Applying methods to reduce rail wear in the railway systems for environmental protection

Abstract

Rail wear has a significant economical, safety and ecological impact in the process of the rail transport. In addition to the well known replacement methods, then methods of grinding and depositing metal by welding rails, positive effects can be achieved by applying a direct drive (synchronous high torque motor). Synchronous high torque motors with permanent magnet excitation have much better characteristics than electric gear motors. Following characteristics particularly stand out - high torque at a low number of revolutions, high torque overload, high level of beneficial effect, less weight and installation space, rapid dynamic response with great acceleration and deceleration, reduced number of installed mechanical components, lower noise and vibration intensity, lower power consumption, high reliability and operational safety. All stated advantages of a direct drive as one of the contemporary methods for rail wear decreasing in the process of the rail transport in the railway systems have considerable impact on the improvement of environmental protection.