RUSSIA: Freight One has installed a microwave device to heat viscous oil residues in tank wagons at the Kombinatskaya Washing & Steaming Station on the Western Siberian Railway. It has passed the necessary tests and is expected to reduce energy consumption when preparing petroleum product tank wagons for filling.

The device was designed by Omsk engineer Vladimir Afanasyev, who holds several patents in rocket and space technology. 'Our task is to increase the throughput of the station and find new ways to serve shippers better', said Freight One's Branch Director Yevgeni Dolzhenko. 'The equipment triples both energy efficiency and throughput.

'As part of the reconstruction programme for the Washing & Steaming Station, we are planning to mount two microwave devices on a trestle to treat cars with residues of viscous petroleum products.'