Passive Rail Temperature Control Technology

Physical Sciences Inc. proposes to develop a novel composite laminate that when applied to standard steel rails will regulate the maximum temperature reached, limiting expansion and buckling. During Phase I, PSI will work with QinetiQ North America to demonstrate the performance of PSI’s system in a simulated railroad environment. Testing will demonstrate the thermal properties of the laminate. Lab-scale testing will demonstrate the ability of the laminate to absorb heat from the rail and lower the maximum temperature. Thermal modeling using real world air and rail temperatures will demonstrate that the novel laminate can be used to reduce the peak rail temperature by at least 20°F. A scale-up plan will be developed and an applicator designed that will enable rapid, low cost installation. Upon accomplishment of the Phase I objectives, a scalable laminate production process and the projected costs will have been demonstrated. These efforts will provide the framework for further optimization and larger scale tests in a working rail environment during a Phase II effort.