Railroad track pans are a welcome addition to the railway system. It came into being because of the introduction of steam powered engines. Later, with the introduction of more advanced power sources, it still has proven its use but this time, for another purpose.
The use of steam has brought about the invention of this item. Water is very much important those days as a source of transportation fuel. Water is heated to a boiling point that causes steam to form. The action of highly pressurized steam on the pistons and turbines of an engine causes movement. This is strong enough to produce powerful forces enough to move heavy things.
Trains formerly utilize this form of energy. However, the need to replenish water supply needed to power it delays travel. Water evaporates quickly thus, the need for continuous supply. The first attempt to answer this was to place water supplies alongside the railway. This, however, still brought delay as the train would have to wait for its tank to fill up. Long journeys are affected. The waiting time could sometimes be longer than a nonstop voyage when long distances are to be considered.
To address this problem, track pans were used. Open type of tanks were constructed in the middle of the track. When a train passes by it, a scoop lowers to the pan. The movement of the train then causes water to get scooped towards the train into the locomotive tanks. Through this, unnecessary stoppage is eliminated and more time is saved.
The discovery of more powerful and easily combustible sources have made the power of steam almost obsolete. However, the pan still continues to prove to be useful but this time, it serves another purpose. It is now being used to catch leakages. These pose problems to the environment if it gets contact with it. Given the long distances that a railway may travel, it is very evident that exposure can go to different places if no means are being employed to stop it.
Most of them are being used in areas where trains get to stop. These could be at fueling stations. Washing, loading and reloading areas, or where trains usually stop are fitted with them. There is a high incidence that large amounts may accumulate at these areas so there is a need to contain them.
A pan may be made out of dissimilar materials. High density polyethylene along with metal is frequently used. There are others that are made of concrete. Different materials are specifically used depending on whether their location is permanent or not. The kind of liquid that it may contain is also a factor as to what type of material will it be composed of.
Railroads are very busy. Installment of these pans should not take much time then. Thus, they are designed in such a way that they are easy to be installed. Installing them would not take heavy machinery. Manual labor with common tools are all that is needed. There are instances when a portable pan may be needed specially when a spill occurs somewhere not located on the permanent pan. Modular systems were designed to address this. They are very easy to install and it would not take much time to transport and install them.
Up to the present period, these railroad track pans are still being used. It has contributed much to protecting the environment from those unwanted contaminants. More innovations and designs are continually being added to it so that they would be more efficient in performing their tasks.
The use of steam has brought about the invention of this item. Water is very much important those days as a source of transportation fuel. Water is heated to a boiling point that causes steam to form. The action of highly pressurized steam on the pistons and turbines of an engine causes movement. This is strong enough to produce powerful forces enough to move heavy things.
Trains formerly utilize this form of energy. However, the need to replenish water supply needed to power it delays travel. Water evaporates quickly thus, the need for continuous supply. The first attempt to answer this was to place water supplies alongside the railway. This, however, still brought delay as the train would have to wait for its tank to fill up. Long journeys are affected. The waiting time could sometimes be longer than a nonstop voyage when long distances are to be considered.
To address this problem, track pans were used. Open type of tanks were constructed in the middle of the track. When a train passes by it, a scoop lowers to the pan. The movement of the train then causes water to get scooped towards the train into the locomotive tanks. Through this, unnecessary stoppage is eliminated and more time is saved.
The discovery of more powerful and easily combustible sources have made the power of steam almost obsolete. However, the pan still continues to prove to be useful but this time, it serves another purpose. It is now being used to catch leakages. These pose problems to the environment if it gets contact with it. Given the long distances that a railway may travel, it is very evident that exposure can go to different places if no means are being employed to stop it.
Most of them are being used in areas where trains get to stop. These could be at fueling stations. Washing, loading and reloading areas, or where trains usually stop are fitted with them. There is a high incidence that large amounts may accumulate at these areas so there is a need to contain them.
A pan may be made out of dissimilar materials. High density polyethylene along with metal is frequently used. There are others that are made of concrete. Different materials are specifically used depending on whether their location is permanent or not. The kind of liquid that it may contain is also a factor as to what type of material will it be composed of.
Railroads are very busy. Installment of these pans should not take much time then. Thus, they are designed in such a way that they are easy to be installed. Installing them would not take heavy machinery. Manual labor with common tools are all that is needed. There are instances when a portable pan may be needed specially when a spill occurs somewhere not located on the permanent pan. Modular systems were designed to address this. They are very easy to install and it would not take much time to transport and install them.
Up to the present period, these railroad track pans are still being used. It has contributed much to protecting the environment from those unwanted contaminants. More innovations and designs are continually being added to it so that they would be more efficient in performing their tasks.
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