Unlimited Energy Is More Than A Pipe Dream
This is the title of a comment in Friday’s Times from Ed Conway, who is economics editor of Sky News.
He says how energy storage will eventually solve our energy supply problem, by storing the energy generated from solar, tidal, wave and wind.
He mentions a storage idea from a company called ARES or Advanced Rail Energy Storage, which uses trains to store energy by pushing weights up hill.
This article from Interesting Engineering is entitled These Cool Energy Storage Trains Simply Work With the Power of Gravity.
This is said.
- Trains are loaded with concrete blocks.
- Trains are powered by third rail electrification.
- Energy is released using the regenerative braking, when the trains come down.
- Very little environmental damage is sustained.
- No water is used.
I have a feeling that in the right place, this idea could be made to work.
Consider the following facts and thoughts.
Dinorwig Power Station
Dinorwig Power Station in Snowdonia colloquial known as Electric Mountain is the UK’s largest pumped storage hydroelectric scheme.
Wikipedia says this about the power of Dinorwig.
From standstill, a single 450-tonne generator can synchronise and achieve full load in approximately 75 seconds. With all six units synchronised and spinning-in-air (Water is dispelled by compressed air and the unit draws a small amount of power to spin the shaft at full speed), 0 MW to 1800 MW load can be achieved in approximately 16 seconds. Once running, the station can provide power for up to 6 hours before running out of water.
So Dinotwig can effectively store about 6 x 1800 or 10800 MwH of electricity.
How Much Energy Would A Train Store?
If we took a 100 tonne wagon and raised it through a thousand metres, it would acquire 0.272 MwH of energy.
On a rough calculation, you would need to raise 40,000 wagons to have the capacity of a Dinorwig.
That would need a very large marshalling yard at the top and the bottom.
How Powerful Is A Locomotive?
A modern electric locomotive like a Bombardier TRAXX can be as big as 6 MW.
This locomotive doesn’t come with third-rail electrification, but that could easily be arranged.
If it took the train with say four locomotives, two hours to climb from the low to the high yards, this would expend 48 MwH of electricity.
So this energy would be enough to raise about two hundred wagons to the top.
Making All The Numbers Bigger
The numbers seem challenging and I think the idea is only possible with larger numbers.
- The trains would need to be raised through a much greater height – Say 2,000 metres
- The wagons would need to be very heavy – Say 2,000 tonnes
- The locomotives would need to be more powerful – Say 10 MW.
These give the following.
- The wagon would acquire 10.88 MwH of energy.
- Each train would expend 80 MwH of energy.
- A Dinorwig-sized facility would need about a thousand wagons.
Making the components bigger certainly reduced the numbers.
Could A Heavy And Powerful Self-Powered Wagon Be Designed And Built?
Concrete has various attributes including heavy weight, ease of use and affordable cost.
Boat builders have even built high-performance yachts from concrete.
Could it be possible to create a self-powered wagon with the following characteristics?
- A number of powered bogies, with a total power of perhaps 20-30 MW.
- Third rail power collection.
- Regenerative braking to generate power on the way down.
- A weight of 10,000 tonnes.
I suspect that the engineering exists to do it.
It would also need a very robust railway to carry it.
The potential energy acquired by the wagon at 1,000 metres would be 27.2 MwH.
If the time to get up the hill and the power of the wagon were balanced, I could see an efficient design being created.
Conclusion
This project might just be possible in an area like Nevada, where it could be coupled to massive solar farms, but I believe there are few other places in the world, where it would be as feasible.
Good Riddance To The Garden Bridge!
This article on the BBC, is entitled Garden Bridge: London mayor Sadiq Khan withdraws support.
It looks like that’s it for the complete waste of money!
Unless of course, some private individual decides to pay for it. Hopefully, Sadiq Khan, will tell the donor, “Thsnks! But no thanks!”
The Beginning Of The End For Coal In The UK
This article on the BBC is entitled First coal-free day in Britain since Industrial Revolution.
This is opening two paragraphs.
Britain went a full day without using coal to generate electricity for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, the National Grid says.
The energy provider said Friday’s lack of coal usage was a “watershed” moment.
Let’s hope it’s not a long goodbye.
Sadly, whilst there are people like Trummkopf about, it will be a long time before coal burning across the world descreases to a low level.
Breakfast At Saltaire
On my way back from Skipton station, I stopped off for breakfast at Saltaire.
I ate in Salts Diner and as you can see, I had a large gluten-free full-English breakfast with tea and juice for £9.95.
A Walk In Bradford City Centre
I like walking in City Centres and Bradford didn’t disappoint.
Little Germany with its collection of Listed buildings was certainly a surprise.
The Female Of The Species Is More Deadly Than The Male
The title of this post is from a poem by Rudyard Kipling, but could the 2017 General Election be a rerun of the 1983 General Election, where Margaret Thatcher gave Michael Foot, the order of the boot?
Jeremy Corbyn is actually two years younger than Michael Foot was at the 1983 General Election, which was incidentally when he was elected for the first time.
At the 1983 General Election Margaret Thatcher was in her late-fifties and now Theresa May is in her early-sixties.
I think that humorists and cartoonists will be having a good election, drawing comparisons.
Thatcher won her biggest victory in the Falklands, so will May win her victory in the Brexit negotiations?
I certainly feel that far outposts like the Falklands and Gibraltar could figure in this election.
Hackney Does A Bicester
Hackney is developing a name for being a centre of designer outlet stores.
It’s certainly a lot closer than Bicester Village.
There’s also quite a few railway arches leading towards Hackney Central/Hackney Downs station complex, which could make a whole lot more designer outlets or fashion workshops.
But at least the Council has its finger on the pulse and are consulting about what to do with the area.
Let’s hope they get it right!
Labour Alienates The Jews And Drivers And Owners Of Diesel Vehicles
I come from mixed Jewish/Huguenot lines and my philosophy is probably humanist, although I’m a confirmed atheist.
But if I’m wrong, finding Heaven could be a bonus when I die!
This article on the BBC is entitled Labour ruling ‘fails Jewish community’, says Chief Rabbi.
Individuals, like Livingstone have no place in an inclusive political party.
This article on the BBC is entitled Date announced for London ultra low emission zone.
I am not against the ultra low emission zone, just the way that it is being brought in unilaterally in London.
We need ultra low emission zones all over the country and there is many things we can do.
- Cross-city railways and trams.
- More hybrid and electric buses when they are available at an affordable cost.
- Park-and-ride facilities.
- Trucks should be more environmentally and cyclist friendly.
- Grants will probably be needed to scrap older diesel vehicles and invest in new trucks and buses.
The one thing that is right is to bring in the zone in 2019, which will be just after the Central London section of Crossrail has opened.
There needs to be measures from Central Government, but as ever, staying in power comes first.
I have a feeling that London’s ultra low emission zone will not be good for Sadiq Khan in London, as it’s going to cause inconvenience for many in London.
The Pop Group That Saved A City With A Little Help From Their Friends
It is the fiftieth anniversary of the release of one of the best albums of all time; Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
I bought the album and still have it somewhere.
But I don’t think most people understand how the Beatles changed a city completely.
Liverpool in the sixties had nasty undercurrents of violence and religious hatred. But in the five years, I lived in the city, these changed for the better, with the rivalry being transferred to support for your favourite group or football team.
Liverpool acquired a belief that it could take on the world and win.
Now, when I go back regularly, I find a confident, bustling, modern and friendly city, that compares to any in the world.
But what would have happened if the Beatles hadn’t?
Jeremy Corbyn On Brexit
Replying to Theresa May’s announcement of Article 51, Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech that was probably nine month’s late. If he had been so anti-Brexit last summer, perhaps the result of the Referendum would have been different.
The Anonymous Widower 