​When airfoils, like the ‘bubbles’ seen on semis, are installed they decrease drag to conserve fuel. 

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Aerodynamics also conserve fuel for Railroad Windfarm semi-trailers.

 

One function is charging renewable energy batteries while delivering them to communities.

 

Eliminating transmission lines by delivering renewable energy batteries by rail.   

 

Delivering batteries charged by renewable energy facilities. Or batteries partially charged at facilities with final charging done by the Railroad Windfarm.  

 

Shuttling batteries between communities provides both with verifiable zero emission power. 

Batteries supply backup power for other railcar functions.

 

Batteries power ‘booster’ traction motors to conserve fuel.

 

Batteries are backup power for Zero Emission Refrigerated Railcars.

 

State of the art battery railcars ‘tenders’ have to be stationary to charge. The Railroad Windfarm charges ‘tenders’ while in motion, or if stationary, with wind and/or solar power.

 

The Railroad Windfarm can charge factory installed batteries as it transports new EVs.

 

The Patent suggests gas stations become hybrid gas/electric franchises and retain prime locations. The hybrid franchises would also provide fast battery charging and EV sales and maintenance services. Range anxiety is alleviated by the increased availability of convenient battery exchanges and fast charging services.

 

Railroad Windfarms’ specially designed semi-trailers provide the hybrid franchises with last mile delivery of charged EV batteries, storage, and charge maintenance. Depleted batteries are returned for recharging.

 

Other functions are charging factory installed batteries during shipment of gas-powered cars or bulk charging of non-EV car batteries.​

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A computer connects and coordinates the Railroad Windfarm component technologies.

 

Computer monitoring tracks mileage, speed, fuel use, wind speed, wind direction, batteries state of charge, power output from regenerative brakes, power output from solar panels, and wind turbine production from a variety of sensors.

 

A data display shows performance metrics in real time.

 

Most of the data is generated by the diesel-electric turbines and the Railroad Windfarm. Wind speed and direction are obtained from local weather services.

 

Performance of future Railroad Windfarms is optimized by data logs.

 

Similar to an airplane, the computer can run the Railroad Windfarm on autopilot.

 

Monitoring is done with wireless networks if the Railroad Windfarm is not directly connected to the diesel-electric turbines. 

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A wiring harness connects the various technologies with the computer and diesel turbines.

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Connections between railcars allows them to be interchangeable.

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The wiring harness lets the technology ‘evolve’ to meet the needs of shippers and communities. 

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The modular design enables scalability. The Railroad Windfarm can be expanded as needed.

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The wiring harness allows railcars to be taken offline without affecting the performance of others.     ​​

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When railcar power needs are met, the surplus power is diverted to the diesel-electric turbines to eliminate curtailments.

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Railroads transport the Railroad Windfarm on established routes.

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The Railroad Windfarm generates electricity, stores and delivers batteries, and or uses the power onboard.

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The mobile Railroad Windfarm has zero emissions. It reduces train emissions that are dispersed as the train moves. Stationary fossil fueled power plants emissions have a 24/7 impact on communities. With synthetic fuels and lubricants trains will ultimately have zero emissions.

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Long distance transmission lines are eliminated. The cost savings of eliminating transmission lines enables the renewable energy industry to expand by rail to remote locations.

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A paradigm shift in energy transmission is created by railroads delivering renewable energy batteries to communities. Or batteries can be partially charged at stationary facilities with charging finished by the Railroad Windfarm during delivery.

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Land use issues, transmission line costs of land acquisition or lease, permitting, construction, and maintenance are avoided by using railroad rights of way to generate and transmit power.

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There’s a glut of railcars in the US. Surplus railcars are often added to trains where the extra dead weight increases fuel use. The Patent suggests refitting surplus railcars to reduce dead weight. 

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Diesel generators powering refrigeration are eliminated. Zero Emission Refrigerated Railcars encourage more shipping by rail. Shipping perishables becomes more sustainable.

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A train can haul enough cargo to replace 300 – 400 trucks. Shipping by rail and shipping semi-trailers on flatbed railroad cars (intermodal shipping) is encouraged to reduce long haul trucking.

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Truck emissions and expensive wear and tear on roads are reduced. Less traffic congestion and better roads enable gas powered cars to get higher mpg and reduce emissions.

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When the energy generated by the Railroad Windfarm exceeds railcar functions the extra power is diverted to lower the rpm of the diesel-electric turbines. The lower rpm reduces maintenance, extends turbine life, and conserves fuel while maintaining speed.

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Regenerative brakes have been used on locomotives for decades. They are standard equipment on virtually all EVs and hybrids. The Railroad Windfarm uses them on railcars. They decrease railroads’ conventional brake maintenance costs by doing 95% of the braking. The added weight of regenerative brakes is offset by less dead weight from unused railcars.  

 

Regenerative brakes convert kinetic energy to electricity whenever a train decelerates for hills, curves, cities etc. The power generated is quickly stored in supercapacitors then is slowly diverted to charge batteries that power 'booster' traction motors or provide backup power for various railcar functions. The added weight is offset by decreasing the dead weight of surplus railcars.  

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​​​Trains transport the Railroad Windfarm. ​​

 

Solar panels are standard equipment for non-wind turbine railcars, semi-trailers, and hybrid franchises. By recovering the wasted space of railcar and semi-trailer roofs they form a mobile solar farm. The size of the mobile solar farm depends on the type and number of railcars used. The EV transports have the largest surface area.

 

Land purchases for stationary solar farms are avoided by using existing railroad rights of way for the mobile solar farms.

 

Semi-trailer solar panels keep EV batteries optimally charged after delivery. On hybrid franchise roofs they provide onsite power for charging stations and other onsite uses with any surplus fed into the local grid.  

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Vertical Axis Wind Turbines harvest historic winds to generate electricity. Groups of wind turbine railcars and at least one battery railcar are immobilized to form temporary wind farms. They charge batteries or to supply emergency power and are removed when the high winds cease.

 

Functions are listed for the 5 railcars featured in the Patent. For desalination, electrolysis, or the features, functions, and benefits of over twenty other railcars see More Options. For a scale model (without airfoils) check out the Photos. To learn how the Technology works check out the Video.