New Features
Some of the new features include:
i) Water usage
ii) Coal usage
iii) working injectors
iv) some formula modifications
v) Crude Superheating added
vi) Extended Shft-F5 HUD visibility of parameters
Steam Locomotive Definition
Firstly some background information, based on info gleaned from research material.
A steam locomotive's performance can be described by the following basic parameters (extremely over simplified description):
i) Fire Grate Area - along with the draft, and fuel heat value, determines the maximum heat released from burning the fuel.
ii) Boiler Evaporation Area - will determine the amount of heat transferred to generate steam within the boiler
iii) Cylinder Data - the size and stroke of the cylinders will determine the force that the locomotive can develop.
Heat losses will occur as you move through the above cycle.
Important ENG File Parameters
The core version of OR added the following new parameters to the ENG file.
EvaporationArea ( "2198*(ft^2)" ) FuelCalorific ( 13700btu/lb )
As part of this most recent development the following parameter has been added to the ENG file.
GrateArea ( "29.75*(ft^2)" )
The following existing parameters also play an important part in the model being developed
WheelRadius ( 0.648m ) NumCylinders ( 2 ) CylinderStroke ( 26in ) CylinderDiameter ( 21in ) SteamFiremanMaxPossibleFiringRate( 4200lb/h ) MaxTenderCoalMass ( 13440lb ) MaxWaterMass ( 3977lb ) SuperHeater ( 1.0 )
Note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the OR used parameters, just the ones currently involved in the redevelopment.
Special Notes -
SteamFiremanMaxPossibleFiringRate - typical sustainable values for this parameter - 3300 UK - 4200 Aust - 5000 USA
SuperHeater - set = 1 if saturated, set to value > 1if superheated
Model Usage
One of the aims of this code development is to try and simplify input parameters used in the ENG file, and use only well defined and readily available information.
Whilst "default" MSTS ENG files should run ok in the new model, it is suggested that for optimal performance the above parameters be researched and added or modified within the ENG file.
Thus most of the above information can be found at sites like the following.
Steam Locomotive Data
Merchant Navy Data
Driving
Currently when OR first starts, the steam locomotive starts in a "cold" state, ie low FlueTemp. As the locomotive moves off, provided the heat into the boiler is greater then the boiler losses, the FlueTemp should increase. Maximum steam generation will occur when the FlueTemp is high.
Testing
To ensure consistent test result that are only impacted by the actual locomotive parameters, it is suggested that a common test track be used.
The following test track has been developed to allow steam locomotives to be run and tested to asses their performance characteristics. The track has a number of sections of track pitched on different "common" gradients.
Test Track
This code development firmly sits within a "work in progress" category.
Cheers
Peter