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Innovative Rolls-Royce Engines
to Make Rail Operations Greener and Almost Silent
Sep
23, 2022 by
Otilia Drăgan
Rolls-Royce has been testing not just one
but multiple rail engine versions that are meant to operate with
alternative fuels, more specifically HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).
Three of them have just been released, with two more coming soon.
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HVO uses things such as animal fats and used
vegetable oils as its base materials, resulting in
dramatic reductions in CO2, nitrogen oxide, and particulate
emissions – up to 90%. This sustainable fuel is just one of the paths
toward green rail services but looks more effective and easier to
implement for now compared to electric and hydrogen fuel cell
solutions.
This is the renewable diesel on which the new Rolls-Royce rail engines
will run. The mtu Series 1800 engines (used in mtu PowerPacks) and the
Series 1300 and 1500 for locomotives and multi-purpose vehicles are
now officially approved for using HVO. Series 4000 and 1600 are still
undergoing tests.
DB Cargo is one of
Rolls-Royce’s partners in testing the mtu Series 4000. Since last
summer, it’s been conducting engine bench tests and operational trials
with different locomotives powered by an 8V 4000 R41 mtu engine
running on HVO. The results look promising – the overall vehicle
performance stayed the same, while emission levels were reduced.
RDC Autozug Sylt is another partner in this process, testing out a mtu
type 4000 R04 engine on a Vectron DE diesel-electric locomotive.
Overall, the use of HVO on these new engines was proven to not affect
performance in any way or require additional maintenance. At the same
time, it not only lowers Cos levels but also supports almost silent
rail operations.
Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce also helped convert an existing train
to hybrid-electric operations by equipping it with two of its mtu
Hybrid PowerPacks. Called the
HybridFLEX, the converted rain entered service with Chiltern
Railways, operating with 25% fewer CO2 emissions and 75% less noise
when switching to the electric mode.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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