1. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON
THE DESIGN OF METRO AND LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS
FOCUS ON GULF COUNTRIES
Hala Mohtasseb
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2. SUMMARY
 METRO AND LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS / GULF AREA
 ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS
 GULF COUNTRIES WEATHER CHARACTERITICS
 IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
1- HIGH TEMPERATURES
2- DUST ISSUE
3- HUMIDITY
 SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
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3. METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS
GULF AREA
Rapidly-growing population & severe traffic congestion in GULF countries
 Need to build an urban rail system to provide additional public
transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure
for additional development.
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4. METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS
GULF AREA
ALREADY UNDER OPERATION
 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : DUBAI Metro
 Operated since 9th of Spetember 2009
 5 car-trainset / fully automatic driverless trains .
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5. METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS
GULF AREA
ALREADY UNDER OPERATION
SAUDI ARABIA : MECCA Metro
• Operated since 15th of November 2010
• 12 car-trainset
• manual driving with ATP system onboard .
• Will be operated as a driverless mid 2011 .
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6. METRO & LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS
GULF AREA
UNDER TENDERING / DESIGN PHASE PROCESS
 KUWAIT :
4 Metro projects
 DUBAI
El Safouh tramway project
 ABU DHABI
Metro and LRT projects
 QATAR
Metro and LRT projects
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7. ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS
COMPETITION IS TOUGH BETWEEN ROLLING STOCK MANUFACTURERS !
To win the tender, the BEST PRODUCT WITH LOWER PRICE is proposed
 offer their standard products / trains / systems .
 Minimize modifications by limiting Customization only to interior and
exterior design .
Metro and LRT projects FOR GULF COUNTRIES :
All standard products suggested MUST be Reviewed and modified
eventually to fit severe environmental conditions ( heat , sand and
humidity ) ,
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8. GULF COUNTRIES
WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS
 High temperatures
Could reach 50°C in certain countries
 Dusty / Unexpected Sand storms
Kuwait latest sand storm ( 25th of March 2011)
 High level of humidity
Especially in United Arab emirates
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9. GULF COUNTRIES
WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS
KUWAIT
 Highest monthly average
high temperature 45 °C in July.
 Maxi. relative humidity : 43%
 Dust and unexpected sand storms
Latest 25th March 2011
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10. GULF COUNTRIES
WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
 Average maximum temperature : 39°C Months Average Average Average
Maximum Minimum Maximum
Temperature Temperature Humidity
(Celsius) (Celsius) (Avg %)
 Maximum relative humidity : 90%! January 23 12 90
February 24 14 89
• Sand storms in UAE : March 27 16 85
April 30 18 83
27TH of March 2011 May 34 22 80
June 36 25 85
July 38 28 80
August 39 28 82
September 37 25 85
October 33 22 87
November 31 18 86
December 26 14 88
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11. GULF COUNTRIES
WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS
SAOUDI ARABIA
 Highest monthly average
high temperature 45 °C.
 Maximum relative humidity : 40%
 sand storms :
Latest 25th of october 2010
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12. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
STANDARD DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN EQUIPMENTS / METRO SYSTEM
Air conditioning system
Radio antennae etc ..
Bogie Traction system, braking system , auxiliary inverter
brake pads , motors Brake resistor
ATC antennas
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13. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
STANDARD DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN EQUIPMENTS / LRT SYSTEM
Air conditioning system
Radio antennae etc ..
Traction system, braking system
auxiliary inverter
Brake resistor
Bogie ,brake pads , motors
Other antennas
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14. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )
IMPACT ON OPERATION OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
 LEADING TO FAILURE /CUT-OFF OF THE SYSTEM
 INCREASE OF CURATIVE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Main systems concerned :
- Air conditioning system
- Traction system
- Braking system
- Auxiliary inverter
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15. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
DUST ISSUE
IMPACT ON OPERATION OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAND FILTERS
 LEADING TO FAILURE /CUT-OFF OF THE SYSTEM
 INCREASE OF CURATIVE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
CLEANING OF FILTERS MORE OFTEN
Main systems concerned :
- Air conditioning system ( fresh air and mixed air filters )
- Traction system
- Braking system
- Auxiliary inverter
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16. IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ON SYSTEMS BEHAVIOR
HUMIDITY
 MIXED WITH POLLUTION, IMPACT ON ADHESION VALUE AVAILABLE ON
THE TRACK
 LEADING TO LOWER DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE TRAIN
 CORROSION OF CARBODY STRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENTS LOCATED
UNDEFRAME AND ON THE ROOF OF THE TRAIN
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17. SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )
1-THERMODYNAMIC STUDY OF EQUIPMENTS DISTRIBUTION
 OPTIMIZATION OF HEAT DISTRIBUTION ON THE ROOF AND UNDERFRAME
OF THE TRAIN
 ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS EXIST FOR SOME SYSTEMS :
Air Conditioning System :
in order to decrease the temperature at the air inlet
Braking resistor :
Replace braking resistor by ‘super capacitors ‘
=> decrease temperatures locally
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18. SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
HIGH TEMPERATURES ( over 50°C )
2- REDUNDANCY OF SYSTEMS ESPECIALLY IN CASE OF DRIVERLESS SYSTEMS
( FIRST FAILURE MUST BE TRANSPARENT FOR OPERATION OF THE TRAIN )
 HIGHER AVAILIBILITY
 THINK OPERATION FROM THE START OF DESIGN PHASE
CHALLENGE : TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN AVAILIBILTY & RELIABILITY:
The Higher is the AVAILIBILTY the lower would be RELIABILITY of the train .
3- RETURN OF EXPERIENCE ON SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
 DUBAI Metro
 MECCA Metro
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19. SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
DUST ISSUE
1-CHOOSE ADEQUATE SAND FILTERS FOR SYSTEMS
 STUDY OF GRANULOMETRY OF LOCAL SAND
 SEARCH FOR FILTERS WITH MINIMUM MAINTENANCE REQUIRED OR
MAINTENANCE FREE
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20. SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
HUMIDITY
1-CHOOSE ADEQUATE WHEEL SLIDE/WHEEL SLIP PROTECTION
 DYNAMIC TEST OF THE TRAIN ON TRACK (TYPE TEST)
2-CHOOSE ADEQUATE MATERIAL TO MINIMIZE CORROSION
 STAINLESS STEEL
 ALUMINIUM
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21. THANK YOU !
Hala Mohtasseb
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