapore regulation doesn't allow overhead cables?

    By Blogger chillycraps, at 1/22/2008 04:06:00 PM  

  • yes, sg dun allow overhead wires. even electric cables are all hidden underground. nothing overhead. maybe only for decorative lights on orchard road. LOL


    but most countries have trains that have overhead wires. they can achieve higher speeds right?

    By Blogger Keropok Man, at 1/22/2008 05:07:00 PM  

  • LOL @ overhead wires in Singapore!

    I read from wiki that the third rail system cannot provide high power due to arc or something, and also concern over the contact point, thus the trains can't travel fast on third rail system.

    Wiki has it here

    By Blogger chillycraps, at 1/22/2008 05:24:00 PM  

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