Search results

Filters

  • Journals
  • Authors
  • Keywords
  • Date
  • Type

Search results

Number of results: 2
items per page: 25 50 75
Sort by:
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

An electric turnout heating (ETH) system is an essential technical and economic issue. Uninterrupted operation of the turnouts is crucial to maintaining railway transport safety. The classic heating system is characterized by high energy consumption. The usage of it is extremely expensive, so the need to optimize the current system becomes more and more critical. At the same time, the progress in the contactless heating method has become a promising alternative. The paper presents the results of tests performed for electric turnout heating systems for two types of heaters. In the first place, the analysis of heat distribution was performed using the ANSYS Fluent v.16. The temperature fields in the turnout models filled with a model of semi-melting snow were analyzed. Thanks to cooperation with the Railway Institute inWarsaw the second stage of the research was possible to be completed.

In this part, the models were implemented in the real world using the 49E1 railway turnout. The numerical solutions were validated by the experiments. The verification showed a high level of agreement among the results. The obtained results indicate the need for further tests of heating systems, to validate an optimal method of turnout heating. It was found that in the classic ETH, the working space area consumes a tremendous amount of energy. To ensure a higher efficiency of the heating process, the contactless heater is proposed as an alternative.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Mateusz Flis
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

The article analyzes the risk factors related to the energy use of alternative fuels from waste. The essence of risk and its impact on economic activity in the area of waste management were discussed. Then, a risk assessment, on the example of waste fractions used for the production of alternative fuel, was carried out. In addition, the benefits for the society and the environment from the processing of alternative fuels for energy purposes, including, among others: reducing the cost of waste disposal, limiting the negative impact on water, soil and air, reducing the amount of waste deposited, acquisition of land; reduction of the greenhouse effect, facilitating the recycling of other fractions, recovery of electricity and heat, and saving conventional energy carriers, were determined. The analysis of risk factors is carried out separately for plants processing waste for alternative fuel production and plants producing energy from this type of fuel. Waste processing plants should pay attention to investment, market (price, interest rate, and currency), business climate, political, and legal risks, as well as weather, seasonal, logistic, technological, and loss of profitability or bankruptcy risks. Similar risks are observed in the case of energy companies, as they operate in the same external environment. Moreover, internal risks may be similar; however, the specific nature of the operation of each enterprise should be taken into account. Energy companies should pay particular attention to the various types of costs that may threaten the stability of operation, especially in the case of regulated energy prices. The risk associated with the inadequate quality of the supplied and stored fuels is important. This risk may disrupt the technological process and reduce the plant’s operational efficiency. Heating plants and combined heat and power plants should also not underestimate the non-catastrophic weather risk, which may lead to a decrease in heat demand and a reduction in business revenues. A comprehensive approach to risk should protect enterprises against possible losses due to various types of threats, including both external and internal threats.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Oleksandr Ivashchuk
Bartosz Łamasz
Natalia Iwaszczuk

This page uses 'cookies'. Learn more