Knorr-Bremse Pursues Eco-Friendly, Sustainability Solutions in Rail Vehicles

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Source: Knorr-Bremse announcement

MUNICH – Knorr-Bremse, a global market leader for braking systems and other systems for rail and commercial vehicles, is presenting a wide range of system solutions aimed at further boosting the environmental compatibility and economic efficiency of the rail sector as a key future mode of transportation – including technologies for wear-free and low-noise braking and for reducing rail vehicles’ energy consumption.

“Sustainability is a global megatrend and will be a decisive factor in shaping the future of passenger and freight transportation worldwide,” said Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse and responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division. “Against the backdrop of climate change, the prospect of growing numbers of passengers and the systemic significance of the rail sector, Knorr-Bremse is forging boldly ahead with the development of technologies for sustainable, available and attractive rail transportation.”

“Given that the transportation system of the future will be expected to deliver environmental compatibility, Knorr-Bremse is systematically gearing its operations to the needs of rail vehicle manufacturers and operators,” said Dr. Nicolas Lange, Chairman of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems. “As a result of our systematic EcoDesign activities, our innovations are playing a decisive part in reducing wear, noise, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the rail sector and thus in further improving the operational efficiency, economy and ecological footprint of trains.”

Innovative braking technologies: Avoiding wear and noise

Through intelligent brake management, Knorr-Bremse enables priority to be given to wear-free and low-noise braking systems such as eddy current or electrodynamic brakes, helping to prolong the service lives of the brake pads.

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Knorr-Bremse Expands “Quiet” Rail Brake Portfolio

Even when the friction brakes have to be applied in braking maneuvers involving more rapid deceleration, the process known as blending enables the intelligent distribution of braking forces to keep wear to a minimum. As a result, all available adhesion is exploited to optimize the braking distance even under adverse track conditions. In high-speed trains for example, using the eddy current brake based on the principle of induction can reduce wear in the friction brake by as much as 90 percent.

Along with technologies that reduce wear in brake pads and blocks, Knorr-Bremse is helping to realize the quieter rail services increasingly demanded by society through its new generation of organic brake pads (“whisper brakes”) supplied as original equipment for freight cars. These Problock J816M brake blocks help to reduce braking noise by up to 10 dB(A) compared to conventional gray cast iron blocks – meaning that the noise is only half as loud to the human ear.

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In addition, the company’s upgraded intelligent Air Supply Unit (iASU) for multiple units and locomotives, complete with new big-data functionalities, delivers a low-noise air supply for pneumatic braking systems, making for even quieter standby operation of commuter rail trainsets, for example, in urban settings. People who live close to rail freight routes and rail depots are among those who will benefit from these two system solutions.

The entire announcement can be viewed by clicking HERE.

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