Indian locomotive class WAG-9
The Indian locomotive class WAG-9 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in the 1995 by ABB Group for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge, AC Current, Goods traffic, 9th generation locomotive. They entered service in 1996. A total of 1996 WAG-9 have been built at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, with more units being built at Diesel Locomotive Works and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. It was the most powerful freight locomotive of its fleet until the formal induction of the WAG-12.
The WAG-9 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways serving passenger trains for over 25 years. A passenger variant of the WAG-9 was developed namely the WAP-7 locomotive by modifying the gear ratio to pull lighter loads at higher speeds.
Introduction
The WAG-9 locomotive is referred to as the "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive of the Indian Railways. It was conceived in response to the extreme growth in the rail freight transportation sector, which is considered to be of great importance to the growth of the economy of India. The need for more electrification and electric locomotives in India had increased. Around 60-65% of the freight haulage of the IR takes place on the electrified section of the Golden Quadrilateral and diagonals. These are very busy routes, so clearance is a necessity. Electrical powers give it a great sectional clearance ability. Thus, these locomotives are important for the Indian Railways.These locomotives have entered the Western Railway zone of Mumbai. The first 22 units were imported from Adtranz. Of these, the first six were fully assembled and rest were in kit form. Again in the kit form, seven were completely knocked down and the rest were partially assembled. CLW started producing these traction motors on 1 November 1999. The units built by ABB have double-pan pantographs while the CLW built units have single pan pantographs which are common in India. This class had a capacity to MU several units, but IR restricts them to two, because of dynamic loading restriction on most bridges. Regenerative brakes provide about 260 kN of braking effort.
The WAG-9H also has different application software than the WAG-9. The first WAG-9H was commissioned on 30 June 2000. The #30130 prototype was housed at Gomoh. This was then converted back to standard WAG-9 in 2002. This unit has a livery of twin white stripes on green, instead of yellow stripe on green, seen on the other WAG-9s.
The WAG-9i was introduced in 2010, and was #31215. It was homed at the GMO shed. With IGBT, even if one traction motor failed, other traction motors can function with a total output of 5500 hp.
Newer WAG-9 units have "CLW Glorious 50 years" marked on their sides. Some WAG-9s are fitted with a solid cowcatcher while others are fitted with grilled cowcatchers. Some have American style flasher lamps while others have Indian style flasher lamps. http://elocos.railnet.gov.in/Study_Material/TSD_3Ph.pdf.
Newer versions of the WAG-9 feature full Insulated-gate bipolar transistor traction control; the debut model was the WAG-9 31248. The class as a whole is denoted by the WAG-9i prefix in its model number, although there is a technical variant of this class named WAG-9H, with the "H" meaning "Heavy".
The WAG-9H/9Hi locomotives are the second heaviest in regular service in India, the only freight-dedicated three-phase AC locomotives in the country, and the only electric locomotives in India fitted with IGBT. They are also the freight locomotives with the highest operational speed in India.
It is similar to the WAP-7 class locomotive but features a different gear ratio, which makes it suitable for heavy freight operations. In November 1998, the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works started producing these with indigenous components. The first of which, named Navyug, was produced on 14 November 1998. Like the WAP-5 units, the WAG-9 has GTO thyristor converters and three-phase asynchronous motors.
Operations
WAG-9 has quickly become one of the important locos in the Indian railways. With its higher power, this locomotive has replaced WAG-7 which was the main electric loco before WAG-9's arrival. Applications where twin WAG-7s were required are now handled by a single WAG-9. This includes both leading a long consist and for banking operations. The regenerative braking capabilities of WAG-9 has also helped reduce the electricity consumption. The original WAG-9 had some wheel slippage incidents while hauling heavy load. This was rectified through the introduction of WAG-9H and subsequently using WAG-9i. This has significantly reduced the issue that were associated with the original version.Chittaranjan Locomotive Works turned out its first 9,000 hp WAG-9 freight locomotive on 31 March 2019, the last day of the financial year. This 9,000 hp version of the WAG-9H has been classified by IR as WAG-9 HH. The first H stands for higher axle load and the second H stands for the higher power rating. The class has been allocated a block of serial numbers starting with 90001, the number of the first unit. The decision to upgrade the power output of the WAG-9 was taken to partly meet the demands of the upcoming electrified Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The upgraded locomotive class will also augment hauling capacity on the existing network of the Indian Railways.
Future Developments
WAG-9s are modified to have high-reach pantographs. This is to enable them carry double-stack containers in electrified sections. In such sections, the Overhead wires are placed in a higher position.WAG-9HH:
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works turned out its first 9,000 hp WAG-9 freight locomotive on 31st March 2019, the last day of the financial year.This 9,000 hp version of the WAG-9H has been classified by IR as WAG-9 HH. The first H stands for higher axle load and the second H stands for the higher power rating. The class has been allocated a block of serial numbers starting with 90001, the number of the first unit.
Locomotive sheds
Named Locos
- WAG-9 31022 Navyug
- WAG-9 31023 Navjyoti
- WAG-9 31024 Navdisha
- WAG-9 31030 Navshakti
- WAG-9 31033 Navoday
- WAG-9 31058 Nav Ghanshakti
- WAG-9 31086 Dr Silver
- WAG-9 31100 Navshatak
- WAG-9 31112,31121 Navpragati
- WAG-9 31162 Nav Shakti
- WAG-9 31215,31255 Naveen
- WAG-9 31475 Ashok
- WAG-9 31619 Kaviguru
Performance
Gallery
Technical specifications
The WAG-9 technical specifications are:Traction Motors | ABB's 6FRA 6068 Axle-hung, nose-suspended, Class 200 Insulation, Forced Air Ventilation |
Gear Ratio | 77:15 / 64:18 / 107:21 |
Transformer | ABB's LOT 6500, Class A Insulation, OFAF cooling, Primary, Secondary rating, Auxiliary, Filter, |
2 Power Drives | WAG-9/9H : Power converter from ABB, type UW-2423-2810 with SG 3000G X H24 GTO thyristors, 14 thyristors per unit, OFAF cooling. Line converter rated at 2 x 1269V @ 50 Hz, with DC link voltage of 2800V. Motor/drive converter rated at 2180 V phase to phase, 971 A output current per phase, motor frequency from 0 to 132 Hz. WAG-9i : IGBT based alternatives from Bombardier and Crompton Greaves-CAF Power |
Bogies | . |
Drive Arrangement | Gear Pinion |
2 HCBO-605-115 type Traction Motor Blowers by Flakt and ABB | and |
Traction Motor Blower Motors of 200L55-RFXH2A-D1 type by Landert | 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, and Class F insulation |
2 Oil Cooler Blowers by Behr | . |
Oil Cooler Blower Motors of 200L55-RH2A type by Landert | 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, and Class F insulation |
2 TAO8-2174/15 type Transformer Oil Pumps by Fumettaz | |
Transformer Oil Pump Motors by Landert of 112M-2B type | 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2930 rpm, and Class F insulation |
2 TC10-2185/29 type Converter Oil Pumps by Plumettaz | |
112M-2F type Converter Oil Pump Motors by Landert | 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2860 rpm,., and Class F insulation |
2 2A3200 C13-T32 type Main Compressors by D&M | ,,, and, |
Main Compressor Motors of 200l55-RPAH8B type by Landert | 3 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 730 rpm,, and Class H insulation |
2 HCBO-415-60 type Machine Room Blowers by Flakt and ABB | ,, 415 VAC and maximum temperature rise of |
132M-RFXHE2C type Machine Room Blower Motors by Landert | 1 phase, 415 V, 50 Hz, 2830 rpm, and Class F insulation |
FF 3145 type Auxiliary Compressor by D&M and Bristol | and |
Auxiliary Compressor Motor by D&M | 110 V DC, 50 Hz, 1450 rpm and |
Ni-Cd type Battery by Saft Groupe S.A. and Nife | 110 V DC + 20% / -30%, 5 hrs discharging and 78 cells |
BUR 10 A 100 LVPS type Auxiliary Converter by ABB | 3 phase, 415 V and 100 kVA |
Nominal supply voltage | 22.5 kV |
Normal variation in supply voltage | 19-27.5 kV |
Occasional maximum voltage | 31 kV |
Occasional minimum voltage | 16.5 kV |
Variation in supply frequency | More or less 8% |
Distance between neutral section | |
Types of neutral section | , insulated overlap on both ends and neutral wire which is not earthed OR , insulated portion of Polytetrafluoroethylene on both sides and middle portion of neutral section which is solidly earthed |
Pantograph bounce | < |
Devices on the track | Tracks should have DC track circuits. Devices such as axle counters, block instruments and point machines may be employed |
Communication network | Control circuits, teleprinter circuits, VHF/UHF and micro-wave circuits may be employed |
Temperature of atmosphere | |
Temperature of atmosphere in direct sunlight | |
Temperature of atmosphere in shade | |
Temperature inside dead locomotive while exposed to direct sunlight | |
Dust concentration in terrain | Up to |
Operation in flood | At with water of above rail level |
pH value in atmosphere | 8.5 |
Sulphate in atmosphere | |
Chlorine in atmosphere | |
Conductivity in atmosphere | 130 micro Siemens/cm |
Altitude of operation | Between above sea level and sea level |
Vibration in traction motors | 300 g |
Starting resistance of BOXN wagons excluding locomotive on level track | 4 kg/ton |
Starting resistance of locomotive on level track | 6 kg/ton |
Rate of change of tractive effort | 20 kN/sec |
Rate of change of braking effort | 100 kN/sec |
Efficiency of line converter at continuous speed for full load | 97% |
Buffing load | |
Ground clearance above rail with full load and full worn wheels | |
Traveling distance annually | |
Life | 35 years |
Sandboxes | each |
Max difference in diameter of wheels on the same axle | |
Max difference in wheels of the same bogie | |
Overall max difference of diameter of wheels | |
Train brakes | , 35% adhesion |
Parking brake force | |
Auxiliary reservoir | |
Scavenge blower to traction motor blower | |
Oil cooling unit | |
Scavenge blower to machine room blower | and 415 V AC |
Cubicle auxiliary circuits 1 | |
Cubicle control circuits 1 | |
Central electronics 1 | |
Main reservoir | |
Central Electronics 2 | |
Cubicle control circuits 2 | |
Cubicle auxiliary circuits 2 | |
Filter cubicle | |
Cab heater and crew fans | 110 VAC |
Fire alarm | 1170 Hz |
Dials illumination level | 10-90% |
Heater capacity |