Diesel locomotive 2TE10M: design and characteristics

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The constant growth of industry in the USSR in the 70s led to an increase in freight traffic. The locomotives available in the depot fleet could not move large trains at high speeds and on roads with difficult terrain. The development of locomotives with diesel engines with a capacity of 4000 or more forces was not included in the long-term plans of diesel locomotive enterprises, so the emphasis was placed on the creation of multi-section locomotives made up of standard serial parts.

General data

One of these locomotives was the diesel locomotive 2TE10M, which is a symmetrical coupling of two locomotives, each of which has a separate control cabin and power plant. The production of such machines started in April 1979 and was carried out at a plant in the city of Voroshilovgrad (Ukrainian SSR). A photo of the locomotive is shown below.

Production of machinescontinued until 1990, after which they were replaced by a more advanced version of the locomotive. All of them received serial numbers ranging from 0001 to 3678. These numbers include various diesel locomotives with the number of sections from two to four.

Features

Upgraded two-section machines received some differences from the previous model. The device of the diesel locomotive 2TE10M allows you to control all the parameters of the sections from one driver's console. Because of this, the number of control lamps and elements on the instrument panels has noticeably increased. An intercom was installed to communicate between the sections.

To increase the reliability of the control system, additional shunt elements were introduced, which eliminated excessive voltage surges when switching operating parameters. The removal of the pads from the outer surfaces of the wheels began to be carried out by electrically driven actuators, which accelerated the release of the brakes and reduced their wear. The air entering the pneumatic system was pre-dryed, which was controlled by a separate circuit.

Many three-section locomotives were shortened to two parts with a change in the model in the documentation for the diesel locomotive 2TE10M. At the same time, there were also cases of installing an additional third part, with appropriate adjustments in the passport documentation.

Power plant

A two-stroke diesel model 10D100 or 5D49 was used as the main engine (produced by the Kolomna plant, it was installed in rare cases). The peculiarity of this mechanism was the use of twocrankshafts whose opposite pistons move in opposite directions in the same cylinder. The release of exhaust gases was carried out by purging the cylinder cavities with fresh air, which was supplied from turbochargers. The scheme of the diesel locomotive 2TE10M is shown below.

The cylinder block was mounted on a powerful frame in the center. In its side parts there are inspection hatches through which the condition of the internal components of the diesel engine is monitored. On the front are all the mechanisms that control the operation of the motor. Cylinder numbering starts from this node.

For engine lubrication, a special system with a tank and a lubricant cooling radiator is installed. Thanks to this, it was possible to ensure reliable operation of the diesel engine in all operating modes. The diesel engine is cooled by the liquid circulating in the cooling jacket. For its exchange, a conventional centrifugal pump is used. The cooling system is no different from the usual automotive scheme.

Electrical system

A generator is installed on the output shaft of the diesel engine, which supplies current to the traction motors. The maximum generation power is up to 2000 kW. Direct movement is carried out from six traction motors. Each engine develops power up to 305 kW in peak mode and drives its wheelset through a reduction gear.

The drive allows to ensure the speed of the diesel locomotive at a long-term operation of 23 km/h. At the same time, the design of the locomotive is designed for a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h. Photo locomotive 2TE10M incoupled with a freight train is shown below.

Modernization attempts

In the early 2000s, one of the 2TE10M sections with serial number 0884 was experimentally equipped with power equipment and a diesel engine manufactured by the American corporation General Electric. A modern on-board computer was used to control all operating parameters.

Tests have shown an increase in fuel consumption and an increase in diesel maintenance costs (due to more expensive lubricants). There were complaints about the operation of computer equipment and control units. Therefore, the project did not receive further development, and the locomotive itself was taken over by the Yakutsk Railway, where it was used for several years.

Similar work is being carried out with the Kazakh 2TE10M, which is equipped with a new diesel engine with electronic control of mixture formation parameters and an improved cooling system.