2,200 hp from MAN Engines ensure snow-free tracks in the Alps
The Schmidt Beilhack HB1100S high-performance snow blower with two MAN D2862 diesel engines started operating successfully in April 2019. The 76 ton rail vehicles completed its maiden trip on a test track in Hochfilzen, Austria. The machine, which is used to clear snow-covered railway tracks, is powered by two 793 kW (approx. 1,100 hp) MAN twelve-cylinder engines. One unit powers the actual vehicle, while the other is used to operate the blower mechanism. With a clearing width of up to six metres, the snow blower - with a bit of help from the two MAN power units - can shift up to 10,000 tons of snow per hour. This project is just the latest result of the successful collaboration between MAN Engines and Aebi Schmidt. The German special machinery manufacturer has been putting its trust in units from the MAN international centre of engine excellence in Nuremberg since 2006.
“Snow blowers have to guarantee a high clearing capacity but require a compact construction. The machine length has to be as short as possible, as the wide clearing head must not protrude beyond the clearance gauge of the line when going around bends”, explains Silvia Knorr, Segment Marketing Manager at Aebi Schmidt. The engineers from MAN Engines found the perfect solution to satisfy these requirements. Instead of the D2862 twelve-cylinder units from the rail portfolio, which are themselves quite compact, they used two off-road engines, which are widely used in agricultural applications such as field choppers. Compared to their extremely flat rail counterparts, they have a narrower and shorter design, making them perfectly suited for Aebi Schmidt's needs. MAN Engines benefits from synergies within its wide range of industrial engines, enabling them to offer this kind of solution. “This project once again shows off MAN Engines' exceptional engineering competence, and demonstrates that the customer and their needs is always our focus”, says Lorenz Panknin, Head of Rail Sales at MAN Engines.
The exceptionally compact engines are installed next to one another in the rear of the machine, where they show off their impressively high power density. Despite their compact dimensions, the two 24-litre units each deliver 793 kW (1,100 hp), sufficient power to accelerate the Schmidt Beilhack HB1100S to speeds of over 100 km/h, which can be maintained even on inclines.
Just as important as the power is ensuring the snow blower is ready for use. Thanks to robust components and an engine configuration optimised for the operating conditions, the MAN engines contribute to ensuring that the snow blower can function effectively even under the most extreme conditions. After successful completion of all tests, the snow blower will be handed over to the Austrian rail operator ÖBB in the summer of 2019.
MAN Engines' current rail engine portfolio includes efficient six and twelve-cylinder diesel engines for use in power cars (265 kW to 735 kW) and locomotives (265 kW to 735 kW) and all achieve the current emission levels.