Rail
Robust Ceramic Components for Rail Transport Equipment
Engineered technical ceramics for severe-service, always-on operation of electric and diesel rail transport equipment used for locomotives, high-speed, intercity, commuter, light rail, and people mover transit.
Electric Trains
Advanced ceramic rail components are designed for the demanding high-voltage, severe-service conditions of electric rail transport.
- Carbon brushes for motors
- Ceramic heat exchangers
- Inverters for drive systems
- Ceramic discs
- Resistors
Diesel Trains
Diesel locomotive equipment providers use engineered ceramic components to extend useful life, improve reliability, and enhance efficiency in harsh high-temp, high-load conditions.
- Bearings & valves
- Ceramic seals
- Sensor components
- Custom drive components
- Fuel injector plungers
Custom Components & Assemblies
Partner with CoorsTek to leverage the strengths of ceramics for your most demanding applications — with complete design and manufacturing services including:
Case Study :: Heat Exchanger
Bombardier Transportation, formerly ABB DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems company ADtranz, partnered with CoorsTek to develop a ceramic heat exchanger for power converters used in local and metro rail vehicles. The "cooling box" heat exchanger concept that resulted supports the company's mission to answer the call for more efficient, sustainable, and enjoyable transportation by delivering:
- Eco-friendly water cooling
(vs. traditional oil and CFC cooling) - Higher efficiency cooling system
- Longer life & lower life-cycle cost
This flat solid water-cooler has lapped surfaces and cooling plugs, arranged in form of waffles inside the box, that provide excellent heat transfer from the ceramic to the cooling water. Polyethylene water connections are inserted with two seal rings. CoorsTek engineered a high-performance aluminum nitride (AlN) heat exchanger solution which provides a combination of:
- Strong electrical insulation — to meet demanding system requirements
- High thermal conductivity — for efficient heat exchange
- Corrosion resistance — enabling water cooling
These upgraded aluminum nitride-based cooling systems do a better job transporting heat from the semiconductor power electronics to the water cooling system — more efficiently, more cost-effectively, and more reliably.
