Class 139 - how it works?

[mikeg]

I was wondering how the flywheel energy storage on the class 139 works. Is the flywheel used to generate electricity to move the vehicle or is the power transferred mechanically. I'm guessing the latter judging by the TOPS number, as surely if the former it would begin with a '2' and be classed as diesel-electric. I could be wrong. How does it work anyway?

 

[TGV]

Is that one of those Parry People things? If it is, then IIRC, it's a mechanical system with a small engine (a Ford 2.0 litre car engine was once mentioned - dunno if that's still true), and the flywheel stores braking energy and uses that to accelerate again along with some slight input from the engine as of course there will be some losses in the system between braking and accelerating.

Of course this is all my best educated guesswork as I've never worked on or seen technical data on the thing. If it's not a Parry machine, then what I've just said above is total crap and just ignore my late night rambling... I need to get to sleep. I've been up for 20 hours.

 

[tbtc]

I look forward to reading thegrich37423 's theory on how they work

 

[TGV]

I look forward to reading thegrich37423 's theory on how they work

Genius post! He he he.

Yeah, sorry, ignore what I wrote, it's actually a government secret weapon to rid the world of diesel traction. It works on pixie dust which as we all know causes global warming. I have concrete proof.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Pixie dust is a dangerous pollutant as due to it's small size it can enter the lungs. It's also carcinogenic. You are wrong on the global warming though, in large quantities in the atmosphere, especially at the high altitudes it's usually found (as a bi-product of air travel, how else do you think planes fly) it tends to reflect radiation back into space which causes a mean reduction in temperature.

Anyway. The 139 is the Parry People Mover. I think it's right that it uses a small diesel engine to power up a flywheel which then drives the wheels through a mechanical transmission. The flywheel can also get energy from braking which can then be used to accelerate the train. It's like a hybrid car or bus, but uses a flywheel instead of batteries. I've never been on one of them, but from the videos I've seen they are pretty noisy and weird. Somewhere between a toy train and a Mk2 mini Pacer.

 

[eos]

Try http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/

From memory , the transmission is a simple hydraulic fluid drive take-off from a flywheel.

EDIT From http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/PPM-chassis-spec.htm

QUOTE Linde hydrostatics through final drive gearbox, single axle drive

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've never been on one of them, but from the videos I've seen they are pretty noisy and weird. Somewhere between a toy train and a Mk2 mini Pacer.

I rode on 139 002 recently; it seemed very quiet to me ( and yes, my implant was working! ).

 

[WatcherZero]

The two in service are the 25 seat version arent they, PPM60 version. and earlier smaller PPM40 version did trials and a test service under a depatrmental Class 999 number

As I remember the system being described by Parry a small diesel motor is constantly adding energy to the flywheel even when braking or stopped at a station and the vehicle takes all its energy for movement from that flywheel. therefore the engine doesnt have to work any harder to accelerate and the constant power output of the engine makes it more fuel efficent.

Its like a diesel electric but instead of a battery being charged the flywheel is which is a lighter and denser energy store than current battery technology.

 

[mikeg]

OK thanks for your replies. It is surprisingly quiet - I went on one a few months ago when I did the West Midlands day ranger, though you can really feel when it bumps up and down.