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EEVblog 1534 - Solar Freakin' RAILways!

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Xpendable:
Here in Chicago, I ride a passenger train to and from work on the Chicago Metro Rail. The passenger cars a big. They are 2 story with an upper deck. These cars weigh almost 58 tonnes. The diesel electric locos that push and pull these are probably heavier. When these trains go over the tracks, you can see the railroad ties physically sink into ground 30-50mm as the wheels go past, which means the steel rails themselves are flexing a bit. The point I am making is that not only are the rails vibrating and in general, being a dusty environment, but they are also physically moving and flexing. Good luck keeping those solar panels intack!

Here is a video I recorded at my station yesterday as one of these bad boys pulled in.  See the rails move yourself.

https://youtu.be/qhQ3mixozgM

SiliconWizard:
I have actually seen how rails themselves are assembled, it's fascinating.
Yes they can take a good amount of flexing and expansion.

nctnico:

--- Quote from: Black Phoenix on March 21, 2023, 01:24:51 am ---
--- Quote from: EEVblog on March 21, 2023, 01:07:26 am ---

--- End quote ---

Yes Dave, I know, but think with me. You are doing a test of a system right? So for you to test is something is viable you will try to keep the system in test in the best condition possible right, in a way to have a fully accurate info from what it has been logged right?

--- End quote ---
The lesson to be learned is that solar panels need to be mounted at a much steeper angle so birds don't s(h)it on them and the rain washes the panels clean. Judging from the solar panels mounted on the roof of my backdoor neighbours, rain will wash bird crap off perfectly.


--- Quote from: Xpendable on March 30, 2023, 12:44:34 pm ---Here in Chicago, I ride a passenger train to and from work on the Chicago Metro Rail. The passenger cars a big. They are 2 story with an upper deck. These cars weigh almost 58 tonnes. The diesel electric locos that push and pull these are probably heavier. When these trains go over the tracks, you can see the railroad ties physically sink into ground 30-50mm as the wheels go past, which means the steel rails themselves are flexing a bit. The point I am making is that not only are the rails vibrating and in general, being a dusty environment, but they are also physically moving and flexing. Good luck keeping those solar panels intack!

--- End quote ---
If you look at how the panels are mounted between the tracks (from the original video material) you'll see that these form a long chain that can be removed again. The flexing of the tracks is already being accounted for through the links of the chain. Also keep in mind that solar panels in general will be exposed to vibration and flexing (remember glass is a liquid!) no matter where they are mounted. Heat expansion and strong winds will cause forces on the panels and make them bend a little bit. Ordinary solar panels are rated for winds speeds of at least 225km/h. That is hurricane level 4 / 5 territory. And then there is hail stone testing solar panels using diameters up to 55mm and speeds up to 122km/h. IOW: there is absolutely no reason to think that solar panels will be damaged by train traffic when placed between a track.

Testing solar panels:

wizard69:
What blows my mind is that there are far better ways to leverage open spaces, some public some private.   For example rail stations should be covered in solar panels, the same for bus stops and other waiting spaces.  Most of these can be done at a far lower cost than any solar road way, railway or foot path for that matter.

As for trains, for anybody that has ever walked along a rail line for any length of time they have to be laughing their asses off over this idea.

SiliconWizard:

--- Quote from: wizard69 on April 07, 2023, 09:16:38 pm ---As for trains, for anybody that has ever walked along a rail line for any length of time they have to be laughing their asses off over this idea.

--- End quote ---

Yep, except those who get the money. You can even convince yourself that you're doing the right thing, when money flows in. See Theranos.
 :popcorn:

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