Large Scale Central

Using Track Vibrations To Power Railroad Devices

General Discussion
#1

Okay, but how well does it scale?

Riding along industrial developments, the railroad carries many peoples’ lives and dreams. Various electrical devices are running constantly and anonymously, keeping rail networks operating safely, efficiently, and punctually.

In the U.S. alone, the railroad network is over 183,000 miles, which accounts for more than 22% of worldwide rail length. Yet, many freight trains pull long hauls in remote areas without access to electricity and are running blindly. The need for an alternative track-side power supply is urgent; by harnessing energy from train-induced track vibration, trackside devices can be enabled anywhere along the tracks.

…

These findings are described in the article entitled Modeling and field testing of an electromagnetic energy harvester for rail tracks with anchorless mounting, recently published in the journal Applied Energy. This work was conducted by Teng Lin and Shikui Chen from Stony Brook University, and Yu Pan and Lei Zuo from Virginia Tech.

https://sciencetrends.com/using-track-vibrations-to-power-railroad-devices/

#2

Scaling would be tied to weight ratio rather than scale, so not well.

#3

of course our locos use less energy too… it might scale if our trains were scale weight, and we allowed our rails to flex up and down like the real thing.

Greg

#4

Seems that there could be easier ways to accomplish the goal.

For example,

As the track moves up and down, a magnet is dangled in a coil producing current with no other moving parts.

As the train passes, it creates a wind gust and this spins a turbine. (Added benefit on windy days.)

The train passes over turbine with “arms” that engage the undercarrage.

Trains are fitted with magnets under their carrages and coils are embedded in the track such that the passing train produces current.

Ad infinitum

#5

Hmm…

for the prototype, easy is more about the installation as the article says.

dangling a magnet in a coil does not convert as much energy, and the cool thing about their idea is since the forces are high, you have gear up the racks to turn the generator faster. Making a scale model would probably work fine, but be expensive.

turbines are cool, but they sure don’t want structures near the sides of the train. There’s enough blades in the air chopping up birds. In the model case, fingers!

I don’t think there are a lot of easier ways, or it would already be done for the prototype… too many requirement around train tracks. But I’m sure the guys in the university would like to hear better ideas, and you have the universities they are at.

For our models, I think batteries trackside would be better.

Greg

#6

Another solution in search of a problem. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#7

I can understand the reason, you have signals or other devices out the middle of nowhere… they could communicate wirelessly, but maybe no power to do so, like in Alaska, or Montana, etc.

I could see this for those situations “out in the boonies”.

(but I think I agree with you mostly Steve !!!)

Greg

#8

If you are using "Dead Rail; you could use each rail as a conductor, and a rod driven deeply enough in the ground for ground, giving yourself a means of controlling signals at passing sidings, or train order offices. Using LED lights, they could be powered by simple 9 volt (Or less) batteries.

I’ve done this on the IPP&W on occasion, but our distances are not so great that I was able to run, rather inexpensive telephone 6 conductor cable from our dispatchers’ shack to any location that needed a signal to control movements.

I ended up pulling an extra cable for future lighting, if I decide to install any.

Fred Mills

#9

I see a lot of solar installations out here in the desert; a panel and a battery box. No moving parts…

#10

Yes, John;

Avoiding as many moving parts is the best idea. Mother Nature rules, out there in the real World. Any moving parts mean maintenance; maintenance means extra work, or added frustration.

Yes you can “Invent” all sorts of mechanical devices/machines, but each involves friction of some sort, which involves maintenance…

Your climate also has to be taken into account…that’s why it is most important to post your general area of dwelling, so anyone hoping to aid in your quest for ideas, can take climate into consideration.

I’m not aiming that last comment at you, John. I just mention it, and direct it at those that insist on hiding what area they dwell in…but I do see that just about everyone on this thread does list their location…great…thanks.

Fred Mills

#11

The original premise was harvesting an untapped power source, some of the following suggestions seemed to interact with the train, which could cost the train energy. Thus didn’t apply.

My money is still on the Perpetual Motion Motor.

#12

Well, yes, the vibrations are an untapped source of energy. Free energy if you will.

As for the perpetual motion machine, I cant come up with a reliable source for the friction-less bearings I need for it.

Edit for my spell chequer

#13

John’s point was the first thing I thought, the energy is not free… (really nothing is!)

But, if it was a good way to generate power, and it was worth it in terms of the extra fuel “delivering” energy to a remote location, it could make sense, vs. a solar installation that might attract attention and be vandalized, etc.

So, I could see where it could be viable, although having mechanical gears (the 2 racks) and a generator seems a lot of moving parts…

Greg

#14

Automatic flange lubricators have been doing this for decades. They have a rocker bar mounted in line with the rail. As the wheels pass over it, the rocking motion turns a crank that pumped grease out of a tank and forces it out along the edge of the rocker bar. This lubes the wheels flanges to reduce wear on tight curves.