Track: Manufacturing and Design
Abstract
Every moving object possesses kinetic energy. Whenever it has to stop or reduce speed this kinetic energy has to be dissipated hence energy is lost from the system. This is the case with every mode of transport. With trains due to their mass the amount of energy lost is at a larger scale. Various methods have been developed by train manufacturers and other energy specialists in a bid to recapture this energy from the train. Though these may be successful in some respects they have some significant short comings. One of the most salient of these is that these methods have mechanisms which limit them to electric and electric hybrid trains. This paper is concerned with the development of a system of harvesting kinetic energy from trains which is independent of the source of traction energy. The system is based on the concept of flywheel energy storage.