SOLAR TRAIN

By: Dilip KumarPrince KumarRohit RanjanShankar Sahu

Introduction

Fossil fuel has limited availability and that lead to shortage

and hike in fuel price

There is a need for reduction in carbon emission

Public transport must be more eco friendly .

Solar plane on roof of train will provide much of the required

power

Power generation in India

Coal 59%

Hydro 17%

Natural gas 9%

Nuclear energy 2%

Oil 1%

Renewable energy 12%

Indian electricity market outlook

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Capital cost in million US$

Capital cost in million US$

Why Solar Powered Train ?

It’s cleaner and more environment friendly .

In fact, zero emission.

It can lead to considerable reduction in green house gas

emission for each KWh of energy produce by traditional;

plant a reduction of 750 gm CO2.

It will cheaper because no expensive overhead wiring

system.

How It Works

Block Diagram

Component List

Solar Panel

Battery

Motor

Chassis

Wheel

Railway Track

Electronics Circuit

Sensor

Solar Array

Collect the energy from the sun

and converts it into usable

electrical energy.

The power produced by the solar

array varies depending on the

weather, the sun's position in the

sky, and the solar array itself.

Solar Cell

It converts solar energy to electrical energy.

Photons in sunlight provide the energy that moves electrons from one

layer of a semi-conducting metallic wafer to another.

The movement of the electrons creates a current.

The most common solar cells function by the photovoltaic effect.

Photo- means light and -voltaic means electrical current or electricity.

Design Overview

Solar panel rating-

Solar panel efficency = 15%

Solar panel power = 150W per meter squire .

Solar panel seize 12×8 inch

out put voltage of solar panel = 12V

Design Overview

Chassis ratings-

Aluminium Chassis with impact protection.

Size of chassis = 10×5”

Thickness = 1 mm

Weight = 250 gm

Design Overview

Lithium-Ion battery –

Voltage = 12v.

Capacity = 1.2 Ah

Dc motor ratings

Input = 12V DC

Speed = 200 rpm each

Working

The basic principle of solar train is to use energy that is stored

in a battery during and after charging it from a solar panel

during sunlight.

Photovoltaic effect convert solar energy into electrical energy.

The charged batteries are used to drive the motor which serves

here as an engine and moves the train in forward direction.

Working

The anti collision device is a self acting microprocessor based

data communication device.

When installed on locomotive along with a auto breaking unit

(ABU), it prevent high speed collision.

The ACD is used both radiofrequency. The train is

automatically brought to halt if the track ahead is not clear.

Project Model

Analysis

Power requirement for a non-ac coach for auxiliary purpose= 4.5

kw

Power available in one solar panel = 150 watt/ square meter

Length of Indian railway coach = 21.3 meter

Width of Indian railway coach = 3.05 meter

Maximum power that can be produced per coach by solar panel=

10kw

Cost of one panel = 15000₹

Advantage

Solar energy is renewable and freely available. Unlimited life of

Solar Modules, fast response and high reliability.

Fuel source for Solar Panel is direct and endless so no external

fuels required.

Inherently short circuit protected and safe under any load

condition.

Minimum Maintenance.

Less noise as there are less moving parts.

Advantage

No AC to DC conversion losses as DC is produced directly.

No transmission losses as installed in the vicinity of the load.

Suitable for remote, isolated and hilly places.

Solar energy does not cause pollution

It provides zero% carbon emission.

It is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last for 30 to 40

years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).

Disadvantage

Initial cost is high

It has no self-storage capacity.

Climatic condition, location, latitude, longitude, altitude, tilt

angle, ageing, dent, bird dropping, etc. affect the output.

To install solar panel large area is required.

Solar collectors, panels and cells are relatively expensive to

manufacture although prices are falling rapidly.

Conclusion

The vehicle use solar energy as source of power to drive the motor, and

the motor power is transmitted to the wheels and the vehicle to move.

Use of ACD enhance the modern advanced traffic safety.

The solar trains are used at very low scale, at present.

Though they have been around for about few years only, the

technology is still in the developmental stages.

So here is the conclusion that the challenge lies in making it a viable

means of transport.