A
proposal to gain energy security, create wealth & jobs, with
alternative source of eternal energy from gravitational force.
Rajaram Bojji F.I.E.,
F.N.A.E.
http://rajaram.bojji.googlepages.com/bojjirajaram
834
Spring Knoll Drive , Herndon, VA 20170
email:
rajaram.bojji@gmail.com
Ph. 703 835 9025
Abstract:
A simple pendulum demonstrates the efficacy of gravity force, in the
matter of converting from potential to kinetic energy, and recover
back from kinetic energy as potential energy with least loss. If we
are able to split the mass in to vertically falling and rising
component of many orders larger than a horizontally rolling mass,
both the said components of mass mechanically coupled through a
variable gear and cable to influence each other, we get a mechanism
almost similar to a pendulum. The variable potential energy of the
vertically moving masses reflects as variable kinetic energy of the
rolling mass. The dynamic equilibrium of this mechanism is managed
through distributed intelligence in microprocessors. Thus Gravity
Power Towers are created incorporating all these elements. The
Gravity Powered Elevated/Sub-way Rail transportation at speeds from
108 to 360 kmph provides 100% of energy from gravity and recover the
same from 97.5% to 50% depending on the coasting length, and
friction losses. The short fall in raising the masses back to
original position is made up from electric motors inside the towers.
Automated with little recurring energy costs, the gravity powered
transportation will be a boon to humanity reducing global warming.
In USA, the transportation consumes 30% of total energy and the
fossil fuels supply the entire requirement. If we are able to replace
substantial quantum of this energy with gravitational force, energy
security levels can be raised. By exporting this technology the USA
can contribute in a significant manner to reduce carbon emissions and
global warming. Gravity Powered Rail, roads can have significant
impact. In this paper these impacts are discussed with estimates of
investment needed for implementing the project and benefits expected.
An outline is presented for a $ 450 b scheme to create 100,000 km
of cargo transportation network in USA fully powered by gravitational
force saving 97% of energy currently used, and generate 30% surplus
after meeting all expenses, while generating a million jobs by 2011.
Introduction:
Energy is critical for any country's economy. In case of USA, out
of annual consumption of more than 101 Qd.Btu, nearly 30 Qd.Btu is
consumed by transportation. Over the next two decades, the
projections by the NPC show that the world's consumption will rise
from current 445 to 450 Quad. BTU to 678 Quad.BTU by 2030. The NPC
concludes that we need energy from all sources and in foreseeable
future one can never think of energy independence, but can only
manage to have energy security.
The
strategic approach did not factor in the new development of Gravity
Power Towers. The impact of this development on the energy scene
is now analyzed.
The approximately 26 to 30 quadrillion BTU of energy used in
transportation can be replaced by gravity power, and after taking
into account the recovery factor, we need to provide 3% to 30% of
energy for re-charging the Gravity Power Towers. If we take all
cargo to move by Gravity Power, then we can adopt speed profile
suitable for 3% level of energy consumption. But for passenger
transportation, considerations of avoiding too many stops and
cycles of acceleration and deceleration on a long distance haul,
causes drop in recovery of energy to 70%, because we increase
coasting length.
Extracts from a research paper by Bojji R -the results of the
computer model are given ( US Patent Application:12184151
dt.07/31/2008 :Case of
Gravity Power Towers located at 450m , with zero coasting length
and peak speed of 108 kmph, acceleration at 2m per sec. For a
rolling unit of 50T and driving mass of 1000T. Level and straight
track chosen.
Table
1 Summary of results for transportation drawing energy from the
Tower. The time taken is 30 seconds , average speed 54 kmph. The
variable n(j) during acceleration, t and n(l) during deceleration,
the tractive and braking force are plotted in the Figure 2.
Figure:
2 Constant acceleration case with variable gear.
More
importantly the energy recovered is 97.7 % approximately- which
means we need less than 2.3% of man made energy ; in other words we
have opportunity to save more than 97 % of energy which we
currently are using from fossil fuels! With this speed profile,
Figure 3, urban transport with stops within 500m can be created,
practically powered by free, eternal energy which is pollution
free- that is gravitational force driven.
Figure
3 Speed profile for the 108 kmph short haul case.
It
is beyond the scope of this paper to describe complete engineering
details for implementing in field, but it is necessary to note that
surprisingly for such a significant alternate source of energy to
be availed, it is not as complicated or complex as it is in case of
wind or solar power. Only variable gear transmissions readily
available in industry, cable drums to roll up and down the
vertically moving masses, endless thin steel cable transmission
running around pulleys, sounding more like old world technologies,
except for microprocessor based low power driven electronic
intelligence to initiate or stop certain connecting gears form the
components of the Gravity Power Towers. The rolling stock and
railway track are substantially the existing ones, even simpler
because there are no prime movers mounted on the stock, it is
merely hauled by the cable. Hence the risk of technology complexity
for quick realization is practically little.
For
long distance travel without coasting length, such speed profile
can cause concern of human comfort. In such a case accepting saving
of 60-70% levels of saving, Fig. 4, we can work out high speed
travel option with coasting
Figure
4. Effect of coasting length on energy recovery.
length.
But for transport of goods this can be a boon. Billions of tonnes
of cargo in containers can be transported across globe on surface,
saving more
than 97% of currently used
energy.
Scope:
National
Highways 256000 km out of which
Inter-state
highway 75300 km
Rail
... ... ... ... ... 240000 km
Airports-runways.
5000 paved ( From Wikipedia)
Between rail and truck modes, almost 60% of cargo, which is 3000 b
ton.miles, is carried which can now be carried by Gravity Powered
rail saving 97% of energy from the fossil fuels.
Hence identifying 50,000 km of existing railway, and 50,000 km of
inter-state highways, along which we construct the subway-rail
fully gravity powered, we may plan to have a network of 100,000 km
network of Gravity Powered Rail to transport.
The total cost for this infrastructure can be approximately
estimated, as under.
Cost of implementation in USA- I phase.
|
Item
|
Numbers
|
Unit cost
|
Total cost millions
|
|
1. Gravity Power Tower with all components
including cables 7 controls with intelligence built in with
provision for traversers too.
|
50,000
|
1000000
|
50000
|
|
2. Modifications to existing railway- provision
of side-bearing walls, running guidance for steel cables in
middle track, per km basis as unit
|
50000
|
500000
|
25000
|
|
3. New Sub-way track all along highway
median/shoulders per km basis as unit
|
50000
|
5000000
|
250000
|
|
=Rolling stock- @ 5 per km
|
500000
|
250000
|
125000
|
|
|
|
Total
|
450000
|
So a total of $ 450 b will be the investment, out of which the
various states and Federal Government will commit about $100 to 150
b, the rest coming from private parties. This project will be
executed on public-private partnership basis.
The revenue streams of the various infrastructure development
companies will be on the basis of charges for per unit of transport
in terms of access charges and the commercial operator encouraged
to invest and run the rolling stock and collect freight carriage
charges from the clients.
So we envisage:
Infrastructure design, engineering & construction company to
be Build Own and lease the fixed assets including the Gravity
Power Towers His lease charges will cover the debt servicing and
redemption requirements with a percentage profit
Operate and maintenance companies, for maintaining and collection
of access charges, which includes charges for providing the
gravity energy too- he will pay the lease charges to the Build,
Own and lease company
Commercial marketing and client relationship and service delivery
company who gets paid by the users for transporting their cargo
who will pay the costs as charged by Operate and Maintenance
company.
Direct Jobs created are shown in a chart below. State wise we may
envisage one of the types of companies, with the result we may have
40 to 50 of them based on work load and depending on the
requirement.
In
case of existing rail roads, the same staff will continue but there
would be re-distribution of persons from one category of work to
another. The locomotives will be drastically reduced limited to
some shunting in yards.
While close to half a million get direct employment, the downstream
effect of contractors engaging people to deliver the concrete
structures, the steel and rail industry getting a fillip of
continuous production are expected to create the other half a
million jobs.
The description of the infrastructure created and expected benefits:
One finds a number of towers, elegant merging with local environs,
quietly powering the transportation, located every half a
kilometer, and cargo in containers or wagons moving one by one all
by themselves automatically with operators there merely to watch
not required for any pro-active role. The status of the energy in
towers, recovery occurring automatically as well as any shortfall
being made up from electrical motors built in to towers, which also
automatically function, get watched in a control room displays
monitored b supervisors for any unusual development.
With such a network of Gravity Power Driven system, of 100,000 km,
it is assumed that out of 3000 b T.m of cargo, about 40 to 50% may
get transported by 2011. That means about 2000 b tonne.km which has
potential to earn at 8 cents per tonne.km, $ 160 b . The cost of
manpower is 250000 @ $30,000 yields $ 7.5 b . The energy costs at
6.6.kwh per 1000 t.km and at $24 per Mwh, works out to less than
$0.5b which is naturally less, because 97% of energy is supplied by
free gravity. Providing for maintenance and depreciation 10%, and
providing for debt servicing at 10%, we get surplus in excess of $
150b. It may be noted that only staff 250,000 are charged to
maintenance operation and marketing, while the other 250,000 are
project account. They continue developing further network extension
work. The federal and state governments may collect this surplus
and hand over their shares to the companies if they so desire,
after collecting interest also at 10% per annum.
With this kind of revenue stream, the equity of the companies get
higher market valuation to reflect future cash flows, making it
easy to finance the expansion of the network.
The export market all over the world is waiting to be availed of.
The US government may take a view over years to even reduce the unit
rates to be charged, to make goods cheaper in market once the
capital is recovered by the operators. Accordingly the concession
agreement could be structured. The energy is eternal and does not
suffer from any risk of rising cost of generation, which makes the
system uniquely positioned to control rise in prices of commodities
and goods. The impact of this feature can be very substantial for
common man and economy.
The use of fossil fuels in cargo transport both by road and rail can
be eliminated which is substantial, and so the import bill for more
than estimated 6 to 7 million barrels per day can be saved.
The carbon credits can fund and bring down further the cost of
financing the future projects. When completed, we prevent 3.5b
tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.
Only cargo transportation is covered in this note. Urban and
intercity transport of people at 360 kmph is separately covered in
another note, using gravitational force.
Way forward:
To realize the benefit, it is not research what is required, but
execution of a pilot project on a war footing where concurrent
engineering and design can be completed, standards laid down and
commercial project initiated within one year. I can confidently
promise the delivery even if only technologies available in India
are used; with the available US variable gear transmission, it is
even simpler. Only microprocessor based intelligent systems, a
combined group of US, Indian and German experts will be used for
assuring CENELEC standards.
The pilot project is only one mile or km long railway with three
Gravity Power Towers and 4 rolling units, with a total investment
of $ 25m; the amount spent more for developing the design
documentation and verification of the software and field testing on
prototypes, assuming we use the existing rail track. The details
have to be worked out, but these numbers are based on experience of
similar work done in India, by the inventor, in a more complex
development of technology, than the current case.