Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[blade1]

http://home.roadrunner.com/~gep2/mrfreeze.html?vm=r

I found this article on Mr. Freeze. Assuming it is accurate, It uses 5000 amps at 480 volts, which converts to 2.4 million watts for each launch and produces 5000hp. Since V2 does not have the spike LIMS, I would estimate that something around 2 million watts per cycle is realistic. I'm no expert on power comsumption, but that seems like it costs more than most of us think, and could certainly be a good reason for the park wanting to move it.

[UrbanLegend]

[vacoaster09]

SFGAM is one of the top grossing parks in the chain... I don't understand your logic in thinking that they are in need to get ride of V2. Its still popular and there aren't any budget concerns. I'd be more concerned about parks with launch coasters that don't make alot of money... I.e. SFSTL or SFA but they aren't moving their launch coasters either so I think its safe to Dismiss all of this speculation. I could see Rajun Cajun or Dark Knight Coaster leaving before V2 does.

[A.J.]

Maths time!

 

2 million watts is equal to 2000 kilowatts. The first day of opening this season, Six Flags Great America is open from 10am to 7pm, a total of 9 hours. Assuming that a complete V2 cycle (load, run, unload) lasts about five minutes, you would theoretically get 108 cycles a day. The ride runs for about a minute, so the LIMs would be working for about 108 minutes during the day, or 1.8 hours.

 

So, V2 would use 3600kWh of power, which, if power is about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour in Gurnee (did a quick search on a website), would cost them $252 to run daily strictly in launch power, or about $2.33 per cycle. That seems like a lot for a normal household, but Six Flags Great America isn't a normal household.

 

Now, granted, these numbers are only true IF V2 uses 2000kW per launch AND ALSO IF Six Flags Great America pays 7 cents per kilowatt-hour.

[coasterlover420]

^You forgot to include at least an hour of downtime because it's an Intamin

[liftsifter]

^^ Also, V2 loads and dispatches in about 2 minutes., that includes the 90 second LIM cool down cycle.

[blade1]

Could you guys look at the link and just make sure my estimate makes sense? I don't know if that number is just for the original launch and then if there is more for the spike on Mr. Freeze. There could be a little higher number needed if more is being used on the successive pass throughs on V2 too. V2 also took more when the holding brake worked too. I think V2 is capable of around 20 cycles per hour. But we are close to figuring this out as a group and that's why I brought it up. I have tried to figure this out alone before and I couldn't.

[coasterlover420]

V2 has recieved two new trains, and heavy overhauls in the past.

 

I'm curious about what it is on V2 that would cause it to go through trains more than any other coaster (and why the trains would be more expensive). In fact isn't it pretty rare that a coaster has an entire train replaced? Since V2 has no turns, and not-terribly-extreme forces, I'm surprised to hear that the train falls apart so rapidly that is has needed to be completely replaced twice in just 10 years (rather than yearly maintenance).

 

Cameron.

The trains don't "fall apart," they get typical stress fractures. Since the track is so far away from the heartline on an impulse, the twist puts a lot more stress on the train than you'd think. And it is not rare for an impulse: Wicked Twister's train chassis have been 100% completely replaced; all 8 of them. They're all different too because 2 of them are replaced each year. As far as I know, Intamin discovered that the trains with the two giant bolts supporting the seats were not stable enough and made the chassis one solid piece instead.

 

^With the statistics listed in that link: 2400kW per launch. I am assuming by POVs etc it is safe to say Mr Freeze dispatches every 130 seconds (using both loading sides), which is appx 28 dispatches/hour. The launch itself is around 8 seconds, so 8 * 28 = 224 seconds or .062 hours. 2400kW * .062 = 148kWh. 8 cents per kilowatt hour in Arlington translates to $11.84/hour. Or $106.56/9-hour-day.

 

That's all the math I can come up with. You have to consider that this is all pretty much approximate, and that the ride probably uses a crap ton more power on controls, lighting, air conditioning, etc throughout the day.

[liftsifter]

V2 has recieved two new trains, and heavy overhauls in the past.

 

I'm curious about what it is on V2 that would cause it to go through trains more than any other coaster (and why the trains would be more expensive). In fact isn't it pretty rare that a coaster has an entire train replaced? Since V2 has no turns, and not-terribly-extreme forces, I'm surprised to hear that the train falls apart so rapidly that is has needed to be completely replaced twice in just 10 years (rather than yearly maintenance).

 

Cameron.

The trains don't "fall apart," they get typical stress fractures. Since the track is so far away from the heartline on an impulse, the twist puts a lot more stress on the train than you'd think. And it is not rare for an impulse: Wicked Twister's train chassis have been 100% completely replaced; all 8 of them. They're all different too because 2 of them are replaced each year. As far as I know, Intamin discovered that the trains with the two giant bolts supporting the seats were not stable enough and made the chassis one solid piece instead.

 

I'm curious if Intamin ever stops to check these things... It seems like every single coaster they introduce has to have at least one major problem within the first year of operations..

[FeelTheFORCE]

I'm curious if Intamin ever stops to check these things... It seems like every single coaster they introduce has to have at least one major problem within the first year of operations..

 

"Every single coaster they introduce," or at least the majority, is some form of a prototype or new design that has been previously untested, or tested very little. There isn't much data and/or previous models to go on when most Intamin coasters are first built, so these kind of things are going to occur when wondering into uncharted territory as often as they do. Having the 'trial and error' approach is really the best they can do. Everything can look great on paper, but they'll never know until they actually try it, and not everything is going to be a success.

 

This isn't just V2 either, WT at Cedar Point is the same way (as is every other Impulse, I'm sure)...it eats through wheels, has had new seats, chassis', belts, etc.

[coasterlover420]

^Yes, unlike B&M, Intamin makes many coasters that are not much alike, and those tend to be the ones that have problems. Impulse coasters, unfortunately, eat through wheels because only one train is used for every circuit, every 2 minutes. Even on large fast coasters, the wheels aren't used as much as an impulse. This also goes for the chassis and why they have problems.

[larrygator]

Maths time!

 

2 million watts is equal to 2000 kilowatts. The first day of opening this season, Six Flags Great America is open from 10am to 7pm, a total of 9 hours. Assuming that a complete V2 cycle (load, run, unload) lasts about five minutes, you would theoretically get 108 cycles a day. The ride runs for about a minute, so the LIMs would be working for about 108 minutes during the day, or 1.8 hours.

 

So, V2 would use 3600kWh of power, which, if power is about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour in Gurnee (did a quick search on a website), would cost them $252 to run daily strictly in launch power, or about $2.33 per cycle. That seems like a lot for a normal household, but Six Flags Great America isn't a normal household.

 

Now, granted, these numbers are only true IF V2 uses 2000kW per launch AND ALSO IF Six Flags Great America pays 7 cents per kilowatt-hour.

 

 

Damn, I pay 22 cents a kw hour in New York. It is really that much cheaper in other parts of the country.

[blade1]

Wicked Twister has used 8 trains? That is almost 1 per year. Do they use more than 1 train a season, like a mid season swap?

[mcjaco]

Guys, it's an inline twist up a spike, when the speed is fastly diminishing. Which means stress loads are much lower.

 

The butt talking needs to stop now.

[sfgam#1]

Guys, it's an inline twist up a spike, when the speed is fastly diminishing. Which means stress loads are much lower.

 

The butt talking needs to stop now.

Agreed !!

[coasterlover420]

^^^No, there have technically been 2. They have replaced 2 cars of the train each year. There is only 1 train.

[Cameron]

The twist on X-Flight is even longer than V2 .. X Flight is already on its second set of trains.

[sfgam#1]

If you have a twitter, follow SFGAm because if they get 900 followers they'll post pictures of the station !!!!!

[megametal]

Are they still planning those two flythroughs, or did they scrap them?

[sfgam#1]

For now, no but I REALLY hope they won't !!! But something is telling me they will.

[-Edge of Beast-]

I wouldn't get your hopes up with the tunnels. They usually just add some theming to the animation videos to make it look more appealing. I would too love it if they added them, but don't get excited.

[deathbydinn]

They confirmed they are still part of the plans at the recent construction tour. While the additional theming may not be built, the near misses are being used as selling points of the ride so they will be there. The water fly over was also filled today, so that will be there as well. Not sure if it will have the fountains in or not though.

[mcjaco]

We were told the keyhole and the bunker (hangar) are still going in, along with some other surprises.

[kumba830]

We were told the keyhole and the bunker (hangar) are still going in, along with some other surprises.

 

We are talking about X-Flight?! Six Flags, I like what you've done with the place.

[mcjaco]

Yes, Nathan, X-Flight.

 

Think we're all done arguing about V2 and it's destruction of mankind.