Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Improving Trains To Better The Environment And Save Energy

Aliczay Hutchinson

Hughes STEM High School Cincinnati, Ohio

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Introduction My research topic is Solar Powered Trains (S.P.T.). This field of engineering falls under Railway Engineering. A lot of people are wondering how a solar powered train would be an benefit in society. Well there are actually 3 good ways S.P.T can have a positive effect on society; bettering the environment, saving money, and making it easier to expand.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Field of Engineering Railway Engineering is a multi-faceted engineering discipline dealing with the design construction and operation of all types of railway systems. According to Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_engineering ), it encompasses a wide range of engineering bases. Some of them are Civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, industrial, and production engineering. I am interested in Railway Engineering because I have worked with my grandfather on multiple of railroads. We were designing, constructing, building, repairing and taking up railroad tracks. The worked that we did made me wonder what I can do to better what Ive seen while working with him. Another reason why I am interested is because I took civil engineering last year. We played multiple of games were we had to design something. We also had to build our own bridge. Being in that class made me wonder why cant I design something that people can use or how hard is it to better something that has already been created. The 2 schools I considered going to was University of Cincinnati and Miami University. According to the website (http://daap.uc.edu/academics/said/architecture/admission_requirements.html ) UC requires a 3.6 G.P.A (grade point average) , 27 ACT, and 1190 SAT. According to Miami University website, (http://www.miami.edu/index.php/honors_program_home/entrance_requirements/ ) they require ACT of 32 and a 3.0.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Background Information The first way that Solar Powered Trains will have a positive effect on society is by bettering the environment. S.P.T will do so by limiting the amount of pollution. We will limit the pollution by creating a train running off of solar power. Things that are letting gases into the atmosphere is harming the earth. It is harming the earth by causing temperature to rise, people being sick and etc. http://worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution According to SOL Solar lights produce no pollution and cause no harmful environmental effects. ( http://solarlighting.com/solar-energy-facts ) So having the engine run off of solar power instead of diesel, there wont be any Pollution or harmful fumes coming from the train.

The second way that S.P.T will have a positive effect on society is the cost. Having a train run on solar power will exempt having to purchase diesel for any train. Not only will it be better for the trains and environment but it will also be better for the society. It will be better for the society because the U.S is already in deep debt from purchasing gas and oil from other countries. In U.S the gas prices constantly rise and drop. This is happening because the U.S is spending more money on the gas then we can afford. We were all taught higher the demand the higher the price; well the demand for this type of fuel is very high. (http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ ) Diesel actually cost more over time then it would to replace a solar panel.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Solar panels is 20million for 30 to 40years before it has to be replaced. http://www.examiner.com/article/solar-powered-trains-1 Diesel on the other hand is 1.3billion for only 10years. http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-csx/projects-and-partnerships/fuel-efficiency/ Which one would you rather pay for? Its coming from your money.

The third way that solar powered trains will have a positive impact on society is by easier expansion. Trains are already world wide and been existing since 1837. Just because they are world wide, it doesnt mean that they are all running. By having them cheaper to use and having them pollution free they all will now be affordable and able to run. As I said before, diesel is to expensive which makes it not affordable; but changing them from diesel to solar powered makes them less expensive, more affordable, and easier to expand.

Solar Panel Cost

250 M i 200 l l 150 i 100 o n 50 s 0 245 210 175 140 105 70 35

20

40

60

80

100 Years

120

140

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Diesel Cost
9 8 B 7 i 6 l l 5 i 4 o n 3 s 2 1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Years 6.4 5.1 3.8 2.6 1.3 7.7 9

70

Experts may disagree with redesigning trains because they are working fine the way they are. They may feel like it would take more time to rebuild it and it will cost more money. Redesigning the trains will cost more now because they are already built but will be less money in the long run as shown in my graph. Im not disagreeing on the trains not working fine the way they are but it is a cost and environmental issue. It is a lot of experts complaining about the environment being to polluted. Well by redesigning train into a S.P.T train; it wont be no type of air pollution or money being spent for diesel.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Analysis This project ties into my work field by first off being engineered based. I plan on going to college and taking up civil engineering and this is a part of civil engineering. Civil engineering consist of building, designing, and constructing. My project will better the future in so many different ways.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Conclusion My project will have a positive effect on the environment in so many different ways. My plan is to slowly get the U.S out of debt, make the environment be pollution free from trains, improve the expansion of trains, and not have to purchase diesel for them.

Improving Trains To Better The Environment and Conserve Energy

Works Cited

"Admission Requirements, University of Cincinnati." Admission Requirements, University of Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati, 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. "Fuel Efficiency." Fuel-Efficiency. CSX Corporation Inc, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "Honors Programs ." Entrance Requirements. University of Miami, 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "Overview." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "Railway Engineering." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2013 "Solar Energy Facts." Sol Outdoor Lighting. Sol Inc, 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "Solar Powered Trains." Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group, 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis."Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. EIA, 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.