GB2495180A

GB2495180A - An underfloor cooling system for a rail vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2495180A
Application number: GB1213857.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Forner
Original assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
Current assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
Priority date: 2011-09-27
Filing date: 2012-08-02
Publication date: 2013-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-02
Also published as: GB2495180B; GB201213857D0; DE102011114354B3

Abstract

An under-floor cooling system 6 for a rail vehicle 1 which is driven, at least indirectly, by an internal combustion engine is provided. The cooling system 6 comprises: two lateral boundary surfaces 8 running parallel to a principal axis 7; at least two cooling heat exchangers 9 at least one of which is located on each of the lateral boundary surfaces 8, at least two fans 11 for generating a cooling air stream flowing through the cooling heat exchangers 9 transversely to the principal axis 7. At least one of the at least two fans 11 is located on one side in the area of the cooling heat exchanger 9 located on the respective lateral boundary surface 8 and at least one of the at least two fans 11 is located on the other side in the area of the cooling heat exchanger 9 located on the respective lateral boundary surface 8.The invention is characterized in that at least one fuel tank 12 for the internal combustion engine is located between the at least one fan 11 on the one side and the at least one fan 11 on the other side.

Description

Underfloor cooling system for a rail vehicle The invention relates to an under-floor cooling system for a rail vehicle as defined in detail in the preamble of claim 1. In addition, the invention relatesto a rail vehicle having such an under-floor cooling system.

Rail, vehicles are known from the general prior art. These are typically configured as locomoUves or in particular as so-cafled railcars. The vehicles usually have two equivalent directions of travel. In particular in railcars the drive train comprising an internal combustion engine and optionally a generator for generating electrical drive energy is frequently located in the substructure of the vehicle. The cooling system for this purpose can then be located in the roof area of the railcar or preferably as an under-floor cooling system likewise in the lower area of the vehicle. By this means no installation space required for transporting passengers 16 and/or goods is used.

In. the case of under-floor cooling systems it is now in particular the case that these typically have a prindpal axis which normally runs in the direction of travel of the rail vehicle or transverse to the direction of travel and in each case parallel to the rail bed. Cooling heat exchangers and fans for producing a cooling air stream flowing substantially transversely to the principal axis of the cooling heat exchanger are located on each of two lateral boundary surfaces running parallel to this principal axis. The cooling air stream is therefore typically taken in from outside onto the lateral surfaces of the rail vehicle and conveyed through the cooling heat exchangers. It then flows in the centre of the rail vehicle downwards again and optionally in the direction of travel or contrary to the direction of travel.

The structure is thereby comparatively large and in particular requires a comparatiely long overall lenth since the cooling heat exchangers must each be located in the area of the lateral boundary surfaces so that cooling air can flow through.

For the prior art reference is made to the following documents: DE 10 2008 052 044 Al -. 0E102008011329A1 -DE69701265T2 -DE60318234T2 OF 101 18 219 Al -DE4223647A1 -EP2142408B1 -EP091579461.

It is now the object of the present invention to optimize such a structure so that this can be achieved very compactly.

According to the irwention, this object is solved by an under-floor cooling system having the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of this are given in the dependent subclairns. In addition, a rail vehicle havhig such an under-floor cooling system solves the object.

Advantageous further developments of the rail vehicle are given in the.

respectively dependent subclaims.

The solution according to the invention provides for the integration of a fuet tank which is present and required anyway, in the under-floor cooling system. The at least one Fuel tank is located for this purpose between the at least one fan on the one side and the at least one fan on the other side. It therefore runs in the area of the principal axis of the under-floor cooling system between the two laterally disposed units comprising cooling heat exchangers and fans. it is thereby located in an installation space which otherwise remains largely unused and is merely used for line elements and/or air baffles. The overall structure can therefore be 3 - achieved very compactly and as an integrated structural unit comprising under-floor cooling system and fuel tank can be overall smaller than a structure of both components independently-of one another.

In various advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention, it can thereby be provided that the fuel tank simultaneously takes over the functionality of a specific guidance of the cooling air stream which ensures that* the fans located transversely towards one another with respect to the principal axis do not influence one another but that the heated cooling air which they take in after the cooling heat exchanger is removed to the side, i.e. in thedirection of travel, contrary to the direction of travel or transverse to the direction of travel and/or preferably downwards.

In a first embodiment, it can thereby be provided that the fuel tank tapers downwards transversely to the principal axis when installed as prescribed. The tank can therefore have a b-apezoidal or triangular structure or it can also have appropriate roundings. As a result, the heated cooling air blown transversely to -the direction of the principal axis from the fans towards the tank is preferably guided downwards. Additionally or alternatively to this, it can also be provided 26 that on its surfaces facing the fans the fuel tank in each case has at least one air baffle for specific guidance of the cooling air stream. Additionally or alternatively to this, it can further be provided that on its surfaces facing the fans the fuel tank hás surface shapes andJor surface structures for specific guidance of the coating air team. In addition to using the space in the area of the under-floor cooling system by the fuel tank, such a structure at the same time makes it possibte to achieve specific guidance of the heated cooling air, preferably downwards. In the area of the under-floor cooling system the fuel tank thereby takes over the positive functionality that it deflects and preferably diverts downwards the cooling air streams of the two fans which are otherwise directed towards one another. In order to avoid the fans mutually influencing one another, a baffle would otherwise be required here, which can be replaced by the fuel tanks and therefOre dispensed With.

In addition, in a particularly favourable and advantageous further development of the under-floor cooling sytem according to the invention, it is possible that line elements for coolant and/or energy and/or working media, in particular a hydraulic oil, are fastened on the outside on the at least one fuel tank. This structure proves to be particularly simple and very favourable with regard to the required components since typically energy for the fans, for example, in the form of electrical power or in particular in the form of hydraulic oil in the case of fans driven by hydraulic motors, must be transported in the area of the under-flooF càoling system. In addition, the cooling medium must be supplied to and removed from the cooflrig heat exchangers. The line elements required for this are typically * fixed in this area by means of appropriate holders. These holders can now be arranged in the area of the fuel tank. Thus, intermediate supports or the like which otherwise carry the holders far the line elements can be dispensed with. In addition to the saving of space by integrating the fuel tank in the under-floor cooling system, other components can be dispensed with sp that cot and weight of the entire structure can be reduced. -, Zn a further particularly favourable arid advantageous embodiment of the under-floor cooling system according to the invention, it can further be provided that line elements for cooling medium are located so that they run at least partially through the at least one fuel tank. This structure enables, for example, a part of the fuel tank to have line elements for the cooling medium flowing therethrough, in particular when the cooling medium is suppJied tothe cooling heat exchangers.

This results in some heating of the fuel in the fuel tank. Thiscan be crucially advantageous when using diesel as fuel and when operating the under-floor * cooling system in whiter since some of the fuel in the tanks is thus heated accordingly and clogging of the diesel fuel at low ambient temperatures can be

S

-avoided. Theoperating capability of an internal combustion engine in a rail vehicle fitted with such an under-floor cooling system (s thereby improved.

The initially pbcified object of the invention is additionally solved by a rail vehicle which has an internal combustion engine for the at least indirect driving thereof and an under-floor cooling system according to the invention. In a further preferred development, the principal axis of the Under-floor cooling system is aligned in the direction of travel and the lateral boundary surfaces are each located on one or the other lateral surface of the rail vehicle. The internal combustion engine either drives the rail vehicle directly via a transmission, that is mechanically, or it drives a generator-which then provides electrical power to drive the rail vehicle. The internal combusuon engine should preferably be configured as a diesel engine. The rail vehicle is therefore configured as a diesel-drived rail vehide, for example1 as a diesel-electric, diesel-hydraulic or diesel(hydro) -mechanically operated rail vehicle. In particular, in such a structure the under-floor cooling system according to the invention can display its advantage particularly well srnce it saves installation space and, by integrating the fuel tank in the under-floorcooling system, enables a very compact structure to be achieved. Under-floor cooling system and fuel tank can thereby be configured as an integrated structural unit, in particular as an integrated structural unit which has its own supporting structure. The structural unit can then be pre-fabricated, for example, independently of the rail vehicle and can be mounted independently of a drive module or together with such a drive module within the framework of the rail vehicle. 25.

Further advantageous embodiments of the under-floor cooling system according to the invention and the rail vehicle with such an under-floor cooling system according to the invention are obtained from the remaining dependent patent claims and become apparent by reference to the exemplary embodiment which is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the figures.

In the figures: Fig. 1 shows a side view of an example Fail vehicle; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of an under-floor cooling system shown schemabcally; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the under-floor cooling system in a first embodiment; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the under-floor cooling system in a second embodiment; Fig. 5. shows a plan view of an under-floor cooling system with line is elements fixed to the fuel tank; and Fig. 6 shows a plan view of an under-floor cooliñgsystem with another embodiment of the fuel tank.

* 20 in the diagram in Figure 1 a rail vehicle I can be seen from the example of a so-called railcar. The rail vehicle 1 consists of a carriage body 2 which can be moved by means Of bogie wheels 3 on indicated rails 4 in both directions of travel designated by F. Located between the bogie wheels 3, of which four on each side of the rail vehicle 1 are shown here as an example, in the under-floor area, he.

below the actual carriage body 2 is a drive module 5 and an under-floor cooling system 6. The drive module S can be constructed here in anianner known per se.

It can for example, comprise a diesel engine as internal combustion engine which is configured for the mechanical drive of the rail vehicle I by means of suitable transmissions. Alternatively to this, the drive module S can also be constructed as a so-called diesel electric drive module 5. The diesel engine as an internal c&nbustion engine would then drive a generator which provides electrical energy in order to electrically drive the rail vehicEe 1. Notwithstanding the predse structure of the drive module as a diesel drive or diesel electric drive, a cooling system is required for cooUng at least the internal combustion engine of the drive.

module 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown here this is configured as an under-floor cooling system 6. The under-floor cooling system 6 can be seen in -detail in the diagram of Figure 2 in a plan view. The plan view can be understood in practice as a plan view with dismantied carriage body 2.

The under-floor cooling system 6 has a central principal axis 7 which runs substantially in the direction of travel of the rail vehicle I and when the under-floor cooling system 6 is installed as intended, runs parallel to the ground or the rails 4. The under-floor cooling system 6 has two lateral boundary surfaces S which are located on both sides of the rail vehicle 1 when the under-floor cooling system 6 is installed. Cooling heat exchangers 9 are located in the area of the lateral boundary surfaces 8, where a cooling heat exchanger 9 is shown on each of the sides here for example. The cooling heat exchangers 9 are incorporated in a tooling circuit by means of line elements 10 for coolant shown subsequently. In this case, a single cooling circuit can be provided or if divided into several cooling heat exchangers, different cooling circuits can be provided, for example a high-temperature cooling circuit and a low-temperature cooling circuit Fans 11 are prcjvicledin order that the cooling heat exchangers 9 can have cooling air flowing therethrough from laterally outside in order to cool the cooling medium in the area thereof. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, two such fans 11 are shown on each side. The fans 11 can for example be driven by electric motor or in particular hydraulically. They convey a cooling air stream indicated by the dashed arrows through the cooling heat exchangers 9 transversely to the direction of the principal axis 7 or the direction of travel F of the rail vehicle 1. and thus tool the cooling medium. Since the carriage body typically follows the under-floor cooling system 6 upwards, the heated cooling air can typically only be diverted downwards or optionally also in the direction off the principal axis 7, that is in the direction of travel For contrary to the direction of travel F, depending on the selected direction of travel F of the rail vehicle 1. Most of this air is typically led off downwards, but when diverting inor contrary to the dire ion of travel F, care should be taken to ensure that the heated cooling stream is not diverted in the direction off the drive module 5 but typically in the opposite direction.

In the structure of the under-floor cooling system 6 shown here, a fuel tank 12 running substantially in the direction of the principal axis 7 is additionally provided between the fans lion one side arid the fans lion the other side of the principal axis 7. This fuel tank 12 thus utilises the installation space located between the fans 11. The under-floOr cooling system 6 thus constructed with integrated fuel tank 12 can thereby be constructed more compactly than would be achieved by an under-floor cooling system in conventional design and a fuel tank in conventional design. A very compact under-floor Soling system 6 with integrated fuel tank 12 can be achieved by means of the selected structure. The fuel tank 12 additionally takes over the shielding of the cooling air streams produced by the opposite fans li-on each side of the principal axis 7, which would otherwise be conveyed towards one another. The fuel tank 12 can thereby promote the diversion of these cooling air streams by appropriate superstructures or by its shape. In the diagram of Figure 3 such a structure is shown in a cross-section along the line A-A. The fuel tank 12 is thereby configured with a substantially rectangular crosssectiqn.

By means of an air baffle 13 or a plurality of such air baffles 13 disposed in the area of the fuel tank 12, it can be achieved that the air conveyed by the fans is diverted downwards so that the two fans 11 of the one side and the other side each divert the volume flows conveyed by them downwards and do not disadvantageously influence each other.

Additionally or alternatively to the use of air baffles 12, it would naturally also be feasible to configure the tank, as can be seen in the diagram in Figure 4, such that this tapers downwards transversely to the principal axis 7 i.e. for example is configured to be trapezoidal or having a triangular crass-section. This structure could additionally be supported accordingly by the air baffles 13. Additionally or alternatively to this, it is alsq possible to form the surface of the fuel tank 12 by means of surface structures, inserted ribs or the like such that due La the surface structure or the surface shape of the fuel tank 12, the diversion of the cooling air stream is produced in the desired rnarineror supported.

A plan view similar to the diagram in Figure 2 can again be seen in the diagram in Figure 5. Along with the components already explained, line elements can also be seen here. These are, on the one hand, the line elements 10 already mentioned for the cooling medium which lead from and to the cooling heat exchanger 9. In addition, line elements 14 can be identified which should in particular be configured as hydraulic lines in order to convey a working medium in particular a hydraulic oil, to the fans 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown here these are driven by means of hydromotors which are supplied with working medium fot driving, i.e. vith drive energy, by the hydraulic linis 14. It would also be feasible for the fans to be electric and to lay appropriate electrical leads instead of the hydraulic lines 14. The line elements.10, 14 can ideally be laid so that these are fixed on the outer surface of the fuel tank 12 by means of suitable holders. They are then preferably mounted laterally or as shown here for example at the top on the fuel tank 12. y this means further components which must be provided btherwise for receiving holders for the lné elements can be saved. The structure is as a result overall very simple and efficient and can help to save additional * 25 components. It is as a result accordirtgly more cost-effective; more compact and lighter.

In addition, supporting structurS 15 in the form of cross members can be seen in the diagram in Figure 5. These cross members, which are also shown in Figures 3 and 4, complete the under-floor cooling system 6 to form an integrated self-supporting structural unit which can be ued as a module by simply mounting in the framework bi the rail vehicle 1.

Finally another embodiment will be explained in the diagram in Fiure 6. One of the line elements 10 for the cooling medium is guided through the fuel tank 12 and preferably in the area in which it is guided through the fuel tank 12, can have a corresponding lengthening of the line length, for example, by a meander-shaped laying 16 of the line. The cooling medium is then heated accordingly when starling the internal combustion engine in the drive mOdule 5 so that heating of the fuel can be achieved by passage of the line element 10 for the cooling medium through th! fuel tank 12. This is particularly advantageous when using diesel fuel at very low ambient, temperatures since this can prevent clogging of the fuel at least in the area in which the line elements 10 for the cooling medium pass through the fuel tank 12. The line elements 10 can therefore in particular run 15, through the tank in a partial area of the fuel tank 12 in which the fuel is diverted -for conveying in the direthoñ of the internal combustion engine. As a result, even at low ambient temperatures, safe and reliable operation can be achieved very rapidly without the risk of the diesel clogging so severely that the operating capacity of the internal combustion engine is restricted. 2O,

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. An under-floor cooling system (6) for a rail vehicle (1) which is driven at least indirectly by an internal combustion engine, comprising 1.1 two lateral boundary surfaces (8) running parallel to a principal axis (7), 1.2 at least two cooling heat exchangers (9) of which at least one each is located on each of the lateral boundary surfaces (8), 1.3 at letht two fans (11) for generating a cooling air stream flowing through the cooling heat exchangers (9) transversely to the principal axis (7), of which respectively at least One is located on one side in the area of the cooling heat exchanger (9) located on the respective lateral boundary surface (8) and respectively at least one is. located on the other side in the.area of the cooling heat exchanger (9) located on the respective lateral boundary surface (8), characterized in that 1.4 at least one fuel tank (12) for the internal combustion engine is located between the at least one fan (1.1) on the one side and the at least one fan (11) on the other side.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1., characterized in that the cooling heat exchangers (9) are located transversely to the principal axis (7) on the outside and the fans (11) are located following the cooling heat exchangers () on the inside.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fuel tank (12) extends in its greatest extension in the direction or the principal axis (7).</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the fuel tank (12) tapers downwards transversely to the prindpal axis (7) when installed as prescribed.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on its surfaces facing the fans (11) the fuel tank (12) in each case has at least one air baffle (13) for specific guidance of the cooling air stream.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that on its sutfaces facing the fans (11) the fuel tank (12) has surface shapes andJor surface structures for specific guidance of the -. cooling air stream.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the line elements (10, 14) for coolant and/or energy and/or working media are fastened on the outside on the at least one fuel tank (12).</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the line elements (10, 14) for cooflng medium are located s'o that they run at leastpartially through the at least one fuel tank (12).</claim-text> <claim-text>9. Rail vehide (1) comprising 9.1 an internal combustion engine for the at least indirect driving thereof; 9.2 an under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of dairns 1 to 8.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The rail vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the principal axis (7) extends in the direction of travel (F) and the lateral boundary surfaces (8) are each located on one or the other lateral surface of the rail vehicle (1).</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The rail vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the principal axis (7) etends transversely to the direction cii travel (F).</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The rait vehiCle (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that under-floor cooling system (6) and fuel tank (12) are configured as an integral structural unit.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The rail vehicle (1.) according to claim 12, characterized in that the integrated structural unit has its own supporting structure (15).AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS FILED AS FOLLOWS:- 1. An under-floor cooling system (6) fox a rail vehicle (1) which is driven at least indirectly by an internal combustion engine, comprising two lateral boundary surfaces (8)running parallel to a principal axis (7), at least two cooling heat exchangers (9) of which at least one each is located on each of S the lateral boundary surfaces (8), at least two fans (11) for generating a cooling air stream flowing through the cooling heat exchangers (9) transversely to the principal axis (7), of which respectively at least one is located on one side in the area of the cooling heat exchanger (9) located on the respective lateral boundary surface (8) and respectively at least oneis located on the other side in the area of the cooling heat exchanger (9) located on the respective lateral boundary surface (8), : characterized in that * . at least one fuel tank (12) for the internal combustion engine is located between the at * * .* .. * .least one fan (11) on the one side and the at least one fan (11) on the other side. * ** * -a*.*,
2. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling heat exchangers (9) are located transversely to the principal axis (7) on the outside and the fans (11) are located following the cooling heat exchangers (9) on the inside.
3. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fuel tank (12) exiends in its greatest extension in the direction of the principal axis (7).
4. The undet-floor cooling system (6) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the fuel tank (12) tapers downwards transversely to the principal axis (7) when installed as prescribed.
5. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims I to 4. characterized in that on its surfaces facing the fans (11) the fuel tank (12) in each case has at least one air baffle (13) for specific guidance of the cooling air stream.
6. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims I to 5, characterized in that on its surfaces facing the fans (11) the fuel tank (12) has surface shapes and/or surface structures for specific guidance of the cooling air stream.Ic)
7. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims I toó, characterized in that the line elements (10, 14) for coolant and/or energy and/or working media arc fastened on 0.4.. * .the outsidc on the at least one fuel tank (12).*.**.. * .
8. The under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of claims I to 7, characterized in that * the line elements (10, 14) for cooling medium are located so that they run at least partially through the at least one fuel tank (12).
9. Rail vehide (1) comprising an internal combustion engine for the at least indirect driving thereof, an under-floor cooling system (6) according to one of daims I to 8.
10. The rail vehicle (I) according to claim 9, characterized in that the principal axis (7) extends in the direction of travel (E and the lateral boundary surfaces (8) are each located on one or the other lateral surface of the rail vehicle (1).
11. The rail vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the principal axis (7) etends transversely to the direction cii travel (F).
12. The rait vehiCle (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that under-floor cooling system (6) and fuel tank (12) are configured as an integral structural unit.
13. The rail vehicle (1.) according to claim 12, characterized in that the integrated structural unit has its own supporting structure (15).</claim-text>