Analysis On The Reliability Of DF₂₁ Diesel Locomotive And Study On The Inspection And Repair System

There have been altogether 12 locomotives modeled DF₂₁ (referred as DF₂₁ here below), manufactured especially for the meter-gauged railway by Sifang Locomotive Corporation, come into service for Kunming Railway Bureau since 2003.Compared to diesel locomotives of other types in service in China, DF₂₁ is technically different and the possession is relatively small. The repair system of DF₂₁ is just initiated, whereas the cycle and scope of maintenance/repair are rather general.The mission, therefore, is how to integrate the inspection and repair system (referred as IR system here below) into the one of standard-gauged railway, while distinguishing from the IR system originally used for the model DFH₂₁.The thesis, with its main focus on model DF₂₁ locomotive, involves the comprehensive statistical analysis on its 4-year service for meter-gauged railway over the specialty and technical characteristics.Technical analysis has been conducted on the quality issue in operation associated with locomotive originally designed, followed by suggestions of improvement and reformation correspondingly.Diagnostic examination has been put onto the problems reflected by the locomotive as a whole and large components after upgrading, during which the theory of engineering reliability is applied, resulting in prolonging the cycle of maintenance to imported diesel, so as to identify maintenance cycle as well as life cycle of the main and key components of the locomotive.Based on the reference to the developed mode of maintenance and repairing experiences nationwide and worldwide, a systematic resolution is raised up to propose the cycle maintenance and identify the class of repair exclusively for DF₂₁. The proposed cycle of maintenance is determined by the IR system composed of 3-auxiliary-1-small-scale and 1-intermediate-1-large-scale combination, which has been proved to be effective in practice. The maintained locomotive is thus characterized with quality, effectiveness and economy of energy consumption, as a result best fitting the paradigm of modern technology and management.Locomotive manufacturers shall benefit from suggestion of improvement in the thesis. The cycle of maintenance and class of repairs are specially composed for further constructing the criteria of IR system of locomotives for meter-gauged railway. More importantly, this shall enhance the competitiveness and reputation of the domestic locomotive exporters*.locomotives of meter-gauged railway are widely adopted in many countries in Southeast Asia and Africa.