Sacramento Solar Train

I started a new thread for this because it is gathering steam and deserves its own thread.

Building on the Solar Train concept, we are raising funds for a demonstration project in Sacramento, California. Proposed is to use the existing rail yards to support a fireless locomotive that would be used in rotation on the tourist line in Old Sacramento.

http://timcastleman.com/sst/

Once again the region will lead the world in developing a system for mass transportation using simple, well proven technology to provide high quality, clean, renewable energy more efficiently than any other by taking the shortest path from the sun to the drive wheels.

Thermal solar energy collectors will be erected over portions of the site having deed restrictions for industrial use only, thus converting a toxic problem into a renewable energy production facility. This energy will be used to charge and recharge the fireless locomotive, which then has a very short distance to service on the popular tourist train.

Initial funding will be used to prepare a feasibility study which will be used to approach owners and stakeholders with a proposal. Upon approval from these, second round funding will be raised to purchase at least one fireless locomotive and for preparation of support facilities including construction of the Solar Steam Plant and by restoration of historic locomotive shops we will also be recycling a facility too long underused that at one time employed 7000 area residents and supported transportation to the entire region.


Future routes for Sacramento Solar Trains

Trains consisting of a locomotive and one to six passenger cars, according to demand will move rather slowly along the original trolley lines, revitalizing these areas by making them more pedestrian friendly as the predictable train is on a track and doesn’t exceed 30 mph, with many stops providing a steady 12-13 mph average travel speed throughout the city.

Due to this deliberate low speed design, even the track can be much less aggressive and neighborhood friendly than used for high speed electric, which has a place for longer distances, but not through residential neighborhoods.

On sunny days, all the energy can be collected using high efficiency thermal solar collectors, and as the system expands, recharge stations can be built as needed. For example, recharge stations at Folsom and Truckee would probably enable a round trip to Lake Tahoe on the Solar Train with zero energy cost, using existing technology, and zero emissions!

http://timcastleman.com/sst/

What a great idea...this is the type of technology we should be investing in for the future..

The collectors will have a liquid being pumped through them to carry the heat to a thermal storage system and may in fact be part of a District Energy System:

The solar steam plant can be incorporated into a District Energy System that manages energy for HVAC, lighting and other building services as well as abundant propulsion for a fleet of thermal powered passenger trains. The landmark PG&E steam plant on Jibboom Street could once again serve in the capacity it was designed for and with modern technology provide a significant contribution to the District.

Using state of the art distributed energy technologies the District Energy System is a net energy asset to the community, providing improved grid reliability with significant economic benefits to owners due not only to operation cost savings but also sales of excess capacity result in a net gain on the books for energy. One recent example that comes to mind is the system in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona that shares capacity between several large structures. Historically, the Sacramento Rail yards were completely self-contained, with shops making everything from soap to the buckets to wash in, not to mention most of the trains that built the West.

More about Distributed Energy Technologies: http://www.energy.rochester.edu/

Above is a "Eurotrough" which is similar to DISS technology that is up and running in S. California making 354MW!

More details here:
http://www.timcastleman.com/sst/collect.html

We could do with more urban transport in most places, and this is a fresh approach. (no mention of cloudy days, though - tsk tsk.;))

Here's a thought: Replace the pistons with rotary engines, and you could use them to pressurise the tank under braking (it's too long since my school physics to work out if this really a good idea, but it feels like it's worth a look.)

Biomass and methane can and will also be burned to make steam for a District Energy System. Future technology will include onboard heat that will enable long distance (over 200 mile) trips.

Future technology will include onboard heat...

Ahh, the shape of things to come...

(Just pulling your leg!)

Since we will be making steam, why not make some electricity too? After all, most electricity is made with steam turbines now, and in fact Distributed Generation is emerging as a real solution in many situations.

The Solar Steam Plant will be part of District Energy System powering not only our Solar Trains, but also help heat, cool and electrify the Riverfront & Rail-yards area.

http://www.timcastleman.com/sst/steamplant.html

seldem a day when sun doesn't shine most of the day in these areas

and while I think it could be nuclear (on the end of a long and well insulated steam pipe), I'll leave that out of this discussion.

Generally, to reap the benefits of district heating and cooling you need to have a relatively compact district. I think you could have a relatively long trunk line, but the associated plumbing of connecting users over a large area seems prohibitive. Another point for my all time favorite green solution: LVT

I like solar and wind power, however, I think that urban land is too valuable for this. These sources should be on the periphery beyond a long walk from where people live, work, play, and shop. Certainly, where they aren't wanted for greenspace or terraces, some collection could occur on rooftops.

Biofuels, if they are as productive as predicted, offer a relatively efficient means of storing and transporting energy. I think a well designed district heating & cooling cogeneration plant could effectively balance the needs of energy storage, solar gain, wind, fuel use, and grid electricity.

I tend to think that electricity would be a better 'fuel' for trains, especially urban ones. It's not difficult to imagine them using regenerative braking as they approach a stop. With some power storage - or even appropriately designed hills - the only 'wired' power they'd need could be provided at stations and on hills.

It would, however, black smoke be damned, be truly awe inspiring to see one of ">these hammering up a hill. Here's a bunch of clips of steam locomotives in operation. a few more.

Reminds me of one of IK Brunels's ideas that never got used - a train based on centralised steam production. The locomotion was provided by a steam catapult (The same way they boost planes off aircraft carriers). It never got past a prototype, mainly because he just didn't have the materials to insulate the pipe with (all he had was lots of iron) and it ran out of steam - literally - after a couple of miles. These days, of course...

I'll leave you to ponder that. :)

Most electricity we use now is made with steam, including nuclear of course. So it is tempting, but when there are so many better options readily available, why complicate things?

Options: Solar, methane (nat gas) and other fossil fuels, including 'clean coal technology', and of course biomass. I am told Sacramento has more tress per capita than any other city on the planet, except Paris. The County issues big 'Green Waste' barrels to every resident and collects their yard trimmings every 2 weeks, while the rice industry would love to find a good use for what they are no longer allowed to burn in the fields, to name a couple.

The 240 acre parcel is proposed to house 10,000 residents plus retail and commercial space integrated into the inter-modal transit system. I just want 34 of those acres, located in a far off place, next to the water treatment plant, that is so toxic part of the remedial action was to place a deed restriction prohibiting use for other than industrial.

Meanwhile, I want to resurrect the monumental PG&E steam plant building to house modern co-gen equipment to power the new development, AND a fleet of solar trains!

Heisler Locomotive No. 4094D, returned to its original livery of midnight blue and silver. Built in 1940, it actually appeared in the NY World's Fair. A "fireless cooker," it runs on steam and hot water, with no fire on board.

http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/whatsnew/newrsh.htm

So it's on-board combustion is kept to a minimum?

The only emission is H20...

It boils as soon as pressure is reduced, as it would be when the throttle is opened.

Very safe as you really cannot have a boiler explosion with such a locomotive.

Fireless trams were used on American streetcar lines in the years prior to electrification.

There has been a lot of progress in a short time. DLM, a Swiss manufacturer, is making NEW steam locomotives using Modern Steam Technology and has expressed interest in our project. See: http://www.dlm-ag.ch

In addition to the option of NEW equipment (!) - two fireless locos in storage have already emerged as candidates for the project.

Also added a temporary logo, more links, pix and got the domain names http://SolarSteamTrain.com , .net & .org