IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON THE DESIGN OF METRO AND LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS

FOCUS ON GULF COUNTRIES

Hala Mohtasseb

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SUMMARY

METRO AND LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS / GULF AREA

ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS

GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERITICS

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

1- HIGH TEMPERATURES

2- DUST ISSUE

3- HUMIDITY

SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED

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METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS GULF AREA

Rapidly-growing population & severe traffic congestion in GULF countries

Need to build an urban rail system to provide additional public transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.

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METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS GULF AREA

ALREADY UNDER OPERATION

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : DUBAI Metro

Operated since 9th of Spetember 2009

5 car-trainset / fully automatic driverless trains .

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METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS GULF AREA

ALREADY UNDER OPERATION

SAUDI ARABIA : MECCA Metro

• Operated since 15th of November 2010

• 12 car-trainset

• manual driving with ATP system onboard .

• Will be operated as a driverless mid 2011 .

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METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS GULF AREA

UNDER TENDERING / DESIGN PHASE PROCESS

KUWAIT :

4 Metro projects

DUBAI

El Safouh tramway project

ABU DHABI

Metro and LRT projects

QATAR

Metro and LRT projects

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ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS

COMPETITION IS TOUGH BETWEEN ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS !

To win the tender, the BEST PRODUCT WITH LOWER PRICE is proposed

offer their standard products / trains / systems .

Minimize modifications by limiting Customization only to interior and exterior design .

Metro and LRT projects FOR GULF COUNTRIES :

All standard products suggested MUST be Reviewed and modified eventually to fit severe environmental conditions ( heat , sand and humidity ) ,

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GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS

High temperatures Could reach 50°C in certain countries

Dusty / Unexpected Sand storms Kuwait latest sand storm ( 25th of March 2011)

High level of humidity

Especially in United Arab emirates

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GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS

KUWAIT Highest monthly average

high temperature 45 °C in July.

Maxi. relative humidity : 43%

Dust and unexpected sand storms

Latest 25th March 2011

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Average maximum temperature : 39°C

Maximum relative humidity : 90%!

• Sand storms in UAE :

27TH of March 2011

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GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS

Months AverageMaximum

Temperature (Celsius)

AverageMinimum

Temperature(Celsius)

Average Maximum Humidity(Avg %)

January 23 12 90

February 24 14 89

March 27 16 85

April 30 18 83

May 34 22 80

June 36 25 85

July 38 28 80

August 39 28 82

September 37 25 85

October 33 22 87

November 31 18 86

December 26 14 88

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GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS

SAOUDI ARABIA Highest monthly average

high temperature 45 °C.

Maximum relative humidity : 40%

sand storms :

Latest 25th of october 2010

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

STANDARD DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN EQUIPMENTS / METRO SYSTEM

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Traction system, braking system , auxiliary inverterBrake resistor ATC antennas

Bogie brake pads , motors

Air conditioning systemRadio antennae etc ..

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

STANDARD DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN EQUIPMENTS / LRT SYSTEM

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Air conditioning systemRadio antennae etc ..

Traction system, braking system auxiliary inverterBrake resistor

Bogie ,brake pads , motorsOther antennas

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )

IMPACT ON OPERATION OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

LEADING TO FAILURE /CUT-OFF OF THE SYSTEM

INCREASE OF CURATIVE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS

Main systems concerned :

- Air conditioning system

- Traction system

- Braking system

- Auxiliary inverter

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IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

DUST ISSUE

IMPACT ON OPERATION OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAND FILTERS

LEADING TO FAILURE /CUT-OFF OF THE SYSTEM

INCREASE OF CURATIVE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS

CLEANING OF FILTERS MORE OFTEN

Main systems concerned :

- Air conditioning system ( fresh air and mixed air filters )

- Traction system

- Braking system

- Auxiliary inverter

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IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR

HUMIDITY

MIXED WITH POLLUTION, IMPACT ON ADHESION VALUE AVAILABLE ON THE TRACK

LEADING TO LOWER DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE TRAIN

CORROSION OF CARBODY STRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENTS LOCATED UNDEFRAME AND ON THE ROOF OF THE TRAIN

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SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED

HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )

1-THERMODYNAMIC STUDY OF EQUIPMENTS DISTRIBUTION

OPTIMIZATION OF HEAT DISTRIBUTION ON THE ROOF AND UNDERFRAME OF THE TRAIN

ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS EXIST FOR SOME SYSTEMS :

Air Conditioning System :

in order to decrease the temperature at the air inlet

Braking resistor :

Replace braking resistor by ‘super capacitors ‘

=> decrease temperatures locally

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SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED

HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )

2- REDUNDANCY OF SYSTEMS ESPECIALLY IN CASE OF DRIVERLESS SYSTEMS

( FIRST FAILURE MUST BE TRANSPARENT FOR OPERATION OF THE TRAIN )

HIGHER AVAILIBILITY

THINK OPERATION FROM THE START OF DESIGN PHASE

CHALLENGE : TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN AVAILIBILTY & RELIABILITY:

The Higher is the AVAILIBILTY the lower would be RELIABILITY of the train .

3- RETURN OF EXPERIENCE ON SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

DUBAI Metro

MECCA Metro

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SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED

DUST ISSUE

1-CHOOSE ADEQUATE SAND FILTERS FOR SYSTEMS

STUDY OF GRANULOMETRY OF LOCAL SAND

SEARCH FOR FILTERS WITH MINIMUM MAINTENANCE REQUIRED OR MAINTENANCE FREE

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SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED

HUMIDITY

1-CHOOSE ADEQUATE WHEEL SLIDE/WHEEL SLIP PROTECTION

DYNAMIC TEST OF THE TRAIN ON TRACK (TYPE TEST)

2-CHOOSE ADEQUATE MATERIAL TO MINIMIZE CORROSION

STAINLESS STEEL

ALUMINIUM

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THANK YOU !

Hala Mohtasseb

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