Seville’s Elegant Trams
Seville’s tramway; the MetroCentro, by the cathedral is powered without using traditional overhead catenary.
Each double-sided stop has a high electrified rail on each side.
When the tram stops, it puts up a pantograph and then for a minute or so, it charges the batteries.
Seville’s Urbos trams are the same as in Birmingham, so will the Midland Metro be using the same elegant system to charge the batteries, that are now been fitted, so trams can run to Centenary Square in Birmingham and the railway station in Wolverhampton?
|Edinburgh also has another version of Urbos trams, so if Birmingham battery trams are successful, will we be seeing them North of the Border?
There’s only one thing wrong with Seville’s trams. Every one is wrapped in advertising, which makes it difficult to see out and look at the outstanding buildings.
How Does The Battery System Work?
CAF , who built the Urbos trams, have this page on their web site, which is entitled Greentech Tram.
The system uses two methods of storing electricity.
Supercapacitor Modules
A supercapacitor has the advantage that it can be quickly charged and discharged.
So as a tram only takes perhaps fifteen seconds to stop from full speed, the fast charging allows the regenerative braking energy to be stored.
On starting again, this energy can be discharged quickly from the supercapacitor to accelerate the tram.
This charging/discharging cycle does degrade the supercapacitor and they would have to be replaced periodically.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries can hold greater amounts of electricity, but their charge and discharge rate is slower.
They can provide smaller amounts of power to keep the tram going at a constant speed after it has been accelerated.
A Sophisticated Control System
The page talks about a sophisticated control system that optimised the driving of the tram and the minimisation of energy.
The System Can Be Licenced From CAF
It should be noted that CAF will licence the system to other manufacturers.
Conclusion
By using two different storage systems with different characteristics, CAF are able to drive the tram along its 1.4 km route, charging at each stop.
Piccadilly Circus Has Gone Dark
Pictures like these of Piccadilly Circus will be all over the media for a couple of days.
It’s only so that the screens can be replaced with ones that are bigger and better.
Is Wi-Fi Becoming A Curse?
I usually only switch wi-fi on when I need it, on my Samsung phone. And when I don’t, I switch it off immediately.
Yesterday, I forgot to switch it off and this morning as the bus went through the Angel, the phone had switched itself to an O2 advert and it was trying to get me to install fourteen copies of updated apps.
I immediately, switched wi-fi off and didn’t install any updated apps, as in fact, I only use one app and that never seems to update itself.
How many people just update all the apps, they’re asked to do and inadvertently load a piece of malware, that empties their bank account?
Remember, it is in your phone service provider’s interest that you keep updating, as this generally increases your bill.
I also have no financial details on my mobile phone. Anybody who does, deserves to lose all their money!
Do On-Line Advertisers Waste Their Money?
I monitor my INR using a Coagguchek device. And very good it is too!
But how many times a week do I get an on-line advert for the device? I’ve not counted, but it must be many.
Why does on-line advertising, preach to the converted?
Google needs a better algorithm!
Is A Rat A New Make Of Car?
I took this picture at Hillsborough yesterday.
Is A Rat A New Make Of Car?
I would assume that Burrows is a car dealership.
When I first read the one with a red background, the car make looked like a Rat.
Another Reason To Hate Heathrow Express
I just received this advert for Heathrow Express, whilst looking at an article in the Belfast Telegraph.
Annoying Heathrow Express Advert
What use is this offer to me, as no-one ever wants to travel with me?
So I will now never use the incredibly overpriced Heathrow Express!
In fact, I doubt, I’ll use Heathrow much until Crossrail opens.
Is This Tube Advert Going To Upset Nicola?
I saw this advert on a Metropolitan Line tube train today.
Is This Tube Advert Going To Upset Nicola?
Are some Scots, going to dislike the advert?
Wot No Adverts!
I took this picture at Kings Cross station.
Wot No Adverts!
It was a surprise and probably to be welcomed in some ways.
However, although I don’t like advertising, unless it is informative about a new film or play, say, I did miss something to read, as I went up the escalator.
Now that these adverts are often screens, I’m surprised that no-one has developed an art installation using them.
Are Adverts Pointless?
I’m just watching the Tour de France on ITV4, as I put together the next couple of IKEA cabinets for my kitchen.
The adverts are completely aimed at the wrong person.
1. There has been two different companies trying to sell me Funeral Insurance. Why would I want a funeral and anyway, I won’t be going or remember it. We should just post our bodies to the nearest hospital for dissection practice or a pet food factory to do something useful.
2. There are also adverts for Skoda cars. I don’t drive and have no interest in the sort of boring cars bought by plebs. Or in any car forv that matter unless it doesn’t pollute my walking space.
3. Santander Bank. Only idiots, bank with Head Offices in other countries. Remember Iceland and Scotland!
4. Petplan, Pets are for the lonely and conservative.
5. Loans. I don’t need to borrow money.
6. Car Insurance. See point 2.
7. Barbecues. I hate them!
When somebody invents a television that doesn’t show adverts or trailers in live television, I’ll buy one.
The Anonymous Widower 