Experimental Study on Vertical Axis Wind Turbine to Harness Wind Power from Rapidly Moving Railway Locomotives

TLDR: In this article, the authors deal with energy generation to harness power from wind energy caused by high-speed locomotives using Savonius type of vertical axis wind turbine system.

Abstract: Electrical energy is an essential aspect of everyday human life through its different forms of application. However, due to limitation in resources and advancement of the civilization, energy demand could not be met appropriately complimenting the day-to-day population raise. Hence, it is imperative to depend renewable energy resources by adopting appropriate technologies. Thus, this study deals with energy generation to harness power from wind energy caused by high-speed locomotives using Savonius type of vertical axis wind turbine system. Installation of these systems along the path at a specific optimum range from the locomotive coach can provide energy generation. Computational studies were carried out using ANSYS in the wind speed range of 2.0–6.0 m/s. The wind turbine experimental setup was fabricated based on numerical results and experiments were conducted. Results reveal that a single high torque low speed turbine can generate 4–21 W. Potential power generation at identified sites in India was estimated, which can power low-capacity appliances at the vital railway stations.