NTL Record

Title Standby power for railroad-highway grade crossing warning systems
Record ID 47317
Personal Name
Creator
Holmstrom, F. Ross
Source 26p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator University of Massachusetts at Lowell
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
Publisher United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
Publication Date 19760930
Language English
Abstract The requirements for standby power at railroad-highway grade crossings, as established by the states, the Association of American Railroads, and the individual railroads, are described. Standard means of satisfying these requirements, using 115 vac primary power and storage batteries for standby, are compared with a number of new techniques, now passing from experimental to operational use, that incorporate solar cells or thermoelectric generators. In addition, other even more innovative techniques are examined. The conclusion of this survey is that for most railroad grade crossing applications, the existing standard techniques (reliance on ac primary power and standby storage batteries) will continue to be the preferred choice. In a number of circumstances in which the provision of ac primary power is very expensive, the combination of solar cells or thermoelectric generators as the primary source, with storage batteries as standby, will be optimal.
Rosap ID dot:9833
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9833
TRT Terms Railroad grade crossings; Grade crossing protection systems; At grade intersections; Auxiliary power units; Electric power supply; Electric power generation; Control devices; Solar energy; Solar power generation; Warning systems; Signaling; Fuel cells; Power loss; Intersections; Storage batteries
General Subjects Grade crossing control equipment; Grade crossing technology; Emergency power systems
Classification NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Railroad Highway Grade Crossings;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Energy and Environment
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Contract Number DOT-TSC-589; RR602/R6334T
Report Number DOT-TSC-FRA-76-15; FRA-OR&D-76-286
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/47000/47300/47317/DOT-TSC-FRA-76-15.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository