Modeling and computation of a solar-piezoelectric hybrid power plant for railway stations

In this paper, we propose a new model of environment friendly solar-piezoelectric hybrid power plant that solely uses renewable energy to generate electricity and is capable of being practically implemented in railway stations. This model plant utilizes both photovoltaic panels which convert sunlight directly into electricity and piezoelectric pads which convert the mechanical stress exerted on it by moving train into electricity. In piezoelectric pads, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is used. PZT can tolerate the extreme weight of the train and also accumulate fair amount of charge at the two opposite faces of the pad. The association of PV panels and piezoelectric pads increases the overall efficiency of the generation unit. We have taken Kamlapur Railway station, Bangladesh as a representative of a typical railway station. Nevertheless, this model is equally applicable to any typical railway station situated anywhere in the world and it can support the electricity demand of railway stations with high reliability and storage capacity.