Mumbai Metro uses RFID lubrication system to improve wheel maintenance

In an attempt to increase the shelf life of wheels, Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) has started utilising industrial Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip to lubricate wheels and rails.

There are 64 curves (32 on either side) of the 11.4 km-long Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line. “This corridor has the steepest curves in any metro system in India. Here the curves go to 107 metres, whereas in other metros the curve is more than 120 metres,” said an MMOPL official.

Since inception, the rolling stock of metro has Wheel Flange Lubrication (WFL) system, which applies lubricant mixed with compressed air by spraying on the flange root of the wheel. This helps in reducing wear and tear of wheel. “However, proper lubrication of the flange improves the wheel's life drastically. Appropriate amount of lubricant has to be released, which can now happen with RFID based system,” added the official.

MMOPL engineers explored a solution wherein, RFID tags were installed on the rails (tracks) and are detected by receivers installed on the under-frame of the train. This receiver, once it detects a particular tag will trigger the lubrication. The amount of lubricant can be either increased or decreased as per the need at each of the curves.

If no lubricants are applied to wheel, as a safety measure, a wheel can be used for around 3 years. Under WFL system, it can be used for 6 years, but with RFID based system wheel life increases to 10 years.

RFID system has been introduced recently at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. Given that maintenance related cost will reduce and shelf life of wheel increase, it is expected to recover the Rs 30 lakh cost in two years.