Together with electricity and diesel, the provision of compressed air on board rolling stock is the second most important source of energy and for this reason, it is crucial to get it right first time!

Uses of air include braking systems, pantographs and in some passenger vehicles, suspension, adding to the comfort of the journey often in severe climatic and arduous conditions.

As consumers, we take electrical power as well as the energy potential of compressed air for granted. The flexibility offered by compressed air is evident in its universal role in many railway applications. Compressed air can be produced by many types of compressors and distributed simply and easily via a central system, feeding all the applications which require clean and dry compressed air for their reliable operation.

Rarely does the compressed air meet the requirements of the user following the compression process. To meet those demands, it is imperative to guarantee the air quality required to service the applications with all compressor technologies, regardless of being a piston, screw, vane, scroll or whether oil free or lubricated compressor systems.

Compressed air in its natural form is contaminated with water, dirt, wear particles and lubricating oil/hydrocarbons. This aggressive media when mixed together, creates an acidic sludge which is often referred to as ‘mayonnaise’. The requirement of the user is to eliminate this contamination by meeting the specific requirements of ISO 4975:2022 Railway applications — Braking system — Quality of compressed air for pneumatic apparatus. ISO8573.1, is also often specified, which is a multi-part standard, defining testing methods to accurately measure a full range of contaminants within the system. Both standards are used to test downstream systems regardless of the compressor technology utilised.

The need for a specific compressor type is therefore irrelevant, as there are no standards requirement to support any particular technology. With the selection of the correct downstream air treatment, all of these contaminants can be removed to meet the ISO standards for Railway applications.

The ongoing issue of contamination from a lubricated compressor is, however, an argument continuously used to promote oil free technology, regardless of the compressor’s efficiency, reliability or serviceability. This requirement is driven by the need to eradicate oil leaks/spillages which is believed to be a common occurrence and to sustain a healthier and greener environment.

The solution

To support this growing need, Mattei Rail & Transportation, a division of Mattei Group, has developed a specially designed, high performance ‘eco-friendly’ biodegradable
lubricant, for use in their Lubricated Rotary Vane compressors. This new lubricant supports applications operating in ecologically sensitive environments while contributing to reduced CO2 emissions thanks to the use of raw renewable materials.

The biodegradable lubricant can be used in new or old Mattei compressors fitted into any vehicle type, improving operating performance and providing the end user with a greener application also, thanks to its effectiveness over a wider temperature range than that of standard lubricants utilised today.

The advent of this new biodegradable lubricant, provides the user with an alternative when choosing the specifics of their new on-board compressor packages, a selection which is currently excluded from standard decision making.

The benefits of this new lubricant will assist the user in understanding that oil free technology should no longer be considered the only or the best technology available for on-board rail applications.

 

GRAHAM S LEACH
Business Development Director
Mattei Rail & Transportation Division