Dr. Anirudh Gautam

Abstract:

Indian Railways has been using electric and diesel locomotives for traction purposes since past 70  years. Traditionally these locomotives had electrical transmission with dc traction motors used for propulsion. The drive train included components for AC:DC conversion and to maintain the demand power curve of the traction system. DC motors and the AC:DC transmission system had lower transmission efficiency, frequent maintenance intervals and reliability issues. AC induction motors development and advancement in power electronics led to consideration for use of  AC motors for traction. The torque speed characteristics of the AC induction motors is not suitable for traction. However development of high speed high power GTOs and IGBTs led to reforming the AC motor characteristics to suit traction requirements. The variable frequency variable voltage drive became possible and led to use of AC induction motors for propulsion. This led to increase in drive efficiency, robust light weight designs and higher reliability of the systems. 

Diesel locomotive works at Varanasi had been manufacturing diesel locomotives with AC:DC drive since the early 1950s. These diesel locomotives are powered by a captive diesel engine coupled to an alternator. The alternator output is rectified and conditioned to be used by the traction motors. Traction motors are attached to the axles of the locomotive and are used for propulsion and dynamic braking.

 In 1997 Ministry of Railways signed a ToT agreement with General Motors of USA for technology transfer and manufacture of their state-of-the-art AC:AC high horsepower diesel locomotives at Varanasi, DLW.  These diesel locomotives were equipped with  diesel engines rated at 4500 hp.  As part of the technology transfer, the AC:AC drive was developed for Indian Railways in association with DLW. The technology was later indigenised with an Industry partner in India. This seminar discusses the various stages of development of the AC:AC drive for these high horsepower diesel locomotives.

Biography:

Dr.Anirudh Gautam is a mechanical and electrical engineer from prestigious SCRA scheme  of Indian Railways. He has served initial years on the Indian Railways in the maintenance of the carriage and wagon, maintenance and operation of steam locomotives, operation and maintenance of diesel locomotives and train and crew management in the challenging Eastern Sector of Indian Railways. He then worked in the area of manufacture of diesel locomotives at Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi and moved to the niche area of design and development of diesel engines for the locomotives. He is credited with design of the first hotel load feature on an export locomotive and was instrumental in building the first indigenous EMD design locomotive in India at DLW. He has developed the worlds first ALCO locomotive electronic fuel injection system which has been commercially successful. He developed the mobile Emission Test Car which has been used for measuring pollutant levels from diesel locomotives of Indian Railways. He has been working on the research and development of alternate and advanced propulsion systems. His main areas of interest are energy production devices, fuel cells, hybrid power trains and sustainable motive power systems, control systems development and structures optimization. His other area of specialization is Reliability Engineering and he has been instrumental in setting up a Center for Reliability and Integrated Systems Engineering at RDSO.

Dr. Gautam is recipient of various awards by the Ministry of Railways, including the coveted National Award for Outstanding service by the Minister of Railways. He is currently working on development of highly fuel efficient engine technologies for locomotive engines, design and development of natural gas engine technologies, use of methanol on locomotive engines and reduction of emissions from locomotive engines. He is the chairperson of the National Task Force for conversion of IC engines to operate on methanol. He is working on developing fuelcell based hybrid trainsets which is the future of railway traction.  He holds a Masters in Quality management from BITS Pilani, a Masters of Engineering in Engine Systems from University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA and a PhD in renewable energy and IC engines from IIT Kanpur.