TURBO TRAINS | |||||||||||||||||
TURBO TRAINS Trains are the heaviest, largest, cheapest and most eco friendly of all transport mediums. I have an idea where they can be even more useful and friendly to us. I wish to turn them into GIANT MOBILE TURBINES. Its very easy, scientifically simple and technologically possible. Why I say so is that this transport medium has all the required ingredients like their size, weight, momentum, almost friction free wheel drive and fast tracks movement. Moreover, they are on the run all the time. Hence, its easy to imagine how much energy these heavy-weight champions can generate on global basis. You do not have to develop any new technology or devices. Just you have to do is to attach the turbine boggie to the train--<PRODUCTION FACTORY>-- and wire the whole train track--<SUPPLY LINE>-- and start generating electricity. Simple ! Isn't it? The idea is very simple, when the train reaches a particular speed the turbine/turbines are automatically attached with the wheels and thats all. The power house is <ON>. Simple! Isn't it? For smaller or slower trains a small turbine is attached to each wheel and for faster or heavier trains all the wheels of a coach are attached to a bigger turbine. In both cases, each coach is an independent transport medium and a mobile power generating factory. Both at the same time. This idea can be extremely usefull specially in developing countries and specifically for remote areas. Poor countries lack funds on both accounts 1.to generate and supply electricy ( in a traditional way) 2. to modernize and expand transport network. Therefore, most of the poor population of the world will have to wait for years to avail these two birth rights. Its all because of the nature of both these projects which are large, require heavy investment and are time consuming. In this case a mobile <wholesale supply power house> is built on the train and a <reciving and retail power house> nearby local railway station. The whole generated power is supplied to local power house and the distribution operation takes place from there to nearby towns and villages. In this way, to produce more energy, we are not only utilizing the existing capacity of infrastructure but also posess the possibilty to multiply it just by running more trains on existing tracks. Simultaneously, by starting to build more tracks by diverting the ENERGY PROJECT FUNDS like dams, windmills etc. to development of larger rail network, we are not only going to deliver the much needed energy but a better, cheaper, eco friendly transport facility to more and more poor people of the world. By reaching out to places not yet reached by railways and delivering them both, the most convenient way to attach with the rest of the world as well as <luxury of electricity> we can revolutionize their life.They get a wonder-tool to revolutionize their style of farming, cottage industry and other means of living. At the same time we are offering them the opportunity to sell their merchandise at much better prices by allowing them to directly approach to central market places. I think, as on date, this is the best,cheapest and most eco friendly way to revolutionize the transport and energy sector. Would love to hear your views.
Naresh Ahuja, Jan 20 2007
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Here we go again. The power of the train comes from the system that makes it go, usually a diesel engine. If you draw power from the train's motion, that power will have to be replaced by the engine to keep the train moving. All the power will ultimately be supplied by the fuel. You will get no more power this way than if you used the fuel to generate the electricity directly. Actually, due to efficiency issues, you'll get more energy if you use the fuel to power a generator directly. People have rehashed this concept over and over with the "car wind turbine" idea.
BTW, I think you may be confusing "turbine" and "generator." A turbine converts the energy of a moving fluid into rotational mechanical energy. A generator converts rotational mechanical energy into electricity. Thus, wind turbines, water turbines and steam turbines are used to turn generators to make electricity.
Although, some usefull energy could be harnessed, it is correct in saying there is lots of energy there.
The energy to harness, logically, is only really available in the braking. By replacing the brakes to some extent with a generator system you can make use of what is potentialy quite a lot of energy which would be otherwise wasted.
But, i'm sorry, i'm really starting to dislike the numerous "lets turn a vehicle into a generator", their built for transportation purpose, they are generally not efficient enough to create electricity effectively.
Re-design all the railroads so that all trains run down-hill. They won't need engines - just regenerative brakes, which will provide vast amounts of energy.
I think the name 'turbo trains' is misleading, when they mean 'power generating trains'. There was a turbine train, and apparently will be again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_turbine-electric_locomotive
This idea does make me think of the English engineer Isanbard Brunel that invented the 'atmospheric pressure' drive--essentially, he put a big continuous cylinder down the center of every track, with an opening seal on the top edge. The 'engines' were stationary along the track--they operated large vacuum pumps and the train held a piston in the cylinder. Essentially, the train was 'sucked' down the track. The logic was you didn't have to carry the weight of the engine or the fuel, so you could be more efficient. Also, didn't need to pump downhills. Traction uphills was independant of wheels, so they were great hillclimbers. Unfortuately, the train schedules were unpredictable, so they ended up with the engine-pumps running for too long while waiting for late trains, so it used more fuel. Still, good idea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_railway