How Ice Based Thermal Energy Storage can help cut electricity and fuel costs of Indian Railways

摘要

With a rise in the per capita income of the country, the passenger load in the premium trains as well as premium travel classes of the Indian Railways is also increasing. Since Indian Railways still remains the artery of nation's public transit, so it is equally important for the Railways to match the demand for the premium and air conditioned coaches as well as facilities for its passengers. For the same purpose, the rail coach factories are rolling out the well equipped air conditioned Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches at a quick pace. On the other hand, this is accelerating the demand for electric energy by the railways at a rapid pace. This increased demand for electricity is being fulfilled by three ways viz; overhead lines, self generating coach production and EOG (End On Generation); on board power supply by adding generator cars. Although these methods have proven to be successful in fulfilling the demand, but the downside is the increased operational cost. The present subject matter here provides a solution to the problem of rising operational costs by providing a solution, which can help cut down the air conditioning costs by a fraction. Thus help cut down the electricity requirement for the operations of Indian railways, by using Ice Based Thermal Energy Storage System for Air Conditioning.