Locomotive Diesel Engine Operation with Optimal Specific Fuel Consumption

Abstract The operation of the diesel engine in the railway operational conditions is determined by the traction vehicle requirements and the economic conditions that must remain valid for partial loads. This article presents an analysis of optimal fuel consumption for different modes of operation of the traction vehicle. For this analysis, the BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) parameter method is used, which consists in determining specific consumption maps based on the experimental determinations and the engine characteristics. The analysed diesel engine is the one that equips the LDE 2100 HP diesel-electric locomotive series, manufactured in Romania under the Sulzer license. From this analysis, specific fuel consumption can be determined for the different speed and power ranges. The ultimate goal of making the specific consumption map is to optimize the diesel engine adjustments according to the operating conditions. It also follows that adjusting engine power with optimal fuel consumption is achieved if the engine can run at any speed. This condition is achieved using the transmission. If the transmission does not allow this, the partial power will only be provided at a speed required by the transmission.