Purpose: The purpose of the present work is to test experimentally equalization method for the outputs of multi-cylinder diesel engine cylinders basing on energy minimization of amplitude spectrum low-frequency band for diesel crankshaft instantaneous angular speed signal. Methods: The work uses the methods of digital signal processing, spectral analysis, differential calculus, multidimensional undifferentiated function optimization, experimental results processing. Results: The fulfilled experimental studies at bench diesel generator device as a part of locomotive diesel D50 (6CHN31.8/33) and traction generator MPT 84/39 ensure the possibility to use proposed earlier method for power equalization for the cylinders of multi-cylinder diesel engine basing on energy control of amplitude spectrum low-frequency band of crankshaft instantaneous angular speed signal. Unrvenness index for cylinder power is proposed, its sensitivity to cyclic supply change and the advance angle of fuel supply to diesel engine individual cylinders is estimated. Practical significance: The possibility to apply being proposed equalization method for the powers of multi-cylinder diesel engine cylinders for to adjust fuel equipment after diesel engine repair as with the systems of electronic fuel supply control as well as with hydromechanical fuel equipment has been confirmed experimentally. The use of given method eliminates the need to measure the temperature of exhaust gases and flash pressure in cylinders for fuel equipment adjustment that’s especially important for high-speed diesel engines which cylinder cover construction doesn’t imply indicated valves.

Purpose: Labor intensity reduction and equalization accuracy improvement of cylinder powers of a multi-cylinder diesel locomotive on account of application as a diagnostic parameter, characterizing cylinder power unevenness, — the energy of low-frequency band of spectrum for crankshaft instantaneous angular velocity (CIAV) signal. Methods: Methods of mathematical modeling of diesel crankshaft instantaneous angular velocity, mathematical modeling of diesel engine working process, digital signal processing, spectral analysis, differential calculus and multidimensional non-differentiable function optimization are used in the work. Results: Method for equalization of cylinder powers of a multi-cylinder diesel locomotive that’s based on a continuous monitoring of the spectrum of crankshaft instantaneous angular velocity signal is proposed and justified. Energy of low-frequency band of the signal spectrum of CIAV can be used as a diagnostic parameter, characterizing cylinder load unevenness. The parameter value minimization by means of sequential correction of cyclic fuel supply and fuel advance angle ensures the decrease in the pointed unevenness. Practical importance: The proposed method can be used when adjusting fuel equipment after the repair of a diesel engine as with electronic fuel supply control systems as well as with hydromechanical fuel equipment. The use of the given method excludes the necessity of temperature measurement for exhaust gases and flash pressure measurement in cylinders for fuel equipment adjustment that’s especially important for high-speed diesel engines which cylinder heads’ construction doesn’t provide for indicator cocks. In the engines equipped with electronic fuel control systems, the use of IAV signal spectrum low-frequency band energy as a diagnostic parameter makes it possible to automate fully the equalization process for cylinder load. The result of the proposed method application will be the reduction in the duration and labor intensity of diesel locomotives rheostat tests as well as the rise in diesel locomotives reliability and efficiency at the expense of uniform loading of diesel cylinders.

The article considers the possibility of using the finite element method for strength calculations of nodes and parts of modern locomotives. There are examples of solid-state models construction of bogie frames in SolidWorks software package. Developed finite-element models allow determining the tense-strained state of the elements of the crew part of locomotives. The final outcome of modeling is the construction of stress distribution diagrams in the locomotive bogie frame. The data obtained as a result of finite-element modeling can be recommended for use when creating new modern units of locomotives as well as for modernizing and increasing the reliability of existing.

Purpose: Efficiency increase of operational monitoring of technical state of gas-air tract (GAT) of a locomotive diesel, assessment of possibility of using locomotive regular measuring tools to monitor diesel GAT technical state; feasibility justification for expanding the list of GAT parameters that are monitored by locomotive board diagnostics. Methods: An intelligent classifier based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm is used to determine the current technical condition (TC) class of GAT. Training sample of 96 item volume for eight classes of GAT TC was formed using “Diesel-RK” software complex. Classifier structure three variants were studied, differing in the set of input parameter vector components: regular, with two inputs (pressure increase degree in a supercharger and exhaust gas temperature before a turbine), expanded, with additional control of turbocharger rotor rotation speed, and proposed, with control of air instantaneous consumption by a diesel instead. Model quality was assessed by cross-validation on five fragments and by classification results for test sample which wasn’t used while training. Results: Classification accuracy of testing sample by classifier with input parameter regular set doesn’t exceed 41%. The expansion of being controlled list of parameter on account of inclusion therein of turbocharger rotor rotation speed does not noticeably affect diagnostic system efficiency, increasing diagnostic accuracy only till 43%. At the same time, rotor rotation speed replacement with air instantaneous consumption rises testing sample classification accuracy till 91%. Practical significance: The effectiveness of the use of machine learning methods for operative monitoring of diesel GAT technical state at condition of optimization of the list of diesel parameters, controlled by locomotive board diagnostics tools, is confirmed. With the purpose to increase control efficiency it is recommended to include diesel instantaneous air consumption into the list with parallel exclusion from their of a turbocharger rotor rotation frequency.

Purpose: Experimental assessment of the effect of transient processes in a propulsion on the operational efficiency of a shunting diesel locomotive based on locomotive parameter monitoring during exploitation. Methods: As initial data for the analysis, the results are used of continuous monitoring of the values of the parameters of propulsion of TEM18 locomotive, equipped with an electronic control system for fuel supply ESUFT.01-06-03, an automatic control system for electric transmission of USTA locomotive and a remote data control system ASK, under heavy shunting. Evaluation of transient process influence was fulfilled by means of comparison of fuel real consumption on controller 4–6 positions with standard calculated consumption at the same working modes of locomotive propulsion at the absence of transient processes. Results: As a result of the statistical analysis of metric information, it is shown that, in contradiction to, existing in environment of locomotive industry specialist, stable notion on transient process essential influence in shunting locomotive propulsion on exploitation fuel consumption and on fuel accounting necessity during rationing, transient processes in diesel generator propulsion PDG1M of TEM2(18) diesel locomotive, equipped with the modern tools of control for diesel and electric transmission, do not affect operational fuel consumption and may not be taken into account when rationing fuel for shunting. The decision on the necessity and way of accounting additional fuel consumption in transient processes when rationing the consumption for shunting operation should be made for each series of shunting locomotive based on the results of monitoring the parameters of locomotive propulsion in exploitation. Practical importance: Article results allow to raise the accuracy of traction calculations and reliability of rationing fuel consumption for shunting job.