Project Summary
RailPower is an innovative project that aims to convert vibrations at the rail/wheel interface into usable power for low-power applications such as train detection, remote sensing, and telecoms. The system uses piezoelectricity principles, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution to power digital transformation across the UK’s rail infrastructure. The vision for RailPower includes a series of generating modules connected to the outer rail web via a magnetic casing. The number of modules will depend on the power requirements of the equipment they support. Rolling stock passing over the rail vibrations will create a charge that is captured by a battery or used for instantaneous operations.
Project Achievements
This project demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting otherwise wasted vibration energy from railway tracks each time a train passes over them. A prototype device capable of intermittently powering an IIoT wireless sensor node was proven to TRL 4 in a laboratory setting using calibrated measurement equipment under the guidance of an academic specialising in piezoelectric device fabrication and applications. When widely deployed to power a fleet of IIoT devices such as surface temperature sensors, vibrometers, and reflectometers, the Railpower product will unlock the next generation of AI based predictive maintenance for the railway industry. It is anticipated that the era of disruptions to passenger journeys caused by phenomena such as rail buckling, low adhesion, and cyclic top will largely become a footnote in history as real-time data visibility is created for thousands of miles of track, enabling these conditions to be identified and rectified long before they develop.
Conclusions
This project demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting otherwise wasted vibration energy from railway tracks each time a train passes over them. A prototype device capable of intermittently powering an IIoT wireless sensor node was proven to TRL 4 in a laboratory setting using calibrated measurement equipment under the guidance of an academic specialising in piezoelectric device fabrication and applications. The delivery team included a subject domain expert consultant in rail engineering, a mechanical engineering academic, a PhD student in electronics, and a research associate with industrial experience in IIoT deployments. They are now ready to establish a market for the product, attract investment, and continue development towards TRL 9.
Next Steps
The next steps in the commercialisation of this product are: • Run a pilot test at a depot location or rail proving ground with a single prototype device to prove on-site operation • Partner with sensor vendors to develop an ecosystem of rail-specific sensor solutions supported by the Railpower device • Enhance our embryonic relationship with Canada Rail • Run a wide area pilot trial with Network Rail as a partner • Attract grant and/or VC funding to continue product development and testing out to TRL 9
