Wind Turbine for Underground Subway Stations

Abstract:
The energy consumption of urban railway stations is huge and still being higher. The piston effect, caused by the train pushing air, is very pronounced in railway tunnels and is the cause for equipment mechanical stress leading some of them to an over consumption. The piston effect can be seen like a wind flow, or motion energy when “harvested” by new technology wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity and add to a microgrid. This study allowing the electrical design and the simulation of the most adapted architecture and control strategy without any station airflow disturbance. The airflow evolution inside the tunnel will be modeled and emulated in a 3D simulator. This solution will be developed and discussed regarding global efficiency, complexity and control issues. A test bench in laboratory, which emulates the wind turbine system, has been developed.