Wagon-refrigerator: types and sizes

The refrigerator car is a universal covered structure intended for the transport of perishable goods. The quality of the goods being transported is ensured by the refrigeration unit. This category of equipment belongs to the class of isothermal rolling stock, it is mainly used for transportation of food products for a distance of more than 500 kilometers.

Description

The refrigerator car consists of an all-metal body, a spinal beam, a heat-insulating layer. From other analogues this transport differs by the presence of automatic cooling and electric heating. Refrigerant or ammonia, as well as energy produced by diesel generators, is used as refrigerant for refrigeration equipment. Heating is provided by electric stoves. In addition, the structure of the car includes a system of forced ventilation and air circulation in the cargo compartment.

The running unit is a dozens of carts with a pair of axles, which are equipped with boxes with roller bearings and springs of modification UVZ-I2 with a base of 2400 mm. Classification of such rolling stock is carried out on several parameters:

• Composition of the train (number of wagons).
• Autonomous variations.
• Type of coolant used.

In the case of group ammonia plants located in the central car of the convoy, the refrigerant is supplied by passing the mixture through special channels. In the stand-alone version, cooling is carried out in each unit separately.

Refrigerated car: technical specifications

Below are the parameters of the rolling stock in question with a base length of 21 meters (in parentheses are the figures for the 19 m version):

• The length along the axes of the auto couplers is 22.08 (22.08) m.
• The outer width of the body is 3.1 (3.1) m.
• The maximum height from the railhead is 4.74 (4.69) m.
• The length / width / height of the loading bay in meters is 17.6 (15.7) / 2.7 (2.7) / 2.1 (2.2).
• The total volume of the cargo part is 113 (102) cubic meters. M.
• Floor area (full) - 48.1 (42.6) sq. M. M.
• The indicator of carrying capacity is 36 (40) tons.
• The height of the floor grid is 102 (102) mm.
• Equipped containers - 48 (44) т.

The refrigerator car, the dimensions of which are given above, is equipped with a special door. Its width and height are two meters for both types of structures.

Standalone device

The stand-alone version is equipped with automatic refrigeration and energy devices. It is divided into the cargo hold and two machine rooms at the ends. The generator on diesel fuel and the fuel tank are installed on one pull-out frame, which makes it possible to remove the unit through the side entrance to the technical compartment.

The heating unit operates on liquid fuel, it makes it possible to ensure the heating of the diesel engine before starting at a low temperature. The generator has a switchboard, which serves to control and control instrument automation.

Refrigeration equipment is under the roof of the car, divided by a partition between the cargo room. In addition, the individual refrigerator car is equipped with an air cooler, fans, electric heaters, a condensing unit with a shield. The refrigerator can be dismantled via the front door if necessary.

Features

One of the engine rooms is equipped with a main switchboard. It is located next to the fuel tank, serves to control the operation of the equipment and adjust the thermal regime in the body. The cold flow is fed by electric fans to the part between the roof and the false ceiling, then through the provided slots enters the cargo bay.

Air covers the cargo and moves to the vertical channel through the floor grilles, is taken away by the fans, passes the air cooler, is pumped back into the working space. Similarly, circulation occurs during heating. Instead of the cooled air , a mixture heated by electric furnaces passes through the system. To remove excess air mass, special deflectors are provided. Condensate and water are eliminated by draining holes in the floor. An autonomous railcar refrigerator car is equipped with a passing electrical system designed to control the EPT (brake with pneumatics). This design makes it possible to use transport in passenger trains. Additional safety is provided by the parking brake.

The group variety

The rolling stock of this group consists of a refrigerating station located in a separate car, diesel, electric substation, and also a service compartment. The cold is produced by means of ammonia plants, transferred to other cars through a brine system. Pre-cooled liquid circulates through special batteries. Its processing is performed in the engine room.

Heating is carried out by turning on electric stoves mounted in the end parts of the body. The average power of each heating element is 4 kW. The devices are switched on automatically by means of a thermostat or from a central control point located in the hardware box.

Air circulation

Under the ceiling part there are channels for exhaust air discharge. The mixture is circulated by means of electric fans. They are provided in the end parts of the body. The refrigerated wagons, the photos of which are located below, have a control panel, from where the adjustment of the diesel engine is carried out and the necessary temperature conditions are maintained. Deflectors take away excess air, the inner lining of the sides is made of corrugated galvanized steel, the flooring is finished with rubber, there are metal grilles that can be raised and fixed in a vertical way.

About sections

The production sections of the BMZ consist of 4 refrigerators, each of which has a machine compartment with a pair of refrigerators operating on freon. The middle car is equipped with diesel generators and the main switchboard. The total volume of the composition is from 160 to 200 tons.

Analogues like ZB-5 (GDR) have four cargo and one diesel car. There are generators, an additional control cabin, technical rooms for personnel. Each section is maximally unified, including the parameters of the frame, walls, roof, equipment. Refrigeration units operate by switching on and off with automatic pulse signals after selecting the desired thermal mode. It is possible to manually control the devices through control from the cab of the diesel car. Thermostats allow to maintain the set temperature, refrigerators are powered by diesel from the plug connections existing on the ends of the walls. The refrigerator car is equipped with a corrugated galvanized steel casing. Some modifications have a sandwich-like design.

Sections of the ZA category also include five wagons, one of which is equipped with a service compartment and a power station. More large-scale variations consist of 12 wagons (10 refrigerators and a pair of technical models).

Domestic producers

The most used refrigerators on the Russian railway are modifications from two manufacturers. Bryansk Machine Works for the first time produced a refrigerator car, the characteristics of which are given above, in 1965. Production continued until 1990.

During this time, several models have been developed:

1. РС-5 is a refrigerating section of 5 wagons, which allows maintaining the temperature regime of the transported cargo from -20 to +14 degrees Celsius. The diesel car in this section is type 376.
2. Two-chamber section under the index 16-3045. The design allows you to store two types of different products, thanks to separate cameras, where you can set different temperatures.

Another well-known manufacturer of the wagons in question worked in the former GDR. The company FTD Fahrzeugtechnik Dessau AG produced a reflex train for the CMEA countries. This included five-car sections ZA-5, ZB-5, as well as autonomous modifications (ARV and ARVE).

In conclusion

Given that the weight of the refrigerator car is 209 tons, its maintenance requires special attention. As a rule, each unit is accompanied by a technical team. Her job is to look after the condition of the equipment, regularly check it, adjust the thermal mode, turn on the necessary thermostats and other devices.

Usually, each train is served by two brigades, which change after 45 days. Acceptance and delivery of the composition are made in empty condition (except for special cases on the orders of the chief of the depot). The composition of the brigade is established at the direction of RZD. As a rule, this is the chief and a couple of mechanics.