A Closer Look At The Locomotive Engine : Blog : GE Global Research

A closer look at the locomotive engine

It’s hard to get an appreciation for the scale of the diesel locomotive engine. Click on the picture of the engine at left to see a video taking a closer look at our single cylinder engine and some engine components.

Large engines are constructed with modular engine cylinders. In other words, each cylinder on a locomotive engine is one individual module, called a power assembly. This design makes it easier to service the engines. It also makes it relatively straightforward to construct a test bed with one power assembly. The portion of the power assembly that you see on our single cylinder engine test bed is circled in orange on the engine model.

For those of you who like numbers, here are some specifications of our GE Evolution Engine: Bore = 250 mm, Stroke = 320 mm, Displacement per Cylinder = 15.7 Liters, Rated Speed = 1050 rpm.

October 27th, 2006 | Global Research, Power Conversion Systems

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Comments

Considering the fact that the engine has 12 cylinders and you are running tests on only one cylinder, do you have to take into account how the cylinder will perform when in the actual engine (i.e. synergistic effects)?

Bryan | 10/30/06, 9:07 AM

Bryan – Great Question! The single cylinder engine (SCE) is missing all the rotating inertia of a long crankshaft and 11 other cylinders. We simulate this with a 1.5 ton flywheel. Another thing to think about is the vibration modes. In multi-cylinder applications, the cylinders are firing at different times and even out the vibrations. On the SCE, we have counter-rotating balancing shafts to manage the vibrations. Thanks for the comment!

Jenny | 2/07/07, 11:39 PM

dear sirs
pls kindly advise the total weight of the piston+rings and the piston rod assembly until the crankshaft .
pls kindly advise the above parameeter.

many thanks for advising the above information.
is it possible to sent the above reply to my e.mail as well thanks in advance .
j.waldhorn

j.waldhorn | 3/13/07, 1:06 AM

dear sirs
do you have any details about diesel engine streight line 250 mm bore cylinder ,

preferable two strock low revolution 90 – 200 per minute max diesel engine!

piston strok 500 – 1000 mm

piston moovment 7-10 meter per second

need to know the total weight of piston +rings+piston rod assembley until crankshaft.

needs to know it type of fuell and its consumption, per strock .

with many in advance for your help
yours j.waldhorn

j.waldhorn | 3/13/07, 1:19 AM

Good gravy that is awesome.

When I was a boy, my father worked for the railroad, and I have very vague memories of him actually putting me (probably just my legs) INSIDE a diesel locomotive engine cylinder when one was going through maintenance. He told the story to me later and stirred up memories of the experience.

ever since then I’ve been absolutely fascinated with locomotives, and I envy you, Jenny. I would love to do what you do.

jeremiah johnson | 6/28/07, 8:47 PM

Thanks, Jenny, for taking the time to explain prime mover research in detail!

Allen Jenkins | 8/05/07, 12:49 AM

Impressive engine! Can you tell me the fuel consumption rate at a power output of 50% or 80% or other percentage?

B. R. Bonine | 9/12/07, 3:39 PM

I guess that any improvement for such a big engine could have a positive impact on the environment.

If not a secret, could you highlight some elements of the engine functionality you are working to improve?

Gheorghe Curelet-Balan | 10/15/07, 11:19 AM

Jenny,

You are one beautiful woman… your smile,
your personality, they way you talk, everything…

and you like diesel engines too!!!

truly one of a kind. : )

art

Art Flores | 10/25/07, 11:16 AM

Hey Jenny. It has been a long time since we had a new Rail blog entry. Any exciting new developments?

Bryan | 12/26/07, 9:42 AM

This summer I watched diesel prices pass $5/gal. I figure this would encourage GE to look at alternative fuels. Personally, I don’t think there is enough bio diesel, new or used to supply the world market. So, what other fuels would work in a diesel engine? what are the characteristics that make a diesel fuel? Would hydrogen, natural gas, LPG or these gases with some additive, be a possible diesel fuel? Have you looked into fuel cells? Do they have the power density to supply 1500 to 2000 HP? Have you looked at turbine electric engines using somthing other than kerosine?

These questions have been bothering me for quite awhile so I hope you can take the time to answer.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sincerely yours,

George Lindegren

George Lindegren | 11/08/08, 5:14 AM

why can’t you combine a small turbine alternator combination (high tourqe)turbine engine small enough for an automobile. power going electronic control panel then to a/c traction motors. recepitatig piston engines are dinasoaurs. rotation is always the best prime mover and turbines can run on any fuel. piston engines waste so much enegy in there operation. also you would gain efficency because you wouldn’t have all the frictional losses due to transmisson of motion. i’m just a mechanic but i always wondered why no one ever come up with a replacement for the piston engine. i’m now working as a locomotive engineer for norfolk southern and we have locomotives wit A/C traction motors you could make smaller ones for automobile’s. useing batteries to generate electricity i idiotcate. turbine alternators are the anwser!!

william c green | 11/19/08, 5:10 PM

I have locomotive engine 7FDL16, what are the parameters of the turbocompressor 7S1616***? speed (rpm), temperature (oF), compression ratio (P2/P1), AMP (psig)?
1.- 3000 HP:
2.- 3600 HP:
3.- 3900 HP:

Thaks your

Victor

Victor Ortiz | 7/07/09, 3:29 PM

I have been watching the GE locomotive commercial and
love them. They are great! I stop what I’m doing to look and listen to it. It “takes my breathe away”.

Charles Milano

Charles Milano | 7/13/09, 11:13 AM

Hi GE, if this site is still running I would love some help. I am trying to find a 41E914227G1 GE Injector Pump that is used on this engine. I have only been able to find a new one for $1300 and am hoping that maybe someone at GE knows where a used/non-working one might be purchased. We are trying to see if we can modify the cam in the unit to alter the timing so we can use hydrogen in the engine. ??? thanks, bill

Bill Arblaster | 2/16/10, 11:58 AM

hey ge im looking for study materel shop manuals maintnice rebuild information web sites books whatever im planing to become locomotive mechanic can you help

matthew moseley | 3/23/10, 10:32 AM

hello is this thing on

matthew moseley | 3/26/10, 10:40 AM

I repair the 7fdl engine when they self destruct; usual cause is intercooler failure after turbo which sends a large quantity of coolant into airbox only to be ingested by cylinders #8. Connecting rods bend and break, usually with destructive consequences inside crankcase. This weeks’ blow-up was 8 out of 16 cylinders. Took me the entire week to remove, repair and re-install the master rods,articulated rods, pistons and PACs.

Mich Fors | 4/30/10, 10:58 PM

Is there any other instrumentation on the test engine, besides emissions monitoring, that wouldn’t be on an in service engine?

How is the engine loaded, ie alternator, eddy current (aka Telma) retarder, fuild (aka Voith) retarder?

What’s the approximate uptime for the engine? Is it only run to gather specific operational data, or is it run continuously and in overload conditions for reliability purposes?

Matth | 8/05/10, 6:12 PM