COAL-FIRED, STEAM-DRIVEN LOCOMOTIVE

摘要

Improved Coal-Fired, Steam-Driven Locomotive A coal-fired steam locomotive powered by reciprocating steam engines. The locomotive is a two-unit drawbar-coupled locomotive. The units, which are designated as a power unit and a support unit, are arranged back-to-back, with each having a cab-in-front. Operation of the locomotive is equally effective in both directions. The power unit basically contains a furnace and combustion system, an ash storage system, a gas cleanup and exhaust system, a boiler and steam generator, steam engines, a jet condenser, and a control cab. The support unit, on two 6-wheel trucks, contains a modular coal storage area, a stoker motor, a water storage area, heat transfer assemblies and fans for air-cooling circulating water, and a second control cab. The coal-gasification furnace, steam boiler, and steam engines are all in a closed system. Further, the steam engines of the locomotive are in the form of a four cylinder, balanced system for driving the running gear of the locomotive. The steam expansion cycle is compounded; two high pressure cylinders exhaust into two low pressure cylinders, with all cylinders sized for equal thrust. Spent steam is condensed, cooled on-board, and the water recycled through the boiler. A condensing cycle is utilized to both obtain more power and minimize water make up. A large water supply is carried on the support unit to minimize way side water points. Condensing of the water is by jet condensing which takes place on the power unit and utilizes feedwater as the jet condensing means. The heated water is pumped through a heat exchanger provided on the support unit before returning to the water supply tank. In order to eliminate nuisance dirt, coal is prepackaged in large modules. Up to three modules are placed over the stoker screw mechanism contained on the support unit.