Almost every one of us knows that a very large percentage of all freight in the world carries out railway transport. As for the post-Soviet space, the railway in this territory is almost an absolute, unconditional leader in the amount of passenger and cargo traffic transported through it. Therefore, in this article we will take a detailed look at one of the leading vehicles that carry out traction of various cars, the name of which is the electric locomotive VL-80.
general information
This power railway unit is the brainchild of Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant. It was at this enterprise that the VL-80 electric locomotive was designed and manufactured in all its existing modifications. At this industrial facility, only assembly work was carried out, and all the required components were supplied from other engineering enterprises of the country. In total, 2746 units were produced, and the last car left the assembly line in 1995.
Scope of application
The VL-80 electric locomotive is used to work with a wide variety of cargoes on domestic and foreign (Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan) main-line electrified single-phase currents with a frequency of 50 Hz.
All equipment of the locomotive is oriented to work with a contact network with a voltage of 19-29 kV. the ambient temperature can be in the range from -50 to +40 degrees Celsius with humidity up to 90% and altitude at sea level no higher than 1200 meters.
Design Features
The VL-80 locomotive drove out of the manufacturer’s gate made up of a pair of sections, although some models of the electric locomotive have three or even four sections, but we will talk about this a bit later.
Considering the mechanical part of VL80, we note that it is represented by two absolutely identical biaxial carts, in which their frames are made welded. Roller bearing bearings are coupled to the trolley frame using silent blocks (these are rubber-metal hinges). From the carts to the body, the braking force and traction are transmitted through the pivots - rods of the swivel joint. Electric motors providing locomotive movement are fixed by axial-axle suspension. Type of motors - NB-418K6. From the engine to the wheelsets, the rotation is transmitted using a double-sided helical gear transmission with a sufficiently rigid rim. Since the gear teeth have a certain slope in such a transmission, the axial force is completely absent in the gearing, which, in turn, significantly reduces the load on the drive and increases the service life of the parts.
Sectional equipment
The electric locomotive VL-80 on each of its sections is equipped with:
- Pantograph, which performs current collection from the contact network. It is located directly above the driver's cab.
- The main switch VOV-25M.
- Traction transformer with oil pump motor.
- A pair of rectifier units.
- The main controller.
- Phase splitter for the development of the third phase, which is involved in the supply of asynchronous motors of other auxiliary units.
- Four motor-fans that perform cooling of various equipment and pressurize the locomotive body. Two of these motors necessarily cool each traction motor.
- The KT-6EL motor-compressor for generating air required for the normal operation of the braking system, power units, blocking the high-voltage chamber, supplying sound signals of various volumes, the functioning of the pneumatic drive of glass cleaners.
Transformer
It is equipped with a traction winding and a winding of its own needs with an idle voltage of 399 V (rated load is 380 V), which serves to power a variety of auxiliary control circuits. In cases of significant fluctuations in the voltage of the contact network, the voltage on the auxiliary motors is stabilized with the help of two solders having their own voltage of 210 V and 630 V. Their switching on the transformer occurs manually. On the main engines, voltage regulation takes place promptly directly during the operation of the driver.
Subtleties of control
The movement of an electric locomotive occurs due to a change in voltage that is supplied to each traction motor. For any of the existing VL-80 modifications (except VL-80R), the voltage on the TED is regulated by switching under load the transformer taps using an electric main controller. In order to eliminate the likelihood of a current surge at the moment of position transition between the transformer and the controller, a transition reactor is mounted, which performs the damping of switching overloads using its own high inductance.
Since the elements pass through themselves simply colossal currents, in connection with this their contacts are made of a special coal-silver compound. In total, the electrical controller (ECG) contains about 12 kilograms of silver. The ECG is driven by a DC motor having a voltage of 50 V and a power of 500 W, when it is started, the lighting always dims noticeably in the electric locomotive and the voltage in the control circuits decreases.
The speed of the VL-80R electric locomotive, on which there is no main electrical controller, is regulated in a different way. Also on this locomotive there is regenerative braking, which ensures the return of the consumed electric energy back to the network.
Options
An electric locomotive VL-80, the technical characteristics of which are indicated below, is used as a cargo-passenger locomotive. The main indicators of this machine are:
- Length - 32480 mm.
- Height (measured from the rail head to the runners of the lowered current collector) - 5100 mm.
- Hourly power - 6520 kW.
- Traction force - 4501 tf.
- Speed - 51.6 km / h.
- Power during continuous operation - 6160 kW.
- Traction force during continuous operation - 40.9 tf.
- Traction force at the moment of the beginning of the movement - 65 tf.
Models
NEVZ electric locomotives were produced in various versions and therefore their model range is quite wide. Let's consider them in more detail.
VL-80T
Its mechanical part consists of four sections and unconnected bogies placed under them. Each section has a CA-3 automatic coupler along its edges.
Carts are made of sheet timber, tubular-type end mounts and box-shaped sidewalls. All the forces that act on the electric locomotive are transmitted through the cradle suspension. The control circuits contain circuit breakers, which replaced the previously installed fuses. The ventilation system has also been slightly changed: the passageways along the corridor are freer, the left front cameras are reduced and raised to the roof. The electric circuit of an electric locomotive has also undergone changes. In particular, a high-performance rheostatic brake, brake resistors, switches are installed. All this led to a noticeable rearrangement of all available equipment.
The instruction manual for the electric locomotive states that at the time of access to the train its speed should not exceed 3 km / h. This will completely eliminate the likelihood of a hit and will not damage the automatic coupler.
VL-80S
A distinctive feature of this electric locomotive is that on it the driver can drive three or more sections from one console. This became possible after the system of many units was introduced.
The mechanical and electrical equipment of the locomotive is almost identical to VL-80T, however there are some differences:
- An alarm appeared that shows the operation of additionally connected sections.
- A variety of interelectrical connections have been introduced.
Gradually, various changes were made to the VL-80S freight train to increase the level of reliability of the machine and reduce the cost of its production. For example, new asynchronous electric motors ANE-225L4UHL2 were installed instead of AE-92-4. Also in 1985, experimental TEDs were installed on several models. The increase in individual elements of the entire structure and the introduction of the latest nodes led to the fact that the total mass of the electric locomotive was increased, and its new nominal indicator was established - 192 tons.
The operation of this locomotive in winter conditions requires the implementation of special measures such as:
- Replacing summer grease with winter.
- Elimination of existing leaks in manhole covers, floors and other places of the body.
- Checking the condition of the battery.
- Revision of motor axial bearings and gear transmission.
VL-80R
This electric locomotive was developed taking into account past shortcomings and got the opportunity of regenerative braking. He was also the very first electric locomotive in which there was thyristor regulation of alternating current. In these machines, KME-80 type controllers were installed. To maintain the normal temperature of the operating equipment of the locomotive, TsVP64-14 fans were used. An electric locomotive of this model was actively involved as railway transport on the railways of the Krasnoyarsk region, the East Siberian and Far Eastern highways. By the way, a remarkable fact: VL-80T - 1685 was involved in the filming process of the film "Magistral", which has become a favorite among experienced railway workers.
The cab of this locomotive is almost identical to VL-80T, but there are two differences:
- In the upper right corner of the VL-80R there is a special panel that has eight lamps, each of which shows the status of high-speed section switches.
- The controller of the driver is made in the form of a steering wheel, and not a lever.
VL-80K
Each of the sections of this electric locomotive up to No. 380 was equipped with two centrifugal fans with a capacity of 40 kW each, which were used to cool the existing traction motors. Fans take air through the blinds located on the right side of the body wall.
Starting from No. 380, the locomotive was equipped with centrifugal two-wheeled fans, which took air through the side blinds.
VL-80SM
This type of electric locomotive began to be produced in 1991 and was produced for only four years.
Structurally, he was not too different from the VL-80S. However, there have been some changes. So, the buffer lights and spotlights mounted on the roof of the locomotive have slightly changed their configuration. In appearance, it was a bit like VL-85.
VL-80M
An electric locomotive, on which a special system was used to perform smooth voltage regulation of traction motors using a VIP-4000M converter of rectifier-inverter type. Also, improved NB-418KR engines were installed.
The locomotive is equipped with a control system using microprocessor technology and diagnostics. It provides both manual and automatic control of an electric locomotive, guarantees reliable protection against slipping and skidding, regulates the excitation current in regenerative braking mode, controls relay-contactor devices and diagnoses all the equipment of a multi-ton machine.
The locomotive control panel has become even more ergonomic and convenient. Air conditioners and new chairs began to be used for the driver and his assistant.
Maintenance
Repair of VL electric locomotives is carried out in two versions:
- Medium repair - is carried out to bring operational characteristics to the initial level, as well as to partially or fully restore the operability of the main parts and assemblies (inspection and repair of cables, pipelines, etc.).
- Overhaul - restore the resource of absolutely all worn parts and parts. If necessary, a complete replacement of worn knots. The machine, in fact, understands every screw.
Before any of the above types of repairs, the electric locomotive is cleaned of dirt and dust, disassembled into subassemblies, which are subsequently subjected to a very thorough inspection in order to determine the degree of wear. At the time of washing the electrical equipment, all wires and equipment are subjected to reliable isolation from the ingress of cleaning solutions.
Electric locomotives based on VL-80
The device of the VL-80 electric locomotive turned out to be so convenient and thoughtful that a number of other locomotives were launched on its basis. So, in 1999, four ED1 electric trains were built at the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant , which consisted of ten cars and the ED9T directly, and from both ends of the train the main motor cars were replaced by sections of the VL80s electric locomotive. ED 1 were delivered to the depot of the Far Eastern Road and Khabarovsk-2. However, already in 2009 all these trains were completely disbanded.
In 2001, a project was created to form two system trains with enhanced comfort. For this purpose, ED4DK electric train wagons were used, which were placed between sections of direct and alternating current.
At the end of 2001, DMZ created the ED4DK-001 electric train, on one side of which there was a DC section VL-10-315, and on the other, VL-80T-1138. However, in the process of further work, it became clear that the joint work of these two units is impossible for technical reasons. A vivid confirmation of this was the burned down section of VL-10-315.
Conclusion
The freight train VL-80 received such wide recognition in our lives that the creators of computer games even used it in one of their brainchilds - Railroad Tycoon 3. In addition, an absolutely reliable copy of the electric locomotive found its place in the game STALKER