Functions

Aerodynamics enables the Railroad Windfarm to capitalize on guaranteed winds.  

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The Railroad Windfarm’s mobility creates ‘artificial wind’. 

 

When airfoils, like the ‘bubbles’ seen on semis, are installed they decrease drag. The decreased drag enables increased drag from Vertical Axis Wind Turbines that are sized to equal the drag reduced by the airfoils. A net zero increase in drag enables the harvest of ‘artificial wind’.

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More streamlined railcars can be added if headwinds are anticipated. Fuel is saved if headwinds don’t materialize as predicted.

  

Aerodynamics conserve fuel if used without wind turbines or in excess of wind turbine drag.

 

Aerodynamics also conserve fuel for Railroad Windfarm semi-trailers.

 

One function of the Railroad Windfarm 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 provide 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 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 shipping 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 performance metrics using data from a variety of sensors.

 

The computer monitors 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.

 

A data display shows performance metrics in real time.

 

Most data is generated by the diesel-electric turbines or 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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Disconnects between railcars allow interchangeable railcars.

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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 single railcars to be taken offline and not affect connections to the rest.   ​​

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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.

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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 and fuel use.

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Zero Emission Refrigerated Railcars encourage more shipping by rail. Diesel generators powering refrigeration are eliminated along with diesel use and emissions. Shipping perishables becomes more sustainable.

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A single 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 that conserves fuel and reduces emissions.

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Eliminating curtailments. Almost all trains are powered by electricity generated by diesel turbines. When the energy generated by the Railroad Windfarm exceeds railcar needs the extra power is diverted to lower the rpm of the diesel-electric turbines. The lower rpm extends turbine life and conserves fuel while maintaining speed.

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Regenerative brakes use kinetic energy to generate electricity whenever a train decelerates for hills, curves, population centers, etc. The power generated is quickly stored in supercapacitors then is slowly diverted to charge batteries, power railcar functions, or ‘booster’ traction motors.

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Regenerative brakes are standard equipment on virtually all EVs and hybrids. They’ve been used on locomotives for decades. 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.  

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Trains transport the Railroad Windfarm.

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Solar panels use sunlight to generate power.

 

Solar panels are installed on freight railcars, semi-trailers, and hybrid gas/electric franchises. By recovering the unused space of railcar and semi-trailer roofs they form a mobile solar farm. The size of a mobile solar farm depends on the type and number of railcars used. EV transports have the largest surface area.

 

Solar panels are standard equipment for non-wind turbine railcars.

 

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

 

Semi-trailer solar panels keep EV batteries optimally charged after delivery. Solar panels on hybrid franchise roofs provide onsite power.

 

Installing solar panels on roofs of gas/electric franchise buildings provide onsite power. 

 

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines harvest a train’s guaranteed ‘artificial wind’ to generate electricity.   

Groups of wind turbine railcars are immobilized to form temporary wind farms. They charge batteries or to supply emergency power. They are removed when the high winds cease.

 

Functions are listed for the 5 railcars featured in the Patent. For desalination or 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.