Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

NYC Subways Testing Flywheels

Posted by michael on from the next-stop-42nd-street dept.

socolow writes "The New York Times (free registration required) has an article about the NYC subway system's use of flywheels to store the braking energy of trains approaching stations. Not only does this advance the development of flywheel energy storage, but it will help relieve a lot of the heat subways generate (always appreciated during the summer)."

2 of 363 comments (clear)

  1. Gyroscopes by Maniakes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since the flywheels are just great big gyroscopes, what happens when the train makes a sharp turn?

    --
    A legparnasom tele van angolnaval.
  2. Re:Regenerative braking by GigsVT · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The third rail is already highly charged. Trying to push power from a battery would be like trying to save on power bills by hooking a 9V battery w/ an AC Adaptor to the wall outlet - there's too much power there to push more back in.

    Yeah, it's almost as ludricrous as putting solar panels on your roof and then trying to sell power back to the grid. Oh wait.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.