Kołobrzeg 2024-11-15

Hybrid Traction Unit (HZT).

The Impuls 2 Hybrid Traction Unit type EN63H-008 is the first Polish train that, in addition to an electric drive powered by a 3 kV DC traction network, also has a diesel drive, in the form of the MTU PowerPack system. This system allows the train to move on routes without electric traction.

The HZT Impuls 2 series train, type EN63H, factory designation 36WEh, was built in Nowy Sącz in secret and was developed entirely by Polish engineers and technicians. The vehicle is not only innovative, but above all practical and has perfectly fitted into the Polish railway network. As of December 31, 2018, the length of active railway lines in Poland was 19,200 km, including 11,900 km electrified. In the times of the People’s Republic of Poland, it was planned to electrify the entire railway network. However, the national economy, ineptly run by the communists, could not carry out this plan. The HZT Impuls 2 type EN63H (36WEh) vehicle uses innovative technologies that were combined into an efficiently operating system.

In 2019, the vehicle was officially presented during the 13th International TRAKO 2019 Fair in Gdańsk. During this fair, NEWAG S.A. received the main prize in the prestigious competition named after engineer Ernest Malinowski, for products and technical innovations used in the railway industry. The Hybrid Traction Unit Impuls 2 type EN63H (36WEh) was distinguished in the competition.

HZT NEWAG IMPULS 2 type EN63H (36WEh) is the newest and most modern traction unit in the world, which is already used in Poland by several regional railways. This vehicle has stopped the creation of further blank spots on the map of the Polish Railway Network, which excluded a significant part of Polish society from access to this means of transport. The first vehicles of this type were purchased by: the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the Łódź Voivodeship and the Wielkopolska Voivodeship.

HZT NEWAG IMPULS 2 type 3 EN63H (36WEh) is a three-car train that moves at 160 km/h under electric traction, and thanks to combustion engines, on tracks without wires, moves at 120 km/h. These are parameters that perfectly fit into Polish tracks. The train takes 330 passengers on board, and importantly, it is adapted for people with limited mobility. Passengers have at their disposal: WIFI, 230 V AC power sockets, USB ports, air conditioning, space for transporting a bicycle, a modern passenger information system, window tables, luggage racks, closed toilets.

It can be added that NEWAG also offers bimodal vehicles, i.e. with an additional combustion module. No carrier has ordered such a vehicle yet. Vehicles with hybrid or bimodal drive guarantee a running speed of up to 120 km/h.

West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

The West Pomeranian Voivodeship is the first region to introduce hybrids to regular connections. Two NEWAG trains began carrying passengers on the Szczecin-Kołobrzeg route in January 2021. In December 2022, three more trains were accepted.

In the agreement with NEWAG, signed in 2020, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship local government, in addition to the basic order for 2 trains, provided for the possibility of ordering up to ten more under the option right. Thanks to this, after purchasing the first two vehicles, it was possible to order five more on the same terms, i.e. at the same price. And later five more.

The West Pomeranian Voivodeship is crossed by standard gauge railway lines with a total length of 1,635.9 km. There are 1,257 km of railway lines in use, including 424 km of at least double-track lines, and 833 km of single-track lines. The length of electrified railway lines is 749 km. There are 886.9 km of non-electrified lines, or 54%.

Currently (2023), seven modern dual-drive vehicles are running on West Pomeranian railway routes. They have travelled over 500,000 km. They have proven themselves in everyday use. They provide great comfort to passengers. Dual-drive vehicles run from Szczecin to Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, Szczecinek, Słupsk.

However, there will be more of them. Last week, the Voivodeship Board approved the announced decision to purchase five more hybrid trains. The order will be completed this year and its value is PLN 123 million gross.

A secret war is being waged on the sidelines of the electrification of railway lines in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The Germanic lobby is pushing for the electrification of the lines with an alternating current system with a voltage of 15 kV and a frequency of 16 2/3 Hz. As a result, there would be even greater Germanic interference in the Polish economy.

Data T-T HZT NEWAG IMPULS 2 type EN63H (36WEh):

The train consists of three cars. Axle arrangement Bo’2’2’Bo. Net weight 119,000 kg. Gross weight 120,500 kg. Maximum axle load on the track 183.3 kN. Number of passengers up to 330 people. Length with couplers 59.30 m. Rated power 1,600 kW. Power supply 3 kV DC. Entrance door clearance 1.30 m. Entrance threshold height from railhead 0.62 m. The train can be operated at ambient temperatures from -25 to +40 degrees Celsius. Maximum operating speed; 120 km/h – in diesel mode, 160 km/h – in electric mode. Starting acceleration; ≥0.4m/s² – in diesel mode, ≥1.1 m/s² – in electric mode. Kinematic gauge PN-EN 15273-2:2013. Rail gauge 1435 mm. LED lighting. There is an AED defibrillator on board the train.

PowerPack.

The PowerPack series 1800 and 1600 have been designed as a compact and flat structure specifically for installation under the floor or on the roof of a traction vehicle. Thanks to this, each PowerPack can be individually configured to the requirements of a given rolling stock manufacturer.

The internal combustion drive is provided by MTU 4000 series diesel engines with a power of 390 kW. The 36WEh trains are equipped with two power units called PowerPack. Each of them consists of a 6-cylinder, in-line MTU diesel engine with turbocharging, with a power of 390 kW. The engine can work with a hydromechanical ZF traction transmission or with a power generator. The latter solution is used in Impuls 2 type 36WEh trains. The engine also has auxiliary devices such as: engine cooler, alternator, air conditioning compressor and air intake and exhaust system. These engines are characterized by; high reliability, ease of maintenance, long periods between repairs and low specific fuel consumption. The transmission is optimized for speeds up to 120 km/h. The MTU 4000 series diesel engines are manufactured in 6H, 8V, 12V, 16V and 20V cylinder configurations, and are suitable for installation in a wide range of locomotives, DMUs and HZTs. They use MTU Common Rail fuel injection. The diesel engines have a good power-to-weight ratio. In the HZT Impuls 2 train, the internal combustion engine drives a 360 kW generator, which provides a voltage of 2,700 V to 3,050 V.

The MTU PowerPack uses engines; 6H1800 or 12V1600, which are located centrally. The rotational speed of the engine shaft is transmitted either to the gearbox or to the traction generator. On the opposite side of the PowerPack is the cooling system and optional other equipment: on-board generator, air compressors, air conditioning, CaPos. The exhaust system is on one side of the internal combustion engine, and the air intake is on the other side of the engine. The whole unit rests on a single frame, which can be mounted under the floor of the wagon body or on its roof. Hydraulic, mechanical or electric transmissions can be used in the unit. Thanks to its compact design, the PowerPack has a Plug & Play configuration, which allows for quick assembly or disassembly and easy access to components. This solution also reduces the weight of the entire unit. MTU PowerPack has electronic control of the most important operating parameters of the unit, which allows for ongoing monitoring of the technical condition of the drive unit. MTU PowerPack meet the EPA Tier 3, 4i and EU Stage IIIB standards. MTU PowerPack have applied selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, or in Polish, reduction of nitrogen oxides NOx. Without a doubt, the drive has a low vibration level and an acceptable noise level.

MTU PowerPack with a power of 2 x 390 kW is installed, for example, in PESA Link and NEWAG 222M Impuls SZT trains. The same drive unit is installed in foreign Bombardier Turbo Star SZTs. In turn, 1 to 4 PowerPack 390 kW drive units are installed in Alstom Lint 54 passenger trains; depending on the number of carriages.

MTU also offers Hybrid PowerPack. This is a system additionally equipped with batteries, with a power of 30.6 kWh to 122.4 kWh. This solution has a mechanical transmission and an electric motor or only an electric motor.

Description of HZT NEWAG IMPULS 2 type EN63H (36WEh).

HZT NEWAG IMPULS 2 type 36WEh is a train consisting of three wagons, with the following designations; first wagon “A”, second middle wagon “C”, third end wagon “B”. The train has all the features of EZT Impuls 2 type 36WE. These features include an economical driver’s cabin with the possibility of adding a place for an assistant. The cabin has individual air conditioning and heating. A refrigerator, kettle, microwave, sink and additional cabinets can be installed. The mechanic’s cabin has separate doors leading from the outside, both on one and the other side. The previous EZT Impuls 1 did not have such doors. There is only one door from the passenger section to the cabin. There is no door between the cabin and the engine room, which increases the noise level in the cabin.

Switching from the traction network to diesel traction is simple. We set the direction of travel to Zero. On the systems screen, in the device tab, we set the operating mode window. We lower the pantograph. After a few seconds, we turn on the diesel mode on the screen. When the electronics switch, we return to the main screen and use the same lever from the pantograph to start the PowerPack. We must remember to turn on the high-speed switch. It all takes a dozen or so seconds. We do the same in reverse. The pantographs are placed on the middle section of the train.

The floor in the Impuls 2 vehicle is at a height of 0.62 m, and above the bogies 0.76 m. However, in the first and last carriage, where the PowerPack is under the floor, it is higher. Individual carriages can be equipped with a different number of passenger doors. Type 36WEh has one pair of passenger entrance doors in each carriage. This extends the passenger exchange time, but increases the number of seats. The door clearance is 1.30 m. An additional advantage is the reduced number of door automation systems. The interior of the train was designed in consultation with Koleje Wielkopolskie. The entire train is Class 2. The middle carriage is adapted for the travel of disabled people and the transport of bicycles and baby carriages.

In the middle section there is one large toilet in a closed system. The toilet doors are opened manually, because in Impuls 1 trains the automation was failing. The toilet is adapted to serve disabled passengers and is equipped with a baby changing table. The vehicles are equipped with air conditioning, wireless internet, monitoring, electronic passenger information system, fire alarm, defibrillator, loading ramps for trolleys.

The electric drive motors have a power of 400 or 500 kW. The EN63H (36WEh) vehicle uses 4 x 400 kW electric traction motors. These are three-phase asynchronous motors and are electronically controlled via an inverter. There is one inverter for each trolley. The mechanical transmissions are two-stage.

The vehicle is equipped with automatic Scharfenberg type couplers. A novelty are the covers, which are easy to unlock and move up, because they are permanently connected to the coupler. There is no possibility of losing them.

EN63H-008.

The NEWAG EN63H-008 train has the factory number 36WEh-020. EVN: 90 512 440 049-0 (PL-PREG A), EVN: 90 512 440 050-8 (PL-PREG B), EVN: 90 512 440 051-6 (PL-PREG C). The train was built in 2022. On June 9, 2022, the train was incorporated into the PolRegio; West Pomeranian Plant in Szczecin. On June 14, 2022, the official presentation took place at Szczecin Główny station. In July 2022, a supercapacitor was installed on the train. On September 20, 2022, the train was presented at the Innotrans 2022 trade fair in Berlin. The train was painted in white and blue with pixels and the words HYBRID.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman