COAL LOCOMOTIVE PROPOSAL NO. 7300-912

COAL IS AN ATTRACTIVE FUEL FOR RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVES BECAUSE OF ITS DOMESTIC ABUNDANCE AND LOW COST PER UNIT OF HEAT. ONE RESTRAINT IN COAL AS A LOCOMOTIVE FUEL IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. CONSIDERING THESE CONFLICTING CONDITIONS OF ATTRACTIVENESS AND DIFFICULTY IN USING COAL AS A FUEL, IT BECOMES QUITE IMPORTANT HOW THE COAL IS HANDLED AND CONVERTED TO HEAT FOR LOCOMOTIVE POWER. A STUDY OF HEAT ENGINES FOR USING COAL, LEADS US TO CONCLUDE THAT A GASIFIED COAL PRODUCER IS THE BEST METHOD FOR USING COAL. WE HAVE EXAMINED THE MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS INVOLVED: THE GAS PRODUCER, GAS CLEANER, CONTROLS, WASTE DISPOSAL, ENGINE AND THE ELECTRIC DRIVE. THE ONE AREA NEEDING FURTHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS THE GAS-CLEANING SUBSYSTEM. WE ARE PROPOSING TO DEVELOP THE CHEMISTRY AND HANDLING SYSTEM NECESSARY TO FIT A GAS-CLEANING SYSTEM ON A GASIFIED COAL LOCOMOTIVE. A SERIOUS EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO INSURE THAT SULPHUR IN THE COAL DOES NOT END UP IN THE ENGINE EXHAUST. ONCE A GAS-CLEANING SYSTEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THAT CONTROLS THIS POLLUTANT, THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT LOCOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS, RAILROADS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT FABRICATORS WILL BECOME INVESTORS AND PURCHASERS.