Indian locomotive class WAG-9

WAG-9[1]

WAG-9 #31179 of Lallaguda(Hyderabad) shed standing with a coal train at Agra Fort railway station headed towards east
Type and origin
Power type Electric
Builder Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Chittaranjan
Adtranz, Switzerland
Electric Locomotive Works(ELW), Bhusawal
Build date 1996 till present
Total produced 520+
Specifications
UIC classification Co′Co′
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Bogies Adtranz Fabricated Flexicoil IV
Wheel diameter New:1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in),
Half worn:1,054 mm (3 ft 5 12 in)
Full worn:1,016 mm (3 ft 4 in)
Wheelbase 15.7 m (51 ft 6 in)
Length 20.562 m (67 ft 5 12 in)
Width 3.152 m (10 ft 4 18 in)
Height 4.525 m (14 ft 10 18 in)
Axle load

WAG-9/9i : 20.5 tonnes (20.2 long tons; 22.6 short tons)

WAG-9H/Hi : 22.5 tonnes (22.1 long tons; 24.8 short tons)
Locomotive weight

WAG-9/9i : 123 tonnes (121 long tons; 136 short tons)

WAG-9H/9Hi : 135 tonnes (133 long tons; 149 short tons)
Electric system(s) 25 kV 50 Hz AC AC Overhead
Current collection
method
dual pantographs
Traction motors WAG-9/9H/9i : Adtranz FRA6068
Performance figures
Maximum speed WAG-9 No. 31162 : 120 km/h (75 mph) for 6,000-tonne (5,900-long-ton; 6,600-short-ton) load
Others (Operational) : 100 km/h (62 mph)
Others (Design) : 110 km/h (68 mph)
Continuous : 50 km/h (31 mph)
Power output 6,350 hp (4,735 kW)
Tractive effort Starting : 460 kN (100,000 lbf)[2]
(WAG-9), 520 kN (120,000 lbf)
(WAG-9H/i/Hi) Continuous : 325 kN (73,000 lbf)
Locomotive brake Air and Regenerative
Train brakes Air
Safety systems Slip/slide control, Main overload relay, Over voltage relay, No volt protection, Vigilance Control Device, Fire Detection Equipment, Fire Extinguishers and Earth fault relay
Career
Operator(s) Indian Railways
Number(s) Starting from 31000+
Nicknames NAVYUG, NAVJYOTI, NAVDISHA, NAVSHAKTI, NAVODAY, NAVASHA, NAVGHANSHAKTI, Dr. Silver, NAVSHATAK, NAVPRAGATI, NAVSHAKTI & NAVEEN
Locale All Over India
Disposition active

WAG-9 is a type of electric locomotive used in India. It is the most powerful freight locomotive in Indian Railways' fleet. It is very similar to WAP-7; the only major difference being the gear ratio which makes it suitable for heavy freight operations. In November 1998, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) started producing these with indigenous components. The first one, 'Navyug' (translated, 'New Era'), was flagged off on November 14. Like the WAP-5 units, they have GTO thyristor converters and 3-phase asynchronous motors.

Newer versions starting from WAG-9 31248 feature full IGBT traction control. The class is named as WAG-9i. There is a technical variant of this class named WAG-9H. The 'H' means Heavy. Another variant includes WAG-9Hi which seems to be a combination of the above two.

WAG-9H/9Hi are the heaviest electric locomotives and the heaviest locomotives in regular service in India. These are the only freight dedicated three-phase AC locomotives in India. Also, WAG-9i/9Hi are the only electric locomotives in India fitted with Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). They are also the freight locomotives with highest operational speed in India.The latest WAG 9 31086 is based in GOMOH(GMO) and has a unique red colored livery of red with large G--9 written in retro fonts

WAG 9 - Navshatak
WAG 9 at Vasai Road

Introduction

This locomotive is referred to as the "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive of the Indian Railways (IR). This locomotive was conceived owing to the extreme growth in the rail freight transportation sector. The growth in this sector is considered to be of great importance in the growth of the economy of India. This need had arisen the need for more electrification and electric locomotives in India. Around 60-65% of the freight haulage of IR takes place on the electrified section of the Golden Quadrilateral (Indian Railways) & diagonals (which account for 25% of the route). These routes are very busy routes, so clearance is a necessity. This power give it a great sectional clearance ability. Thus these locomotives are important for the Indian Railways.

These locos have entered Western Railway zone of Mumbai. First 22 units were imported from Adtranz (ABB). Of these, first six were fully assembled and rest were in kit from. Again in the kit form, seven were completely knocked down and rest partially assembled. CLW started producing these traction motors on 11/1/1999. The units built by ABB have double-pan pantographs while CLW built units have single pan pantographs which are common in India. This class had a capacity to MU several units but IR restricts them to two because of dynamic loading restriction on most bridges. Regenerative brakes provide about 260 kN of braking effort.

WAG-9H also has different application software than WAG-9. The first WAG-9H was commissioned on 30 June 2000. #30130 homed at Gomoh (GMO) shed was this prototype then rebuilt back to standard WAG-9 in 2002. This unit has a livery of twin white stripes on green instead of yellow stripe on green of the other WAG-9(x)s.

WAG-9i was introduced in 2010 #31215 homed at GMO shed. With IGBT, even if one traction motor failed, other traction motors can function with a total output of 5000 hp.

Newer units of WAG-9 have been marked as 'CLW Glorious 50 years' on their sides. Some WAG-9(x)s are fitted with solid cowcatcher. Others are fitted with grilled cowcatcher. Some have American style flasher lamps while others have Indian style flasher lamps.

Technical specifications

The WAG-9 technical specifications are:[3]

Traction Motors ABB's 6FRA 6068 (850 kW, 2180V, 1283/2484 rpm, 270/310A. Weight 2100 kg) Axle-hung, nose-suspended, Class 200 Insulation, Forced Air Ventilation
Gear Ratio 77:15 / 64:18 / 107:21
Transformer[4] ABB's LOT 6500, Class A Insulation, OFAF cooling, Primary (25 kV, 6531 kVA), Secondary rating(4x1269 V, 4x1450 kVA, 4x1142 A), Auxiliary (1000 V, 334 kVA, 334 A), Filter (1154 V, 400 kVA, 347 A), 9,450 kg (20,830 lb)
2 Power Drives WAG-9/9H : Power converter from ABB, type UW-2423-2810 with SG 3000G X H24 GTO thyristors (D 921S45 T diodes), 14 thyristors per unit (two units), OFAF cooling. Line converter rated at 2 x 1269V @ 50 Hz (more or less 3%), with DC link voltage of 2800V(nominal). Motor/drive converter rated at 2180 V phase to phase, 971 A output current per phase, motor frequency from 0 to 132 Hz.

WAG-9i : IGBT

Bogies (Design later used for IORE and China Railways HXD3B; bogie wheelbase 1,850 mm (72 78 in) + 1,850 mm (72 78 in)
Unsprung mass per axle 3.984 t (3.921 long tons; 4.392 short tons)
Loco Weight 123 t (121 long tons; 136 short tons) wag9 / 135 t (133 long tons; 149 short tons) wag 9h
Length over head-stocks 19,280 mm (63 ft 3 in)
Distance between axles of bogie 1,850 mm (72 78 in)
Cab length 2,434 mm (95 78 in)
Pantographs Two Secheron ES10 1Q3-2500, 186 kg (410 lb) (without insulators).
Drive Arrangement Gear Pinion
2 HCBO-605-115 type Traction Motor Blowers by Flakt and ABB 4.05 m3/s (143 cu ft/s) and 416 kg (917 lb)
Traction Motor Blower Motors of 200L55-RFXH2A-D1 type by Landert 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, 25 kW (34 hp) and Class F insulation
2 Oil Cooler Blowers by Behr 4.05 m3/s (143 cu ft/s).
Oil Cooler Blower Motors of 200L55-RH2A type by Landert 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, 25 kW (34 hp) and Class F insulation
2 TAO8-2174/15 type Transformer Oil Pumps by Fumettaz 1,000 L/min (220 imp gal/min; 260 US gal/min)
Transformer Oil Pump Motors by Landert of 112M-2B type 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, 4.7 kW (6.3 hp) and Class F insulation
2 TC10-2185/29 type Converter Oil Pumps by Plumettaz 960 L/min (210 imp gal/min; 250 US gal/min)
112M-2F type Converter Oil Pump Motors by Landert 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2860 rpm, 11 kW (15 hp)., 95 kg (209 lb) and Class F insulation
2 2A3200 C13-T32 type Main Compressors by D&M 1,745 L/min (384 imp gal/min; 461 US gal/min), 10 kg/cm (2,000 lb/yd), 600 kg (1,300 lb), and 15 kW (20 hp),
Main Compressor Motors of 200l55-RPAH8B type by Landert 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 730 rpm, 15 kW (20 hp), and Class H insulation
2 HCBO-415-60 type Machine Room Blowers by Flakt and ABB 1 m3/s (35 cu ft/s), 140 kg (310 lb), 415 VAC and maximum temperature rise of 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit)
132M-RFXHE2C type Machine Room Blower Motors by Landert 1 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2830 rpm, 28 kW (38 hp) and Class F insulation
FF 3145 type Auxiliary Compressor by D&M and Bristol 7.03 kg/cm2 (100.0 psi) and 50 kg (110 lb)
Auxiliary Compressor Motor by D&M 110 V DC, 50 Hz, 1450 rpm and 0.75 kW (1.01 hp) (Air Dryer provided)
Ni-Cd(SAF-39 SBL 199) type Battery by Saft Groupe S.A. and Nife 110 V DC + 20% / -30%, 5 hrs discharging and 78 cells
BUR 10 A 100 LVPS type Auxiliary Converter by ABB 3 phase, 415 V and 100 kVA
Nominal supply voltage 22.5 kV
Normal variation in supply voltage 19-27.5 kV
Occasional maximum voltage 31 kV (15 min)
Occasional minimum voltage 16.5 kV (15 min)
Variation in supply frequency More or less 8% (46–54 Hz)
Distance between neutral section 25–50 km (16–31 mi)
Types of neutral section 41 m (135 ft), insulated overlap on both ends and neutral wire which is not earthed OR

4.61–9.6 m (15.1–31.5 ft), insulated portion of Polytetrafluoroethylene on both sides and middle portion of neutral section which is solidly earthed

Pantograph bounce <45 m (148 ft)
Devices on the track Tracks should have DC track circuits. Devices such as axle counters, block instruments and point machines may be employed
Communication network Control circuits, teleprinter circuits, VHF/UHF and micro-wave circuits may be employed
Temperature of atmosphere −10 to 50 degrees Celsius (14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit)
Temperature of atmosphere in direct sunlight 75 degrees Celsius (167 degrees Fahrenheit)
Temperature of atmosphere in shade 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit)
Temperature inside dead locomotive while exposed to direct sunlight 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit)
Dust concentration in terrain Up to 0.0016 mg/L (5.8×10−11 lb/cu in)
Operation in flood At 10 km/h (6.2 mph) with water of 102 mm (4 in) above rail level
pH value in atmosphere 8.5
Sulphate in atmosphere 7 mg/L (2.5×10−7 lb/cu in)
Chlorine in atmosphere 6 mg/L (2.2×10−7 lb/cu in)
Conductivity in atmosphere 130 micro Siemens/cm
Altitude of operation Between 160 m (520 ft) above sea level and sea level
Vibration in traction motors 300 g (worn gear-pinion)
Starting resistance of BOXN wagons excluding locomotive on level track 4 kg/ton
Starting resistance of locomotive on level track 6 kg/ton
Rate of change of tractive effort 20 kN/sec
Rate of change of braking effort 100 kN/sec
Efficiency of line converter at continuous speed for full load 97%
Buffing load 400 tonnes (390 long tons; 440 short tons)
Ground clearance above rail with full load and full worn wheels 102 mm (4.016 in)
Traveling distance annually 200,000 km (120,000 mi)
Life 35 years
Sandboxes 50 kg (110 lb) each
Max difference in diameter of wheels on the same axle 0.5 mm (0.020 in)
Max difference in wheels of the same bogie 4 mm (0.157 in)
Overall max difference of diameter of wheels 20 mm (0.787 in)
Train brakes 242 kN (54,000 lbf), 35% adhesion
Parking brake force 37 kN (8,300 lbf)
Auxiliary reservoir 135 kg (298 lb)
Scavenge blower to traction motor blower 42 kg (93 lb)
Oil cooling unit 930 kg (2,050 lb)
Scavenge blower to machine room blower 37 kg (82 lb) and 415 V AC
Cubicle auxiliary circuits 1 220 kg (490 lb)
Cubicle control circuits 1 160 kg (350 lb)
Central electronics 1 32.34 kg (71.3 lb)
Main reservoir 330 kg (730 lb)
Central Electronics 2 31.34 kg (69.1 lb)
Cubicle control circuits 2 170 kg (370 lb)
Cubicle auxiliary circuits 2 105 kg (231 lb)
Filter cubicle 400 kg (880 lb)
Cab heater and crew fans 110 VAC
Fire alarm 1170 Hz
Dials illumination level 10-90%
Heater capacity 2.2 kW (3.0 hp)

Sheds Holding WAG-9s

Performance

Two units of WAG-9 class can haul 4,500 tonnes (4,400 long tons; 5,000 short tons) of load on grades of 1 in 60 (1.67%). WAG-9H was expected to haul 58 BOXN wagons, i.e.,4,700 tonnes (4,600 long tons; 5,200 short tons) without multiple units on grades of 1 in 150 (0.67%). The locomotive can run even in 100% humidity and even in deserts where there is high saturation of conductive particles. For shunting up to 15 km/h (9.3 mph), it can haul 7,500 tonnes (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons) on grades of 1 in 1000 (0.1%) or less. The atmosphere may be humid and salty. Regenerative braking will provide not less than braking force of 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at 10–62 km/h (6.2–38.5 mph) speeds and closer to 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at higher speeds. Following is the capacity of WAG-9 while hauling BOX wagons (in tonnes}):[5]

Grade\km/h Start 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Level 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+
1 in 500 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 4985 4150 3500
1 in 200 5060 5060 5060 5060 5060 4045 3325 2780 2365 2040
1 in 150 4250 4250 4165 4080 3985 3200 2640 2220 1895 1640
1 in 100 3205 2910 2870 2825 2775 2240 1855 1565 1345 1165
1 in 50 1820 1455 1445 1435 1420 1440 945 795 680 590

See also

References

  1. "IRFCA loco database".
  2. http://www.ijera.com/papers/Vol2_issue3/QY2327932797.pdf
  3. Indian AC electric loco information
  4. "Driver's Manual" (PDF).
  5. "Trainweb".

External links

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