T-BOX Wind Power Generator
(Seminar Report)
An Overview
Now a days the need of energy resources
is increasing at a much faster rate. We need to capitalize all the available
options to complete all our needs with ease.
For
this, inventions like T-BOX are very helpful. As it needs only wind from
passing trains to produce the energy.
As INDIAN RAILWAYS NETWORK is very large and denser. The
tracks are in every city, village of the country, as it is in every part of the
country then if T-BOXES are installed in India then there will be a huge
production of electricity because in Indian Railways there are 1000’s of trains
and they runs continuously and it will produce large amount of power.
And, here in this report I have contributed some of my efforts to make all the data in a report so that others searching for this topic can get the data easily.
LIST
OF COMPONENTS
·
Main Components
§ Bracket x2
§ Main Cover
§ Inside Cover
§ Turbine (Blades)
·
Internal Components
§ 2 Vents on Inside
Cover
§ Side Cap x2
§ Axis x2
§ Flume x2
§ Generator x2
§ Power Generation
Device
§ Balance Device
§ Hook x4
INTRODUCTION
The idea of a train being able to utilize its very
infrastructure to generate electricity is very fascinating. Generating power by
harnessing the wind energy created by fast moving trains is not an idea that
may occur to the average researcher. However, two industrial designers- China’s Qian
Jiang and Italy’s Alessandro Leonetti Luparini have
managed to develop a device that produces power by utilizing this unique form
of wind energy.
WHAT IS T-BOX
WIND POWER GENERATOR?
The T- box is a power generated
device that harnesses wind energy as trains run over railroad tracks. This
alternative form of wind energy produced by trains is very unique, as it
does not depend on any natural energy sources. Instead, the energy generated
from this device is produced as a consequence of human activity.
The T- box device generates
energy without any interference of the normal train operation – the device is
installed between railroad ties, and is partially buried underground. As the
train passes over the device, the wind generated from the train spins the
turbine inside the T- box to generate electricity.
The T- box contains all the
mechanical components required for harnessing, storing and supplying converted
power. Hence, the power generated from this device can be supplied to public
facilities along the railway and also to remote areas where electricity has not
yet reached.
THE
T-BOX
The device, called a T-Box, differs in that it is designed to be
installed within the actual railing track itself. It consists of a durable
metallic cylinder with vents, which allow air to flow through and rotate
turbine blades housed inside. Yanko claims that a 1000 meter stretch of
railroad can be retrofitted with about 150 T-boxes. Considering that a train
barrelling down at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour creates winds of roughly
15 miles a second, the T-boxes could generate 2.6 KwH of electricity.
But like many similar ideas, the
T-Box currently exists in the pristine world of concepts where issues like
debris, dirt and maintenance issues are absent, which isn't the case in the
real world. So there's a strong likelihood that train passengers will never see
one in operation
INVENTION OF
T-BOX
A speeding train, for instance, produces tremendous
gusts that can just as easily be converted into electricity. A couple years
ago, an Indian inventor named Santosh Pradhan proposed a modification to current
trains that, according to his calculations, would have harvested as much as
10,000 megawatts of electricity each day from trains operating in Mumbai, a
city in India.
Now designers from the firm Yanko
Design have seized upon the same principle and developed a device that can
collect wind energy from passing trains. The technology works similarly to a wind tunnel concept put
forth last year by a team of Korean designers in which miniature turbine-based
generators would be strategically placed at various spots along the walls of a
subway train tunnel.
The idea of
a train being able to utilize its very infrastructure to generate electricity
is very fascinating. Generating power by harnessing the wind energy created by
fast moving trains is not an idea that may occur to the average researcher.
However, two industrial designers- China’s Qian Jiang and
Italy’s Alessandro Leonetti Luparini have managed to develop a device
that produces power by utilizing this unique form of wind energy.
HOW MUCH POWER THE
T- BOX CAN GENERATE?
A train moving at 125mph would
generate a wind speed equivalent to 50 feet/ second. Wind blowing with such
speed will let a normal wind power generator harness about 3500W of power. If a
train is about 656 feet long, running at the pace of 187mph, and it moves along
a 0.62 mile railway track in about 18 seconds, the power generated in this
small period by the T- boxes laid on the tracks will be 2.6KW.
Qian and Luparini estimate that
about 150 T-box devices could be accommodated along a 0.62 mile railway
track.
INSTALLATION OF THE T-
BOX
To fit the T- BOX on the tracks,
some work has to be done on them:
- Firstly, Concaves have to be constructed in
cement between each of two sleepers
- Two brackets then have to be placed on two
sides of the concaves
- The brackets have to be examined to ensure that
they are well fixed
- The T-box is then set upon the manoeuvred
tracks
Installation
of a T-BOX
Installed
T- BOXES
HOW IT WORKS?
DESIGN OF T-BOX
As anyone living near railway
tracks will tell you, speeding trains generate quite a bit of wind as they
whoosh past. Industrial designers Qian Jiang and Alessandro Leonetti Luparini
have come up with a device that's installed between the sleepers on a track,
and as the train passes overhead, the wind drives a turbine to generate
electricity. The T-box devices could be placed along railway or subway lines,
and make good use of an otherwise wasted resource.
Unlike innovations such as the Solar
Roadways project and Solar
Wind concept, the T-box device wouldn't have to depend on a natural energy
source, but instead one that is produced as a consequence of human activity.
China's Jiang and
Italy's Luparini reckon that about 150 of these devices could be installed
along a kilometre (0.62 miles) of track and as a train speeds along, the
turbines inside the device would generate electricity.
The designers say that the
turbine is based on models produced by HETRONIX, although the blades are obviously designed to
rotate about a central axis within the cylinder housing. Much of the T-box
would be below ground level with only the vent showing, and even though the
wind produced by passing trains may only come in short bursts, installing them
along a busy route should result in a decent amount of energy being produced.
Of
course, keeping these clean and safe could be a problem. In addition to the
dust and debris kicked up as the train speeds along or grime and grease
deposits escaping from underneath, protecting such shiny boxes from the
destructive hands of vandals could prove somewhat tiresome.
The
components used in design of T-BOX are-
·
Main Components
§ Bracket x2
§ Main Cover
§ Inside Cover
§ Turbine (Blades)
·
Internal Components
§ 2 Vents on Inside
Cover
§ Side Cap x2
§ Axis x2
§ Flume x2
§ Generator x2
§ Power Generation
Device
§ Balance Device
§ Hook x4
Brackets
Components Used in
T-BOX
TURBINE OF T-BOX
The designers say that the
turbine is based on models produced by HETRONIX, although the blades are obviously designed to
rotate about a central axis within the cylinder housing. Much of the T-box
would be below ground level with only the vent showing, and even though the
wind produced by passing trains may only come in short bursts, installing them
along a busy route should result in a decent amount of energy being produced.
Hetronix wind
turbine system is the latest small wind turbine generator system designed to
provide electricity which can be used on several different type applications,
such as batteries charging, or stand alone remote electrical power supply
system. Furthermore, with the additional Power Grid Inverter, the Hetronix wind
turbine system can also be connected to the power grid.
The Hetronix
wind turbine system consists of a 2.5 meter rotor system and a generator which
is 35cm in diameter. The 58 kilogram wind turbine is rated at 2000 watts @ 12.5
m/s wind.
The Hetronix wind
turbine system features superior low wind-speed blade design
which provides
great performance, very high system efficiency, and low noise. The Hetronix
wind turbine system also provides the optional mono-tower kit and guyed tubular
tilt tower kit.
ELECTRIFICATION IN RAILWAYS
Every electric locomotive of 4.5 MW (6000 HP) deprives
15000 households of their electricity needs. 14.7% villages in the country are
yet to get electricity. Every Electric locomotive of 4.5 MW introduces 4500
highly inefficient small generating sets, which cause more pollution and consume
six times more fuel than a diesel locomotive. World’s modern and advances
economies like USA and Canada have less than 1% electrification against IR’s 41.7%.
All profit-making Railways of the world are having predominately diesel
traction while all loss making Railways are predominantly electric traction
Railways. Diesel loco hauled passenger trains are 41% cheaper than electric hauled
trains. Electric traction requires huge capital investment of Rs. 63 crores per
loco in Overhead Wires, Transmission Lines, Power Plants as against only Rs. 3
crores on Diesel traction. Energy Bill of Railways for the year 1998-99 was
more than Rs. 2800 crores for hauling about 60% freight traffic and 50%
passenger traffic against fuel bill of about Rs. 1500 crores for the balance BG
traffic
Diesel traction, in any case, is cheaper for passenger
services. Contrary to popular perception electric traction is more polluting
than diesel traction. The “green house” gases emission in case of power
generation from coal is 26% higher than that for a diesel locomotive for the
same amount of power generated (UNDP Study). Considering the transmission
losses associated with the distribution of power, electric traction is about
65% more polluting as compared to diesel traction. Generation of 1 MW of power
requires 10 tonnes of coal every day. Since coal in India has an ash content of
40%, this results in generation of 4 tonnes of coal ash every day. Thus, one
electric locomotive requiring 4.5 MW of power is responsible for generating.
IS THE
T-BOX ECO FRIENDLY?
The T- box has so far been
considered quite environmentally friendly. The T- box does not produce any
harmful chemicals nor has it been proven to have any other side effects thus
far.
ADVANTAGES OF T-BOX
·
It is Ecofriendly. As, it do not emits any
Carbon contents it does not harm environment and also it helps in decreasing
pollution if we use it instead of the Fossil Fuel sources.
·
It is Cheaper. Construction of T-Box is very
easy and also it does not cost so much.
·
Easy to install. It is very easy to install.
·
Needs less maintenance & has less chances of
Failure.
·
It is Efficient.
·
Non-variable & continuous supply if
regularly trains are passes by in a small range of a time.
·
Higher power to weight ratio.
·
No need of extra space for installation.
·
No need of external power source.
ANTICIPATED
PROBLEMS
Keeping the T- box devices clean
can pose great problem. As the train passes, quite a bit of dirt and debris
will be kicked up, and will land on the upper surface of the T- box. Also,
grease and grime deposits escaping from underneath will contribute to
contaminating the device.
Theft: the high scrap value of
copper and the unguarded, remote installations make overhead cables an
attractive target for scrap metal thieves.
FUTURE
OF THE T-BOX
As the hunger for alternative
forms of energy continues, the T-box has generated hope. This device presents a
new generation of wind power generators, and has created quite a sensation
among techno buffs. However, it is important to remember that the design is
still in the conceptual stage and has not taken into account all of the
preservation and maintenance issues that are likely to pose a problem in any
future use of this device.
CONCLUSION
T-BOX WIND POWER GENERATOR is a
device which can help in parallel with the Wind Mills across the World. As we
already know that in the Setup of those large Wind Mills we need to invest so
much of money. Also, they need a large area for it because in Wind Farms they
should be in large in numbers, then only they will produce electricity. Also,
one drawback is that they are variable and totally depends upon winds and that
is why they can’t produce continuous electricity.
The T-BOX is to be setup between
the rail sleepers by making only a concave space and by using two brackets it
can be easily install. It is very small in size as compared to Wind Mills and
also don’t need extra space. These can be really useful in those places where
electricity is not available. These T-BOX need less capital investment compared
to the solar panel installation of same capacity. Also, they produces more
energy in terms of space taken by them.
As INDIAN RAILWAYS NETWORK is
very large and denser. The tracks are in every city, village of the country, as
it is in every part of the country then if T-BOXES are installed in India then there
will be a huge production of electricity because in Indian Railways there are
1000’s of trains and they runs continuously and it will produce large amount of
power.
REFERENCES
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlOE0o59ftg
- http://gisr07.hubpages.com/hub/The-T-Box-A-New-Generation-Wind-Power-Device
- http://www.indianrailways.gov.in
- http://www.gizmag.com/tbox-concept-would-capture-wind-energy-from-speeding-trains/18272/
- http://www.coroflot.com/jq/t-box
- www.yankodesign.com/2011/03/22/power-to-the-fast-tracks/
- https://images.google.com/
- http://www.wikipedia.org/
