Silly idea from Today forum contributor
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In the 8 Feb 07 edition of Today, I found the following contribution. Mr Tan suggested that MRT trains can generate compressed air in the tunnels to power turbines to generate electricity.
This story was printed from TODAYonline
This guy seems to have his physics wrong. At current speed, the only fan that the breeze from MRT train can power are paper windmills. At higher (perhaps jet) speed, the power needed to compress the air will be greater than the power recovered through turbin fans, and the MRT
Electricity from thin air?
Thursday February 8, 2007
Letter from tan kok tim
We have been told that SMRT has been generating electricity to light up the MRT stations by tapping the friction and momentum of the train wheels.
It is a simple technology and electricity is generated easily. It saves costs however minimal.
SMRT should go for even bigger savings. With so many kilometers of MRT tunnels, has the transport operator thought of using the air in the tunnels to generate electricity? Will it be feasible?
When a train moves at a fast speed in the narrow tunnel, it pushes a strong force of air forward into the tunnel. The air can be compressed to make it more forceful.
If the end of the tunnel is closed with a "flap door", the gush of air will be compressed. The compressed air can be channeled into an auxiliary tunnel to propel turbine fans to generate electricity.
It is a simple technology to release compressed air and convert it into energy. The "flap door" should be made to open automatically before the train reaches the tunnel exit, with a "fool-proof safety release" to prevent the train from crashing into the "flap door".
With many trains running in the tunnels, there will be a constant supply of compressed air power to tap and convert into energy ?a cheap but precious source of untapped power.
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
I don't mean to disparage Mr Tan's efforts to think out of the box, but I believe that the editors of Today should exercise due diligence in screening out silly ideas from the serious print media. Mr Tan's contribution is more suitable for the online forums. -
ya. tsk tsk tsk, my he's from other country.
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If his concept of aerodynamics is accepted, then my fart will also power up my house liao...
Aerodynamics of compressed fluid doesn't work that way... Moreover the so-called flap-doors will be a safety issue for the trains as our current tunnels don't permit additional load bearing... -
wow...tat's ingenious ..it sure sounds similar to the toilet flushing system found in my hse.
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Think possible.
Do? -
Theory works, practical fails...Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:Think possible.
Do? -
i suggest we contribute n gather all our useless discharge of intestinal gas..see, another untapped source of energy...
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try installing turbine at the exhaust above the underground stations, try try.........
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if the idea is silly why did they post it for people to read?
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He should just suggest that the tunnels be filled with inert gas like helium to reduce energy lost thru drag.
On the lighter note, his anology is similar to not having holes in your underwear. -
Once in the Straits Times forum pages, someone urged the government to clamp down on people wearing T-shirts with insulting messages such as 'I'm with idiots'. I believe there was a thread on this.Originally posted by dragg:if the idea is silly why did they post it for people to read?
Go figure. -
I got a better idea, do without the air conditioning and lighting in the trains. Now that should really make up for all that energy that could be generated with his idea.
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compared to recently i read the papers they said china going to ban averts and such from using pig imagesOriginally posted by fudgester:Once in the Straits Times forum pages, someone urged the government to clamp down on people wearing T-shirts with insulting messages such as 'I'm with idiots'. I believe there was a thread on this.
Go figure. 
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The so call power gen system use by SMRT is during the braking of the train when entering station.....I know, cause i drive train for a living..... but the power produce is not really alot. Enough to help another train to start moving. Just reduce the use of power by a little.
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May sound crappy lah but who knows.........?
Aeroplanes may sound crappy to people before 1900 too.....
Anyway, SgF is full of crap as well. We belong leh........
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wah liew eh, people talk about science and you can relate it to farting,Originally posted by dork3d:If his concept of aerodynamics is accepted, then my fart will also power up my house liao...
Aerodynamics of compressed fluid doesn't work that way... Moreover the so-called flap-doors will be a safety issue for the trains as our current tunnels don't permit additional load bearing... -
Give the man a nobel prize!
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same thing ma...Originally posted by LifeIsWonderful:wah liew eh, people talk about science and you can relate it to farting,
how about every singaporean to report to turbine/etc in the morning... then fart all you can to generate electricity for singapore for that day?
sure can help save alot of electricity.... -
Installing solar panels on the roofs of stations and their depot is a much better idea. -
The government wont spend money on energy saving lar..Originally posted by Parka: Installing solar panels on the roofs of stations and their depot is a much better idea. -
Tell this cockster that there is no such thing as free energy.
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no, no. we should collect everybody's fart to use as methane fuel.
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He got his physic wrong cause due to the nature of the tunnels, it's not possible.
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i was thinking: if air in the tunnel is compressed, wont it slow down the speed of train a lot?
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Having a 'flap-door' huh? I would love to see MRTs crash into them.