Railroading Into A Carbon Free                              Future

Iconic coal powered steam engines ruled the rails for decades. The diesel-electric engine was a technological leap forward. Railroads were transformed when the new idea was adopted. 

The reality is the overwhelming majority of climate scientists worldwide recognize that fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. Another new idea is needed.

 
Due to the worldwide climate change crisis many are trying to reduce carbon emissions. Railroads are not an exception. Most of them are serious about conserving fuel. In the US, shipping by rail is already the most environmentally friendly way to ship overland. 

The Railroad Windfarm lowers railroads operating costs and creates new kinds of cargo. It enables a transition to a lower carbon future by reducing dead weight, streamlining, and adapting wind turbines, solar panels, and regenerative brakes to freight railcars.   

The novel adaptation and combination of existing technologies results in a hybrid solar/wind farm that generates power for over two dozen uses including, extending grids, zero emission ‘reefers’, and charging batteries. More efficient fuel use also results in less carbon emissions.   

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines harvest the wind created by a freight train plus natural wind from any direction. Bubble-like airfoils, like those on semis, are used to neutralize wind turbine drag. Airfoils on freight railcars in excess of matching wind turbine drag conserve fuel.

The headwinds usually detrimental to train fuel efficiency are not a problem. For example, if 20 mph headwinds are expected, then additional airfoils can compensate for the increased drag. If the headwinds don’t materialize the extra airfoils conserve fuel. 

Solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours. Solar panels are installed on freight railcars and semi trailers. They can also provide onsite power for battery exchange franchises. 

Regenerative brakes on railcars capture the kinetic energy of a train slowing down. When battery power is diverted to them they become booster motors. Distributing the weight of the train to booster motors helps to overcome inertia and conserves fuel. 

An important concept is eliminating the diesel generators powering refrigeration. Zero emission reefers are powered by wind, solar, and kinetic energy to increase the sustainability of shipping perishables by rail. Fewer perishables shipped by semi will reduce truck carbon emissions.     

 

The Railroad Windfarm is a mobile power plant with another very important use. It can shuttle renewable energy batteries between stationary facilities and communities. The paradigm shift reduces or eliminates new transmission line construction. 

Land purchases and permitting issues are avoided by using existing railroad rights of way. As the renewable energy industry expands revenues will increase from shipping more solar and wind farm components to remote facilities. As rail networks expand the electrical grid expands.

 
The potential is huge since the technology can be added to any train, on any gauge of existing tracks worldwide. The Railroad Windfarm technology is a step towards zero emission railroad operations. It also indirectly reduces emissions from autos, trucks, and power plants.

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office asks an inventor to submit multiple versions or “embodiments” of an invention when submitting a Patent application. PTO regulations led to 5 types of railcars and over two dozen different ways to use the power generated. 

 

The 5 railcar types described in the Patent are deployed in various numbers in a mix and match fashion to meet the needs of shippers and railroads. They are presented in the order seen in the patent.  

​

The train’s movement creates a new concept, harvesting guaranteed wind with Vertical Axis Wind Turbines on a flatbed. The mobile VAWTs can use wind from any direction up to 131 mph. Common stationary Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines only use wind from one direction and shut down at 50 mph. 

The VAWTs operational wind speed is equal to a train’s speed plus any naturally occurring breeze. Wind turbine drag is neutralized by airfoils similar to semi ‘bubbles’. The Railroad Windfarm’s Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are the primary source of power.  

A stand alone application is forming temporary stationary wind farms with groups of wind turbine flatbeds. Strategically located, they would capture predictable historic high winds.  After a wind event is over the temporary wind farms are easily removed.  

The second railcar type is a zero emission reefer for carbon free shipping of perishables. The big difference is the diesel generators powering refrigeration are replaced by wind turbines, solar panels, and regenerative brakes, with battery backup. 

One reefer carries the cargo of 3-4 semis. Sustainable shipping with zero emission reefers and shipping/charging of batteries creates new revenues. Added awareness of railroads’ sustainability may increase shipping of other cargo.

When more perishables and other goods are shipped by rail there are less carbon emissions from trucks. Costly wear and tear on roads and bridges is reduced. With better roads, and less traffic congestion, gas powered cars will get higher mpg (lower emissions).  

The third type of railcar is an EV transport with battery charging. Factory installed EV batteries are guaranteed to be charged with renewable energy. Eliminating factory charging reduces EV production costs and may lower EV list prices. Fast or slow charging batteries can be used. 

 

Slower charging batteries enable EV battery lease/exchange programs that eliminate range anxiety and possibly lower new EV prices. A secondary use is charging batteries in new gas powered cars during shipping.    

 

The fourth type of railcar is a renewable energy battery. State of the art railcar batteries have 1 gigawatt capacity. The main difference is they need to be stationary to charge as compared to the Railroad Windfarm batteries that charge while a train is in motion, or if stationary, with natural wind and/or daylight.
 
A significant application is the paradigm shift of transmitting electricity with renewable energy batteries. Avoiding legal battles, transmission line permitting, and construction costs, will bolster the feasibility of the renewable energy industry. 

​

The Railroad Windfarm can shuttle charged/discharged batteries between local grids and rail-side facilities. Grids are extended to remote solar or wind farms. Increased shipment of solar and wind farms components is expected. Carbon emissions are reduced when renewable energy facilities take over for fossil fueled power plants.    

​

Zero emission reefers are safeguarded by battery power. Wind, solar, and kinetic energies are the primary power sources. Batteries enable the reuse of power harvested by railcar regenerative brakes.   

​

An important application is replacing existing hazardous transmission lines. Utilities often shut off power to prevent catastrophic wildfires. People with life supporting medical devices are put at risk. Transmitting energy with batteries on railcars can save lives, avoid wildfire liability, and the prevent loss of income from intentional power shutoffs.  
 
The fifth railcar is a flatbed with semi-trailer(s) to charge EV batteries in bulk. A fast charging battery can be charged slowly but slow charging batteries can’t be charged fast. Slow or fast charging EV batteries can be used. The increased availability of batteries can lower EV costs.   

 

The patent suggests existing gas stations offset decreasing gas revenues by becoming hybrid gas/electric franchises. The hybrid franchises would offer EV battery exchanges, fast charging, and maintenance services. 

 

The Railroad Windfarm could charge the EV batteries and provide the hybrid franchises with last mile delivery, storage, and charge maintenance. Semis return the depleted batteries to the Railroad Windfarm for recharging. Another use is bulk charging conventional car batteries. 

 

The prime locations of hybrid franchises will increase convenience for EV drivers. Range anxiety is alleviated with convenient battery exchanges and fast charging EV batteries. A battery lease and exchange service should help decrease the cost of new EVs.  

 

Regenerative brakes are on railcar types 1-5. They are reverse electric motors that harvest kinetic energy to generate electricity. Regenerative brakes are standard equipment on virtually all new EVs and hybrid cars. They have been used on locomotive engines for decades. 
 
Regenerative brakes can do the majority of braking when the train decelerates for hills, curves, population centers, or slows for any reason. The power is stored in supercapacitors then is diverted to batteries and reefers etc. Conventional brake maintenance is decreased.     
 
Fuel conservation is another benefit of the railcar regenerative brakes. Reversing the flow of electricity makes them ‘booster’ motors that help get the train moving from a full stop. Once the train is moving the power is shut off and the regenerative brakes operate as usual.   
   
Research on commuter trains showed regenerative brakes increased the lifespan of conventional brake pads from 18 days to 18 months. With fewer stops, regenerative brakes could extend the lifespan of conventional brake pads much longer. 

​

Airfoils, similar to the ‘bubbles’ seen on semis, are standard equipment on railcar types 2-5. They neutralize wind turbine drag to make it possible to harvest train created ‘artificial’ wind.  

If wind gusts are expected additional airfoils compensate for the extra drag. Fuel is conserved if the gusts don’t occur, or if airfoils are used in excess of wind turbine drag.   

 

Solar panels recover the wasted space of freight railcar rooftops. As standard equipment on most railcar types they harvest an untapped source of power. No additional land purchases or transmission lines are required for solar/wind farms when existing rights of way are used.    

The size of the mobile solar/wind farm depends on the number and type of freight railcars used. Solar panels on semi trailers keep EV batteries optimally charged after delivery. Solar panels installed on hybrid gas/electric franchises provide onsite power.  
 
When railcar power needs are met, the surplus electricity generated by the wind turbines, solar panels, and regenerative brakes is diverted to the diesel turbines. The power lowers the rpm of the diesel turbines which conserves fuel, decreases maintenance, and extends engine life. 

 

Performance metrics are tracked by computer. The Railroad Windfarm has sensors monitoring mileage, speed, fuel use, wind speed, wind direction, battery state of charge, regenerative brake power, solar panel yield, and wind turbine production. 

​

Some data is obtained from the diesel-electric engines. Wind speed and direction are obtained from local meteorologists. System monitoring can be done with wireless networks if the Railroad Windfarm is not directly connected to the engines. 

 

A data display shows sensor readouts to monitor system performance in real time. A log of operational data is created for each route. The data log helps optimize the performance of future Railroad Windfarms.

 

Several industries that will be affected include, but are not limited to, airfoil manufacturing, EV and battery manufacturing, railroads, regenerative brake manufacturing, renewable energy and storage batteries, shipping, solar power, and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. 

 

Due to its modular design not all types of railcars would have to be available right away. First built would be the wind turbine flatbeds, battery railcars, and zero emission reefers. As circumstances allow the other types of railcars could be added.     

 

The intellectual property rights to the technology have been assigned to the Railroad Windfarm, LLC. With markets in excess of USD 1.1 trillion (and growing) it is not possible to predict exactly where investments will be made.   
           
With over two dozen possibilities it’s unknown how the technology will be developed. What is known is that railroads could prosper in the lower carbon economy of the future by reducing fuel use, lowering maintenance costs, and shipping new cargos. 

 

It’s been said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The Railroad Windfarm technology won’t be either, but the patent does provide a logical path forward for years to come. 

 

Check out the virtual prototype Video to see how the technology works and a significant application. To see a scale model (without airfoils) check out the Railroad Windfarm Photos. For other applications see More Options. Technology and Patents have additional info.