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Wind generators hidden in underground tunnels

Utilises air pressure from slowing down metro train
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When you stand on the platform in your city Metro station, often you get a gush of wind, when te train comes in, depending how well the tunnels and trains are designed.

This wind from train slowing down could be harnessed with turbines or other type of blades between the tunnels before the stations to generate electricity.

This could be improved by designing tunnels more narrow close to the station and assist slowing down the train.

In Singapore I noticed the glass walls on the platform for safety of the passengers. When train arrived and stopped the doors opened on the trains and on the walls simultaneously. This system would improve the sealing of the tube and the air pressure on fron of the train could be channeled to the wind turbines for power generation. Also there needs to be closed doors on the front of the train until the train leaves the platform to improve efficiency.

Of course these generators would be in ducted service tunnels and public would never see them.

Pellepeloton, Oct 04 2006


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Annotation:







       Remember that every ounce of energy you recover was put in by the train. If you slow down the air in the tunnel you reduce the trains efficency.
Galbinus_Caeli, Oct 09 2006
  

       The idea would be to use the energy from slowing down train, not train accelerating.   

       If you slow down train faster that means better efficiency as less ain gets to the station just a little bit earlier.   

       When the train is using brakes, the energy is mainly converted to heat. But having to push additional air cushion when coming into station would slow the train faster and use less brake power.   

       I am not sure if the braking power is already converted to electricity on the train itself like in case of electric cars using regenative power charging batteries when slowing down?
Pellepeloton, Oct 10 2006
  


 

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