FS Class D445
Encyclopedia
The Class D445 is a class of diesel locomotive
s used by the italian
Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) railway company and by Trenord
. 150 units were built between 1974 and 1988, divided into three series.
engine, maintaining the predecessor's reliability and operational capabilities. At the beginning of the 1970s FS, during a plan aimed at the expansion and modernization of current service, designed a new version of an unified diesel engine which could also resolve the issue of supplying power to heat carriages in an efficient way through a high voltage Head end power
supply (REC) fed by a secondary generator. Previous diesel locomotives were not provided with this and so required the use of a generator wagon (Carro Riscaldo), leading to increased weight. The first series of locomotives, introduced from 1974, were built with curved front windscreens which would be later replaced by cheaper and sturdier flat ones.
In 1979 a second series was ordered, fitted with equipment for use with control cars. At the end of the 1980s the whole group consisted of 150 units which allowed the retirement of the then old D341
and D342 locomotives.
motors (permanently in parallel) are fed by a three-phase AC
generator (in place of a DC one as previous locomotives) through a Graetz Bridge
.
A high tension secondary DC generator provides a 300 kW
/2750 V output, able to supply enough power for 7/10 coaches depending on the type of climatising equipment installed.
The prime mover is a diesel engine is produced by FIAT
, type A210-12 supercharged with 12 90° “V” cylinders with a displacement of 95700 cm3 that produces 1560 kW at 1500 rpm. The engine is cooled by a forced circulation of cooling fluid through radiators
with two hydraulically driven fans.
The alternator
is controlled by an electronic PWM
control unit which is commanded by a 13 step regulator.
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s used by the italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) railway company and by Trenord
Trenord
Trenord is a railway company which is responsible for the operation of regional passenger trains in Lombardy. The company was established by the two main railway companies in Lombardy, Trenitalia and Ferrovie Nord Milano , to manage train operations in the region...
. 150 units were built between 1974 and 1988, divided into three series.
History
The D445 represented an evolution of the FS Class D443FS Class D443
The FS Class D443 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in Italy, introduced in the late 1960s and still in service.-History:D443 was ordered by the Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato , at the same time than the D343, but requiring generally higher performances and multi-role...
engine, maintaining the predecessor's reliability and operational capabilities. At the beginning of the 1970s FS, during a plan aimed at the expansion and modernization of current service, designed a new version of an unified diesel engine which could also resolve the issue of supplying power to heat carriages in an efficient way through a high voltage Head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
supply (REC) fed by a secondary generator. Previous diesel locomotives were not provided with this and so required the use of a generator wagon (Carro Riscaldo), leading to increased weight. The first series of locomotives, introduced from 1974, were built with curved front windscreens which would be later replaced by cheaper and sturdier flat ones.
In 1979 a second series was ordered, fitted with equipment for use with control cars. At the end of the 1980s the whole group consisted of 150 units which allowed the retirement of the then old D341
FS Class D341
The FS Class D341 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in Italy, introduced in the 1950s and still in service. most of the remaining units are in service with La Ferroviaria Italiana .-History:...
and D342 locomotives.
Description
The locomotive follows the general unified characteristics of other engines about the chassis and mechanical design. The biggest differences are inside the electrical part: the two MTSC 039/19 DCDirect current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
motors (permanently in parallel) are fed by a three-phase AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
generator (in place of a DC one as previous locomotives) through a Graetz Bridge
Rectifier
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current , which periodically reverses direction, to direct current , which flows in only one direction. The process is known as rectification...
.
A high tension secondary DC generator provides a 300 kW
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
/2750 V output, able to supply enough power for 7/10 coaches depending on the type of climatising equipment installed.
The prime mover is a diesel engine is produced by FIAT
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, type A210-12 supercharged with 12 90° “V” cylinders with a displacement of 95700 cm3 that produces 1560 kW at 1500 rpm. The engine is cooled by a forced circulation of cooling fluid through radiators
Radiator (engine cooling)
Radiators are used for cooling internal combustion engines, mainly in automobiles but also in piston-engined aircraft, railway locomotives, motorcycles, stationary generating plant or any similar use of such an engine....
with two hydraulically driven fans.
The alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
is controlled by an electronic PWM
Pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation , or pulse-duration modulation , is a commonly used technique for controlling power to inertial electrical devices, made practical by modern electronic power switches....
control unit which is commanded by a 13 step regulator.