Project / Rail engineering

Rail powerpack: cooling across operating conditions

Pressure, velocity and temperature fields were compared at standstill and in motion to assess cooling paths and recirculation.

CFD flow and temperature field around a rail powerpack — Rail · CFD simulation · Thermal analysis

Industry: Rail
Services: CFD simulation · Thermal analysis

Engineering question

The cooling system of an enclosed power unit had to work at standstill and under vehicle-motion conditions.

Model & approach

Build a simplified CAD model of the powerpack
Compare airflow, pressure loss and temperature distribution
Evaluate cooler inlets/outlets and possible recirculation

Boundary conditions

Standstill and motion as separate operating conditions
Multiple coolers within a complex enclosure
System-level flow and thermal result fields

Results of the assessment

The operating conditions produced different airflow paths.
Pressure loss and airflow had to be assessed together.
At one development stage, the simulation showed recirculation above the coolers.

Additional project view

Streamlines and temperature field in another powerpack development stage — Earlier diagnostic stage covering cooler inflow and recirculation

Engineering consequence

The assessment focused subsequent work on air paths, pressure loss and recirculation zones.

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