Transport betterment in our cities

METRO: Futuristic?

I guess every citizen of Chennai might have seen the metro rail construction happening around the city. So called futuristic technology (London got it ages ago) used in mode of transport. Looking normally, one would realize that its just the MRTS with a new, slim coach with a blue paint job. The same overhead power line that is used in the Railways in being incorporated in Chennai Metro. With the overhead stations of Metro coming up as well, the design being a semi circular cylinder like the MRTS stations, I believe a lot can be done to save/generate electricity.

The roofs of these stations are made of cement tiles. Looks wonderful with decorations actually. But what additional purpose would it serve apart from giving shelter to people from the sun and the rains? Where is the sight towards the future in it? So much surface area is being wasted without a second thought. What if the cement tiles were replaced with solar panels to generate electricity during the day to use it in the night. The MRTS and Metro Stations would be beacons of self sustaining government buildings in the country! "Just Imagine". 

There has been a lot of talk on integration of all the transportation systems in our city once the metro becomes operational. This would mean a single ticket is enough to go around the city in both suburban trains and metro. There have been reports stating that the MTC buses will also join the integrated transport system. But before that, I feel, MTC should bring in single ticket travel.

By single ticket travel, I mean to say giving ticket to a passenger, who has to change one or two buses to reach his/her destination depending upon the distance of the destination stop from the origin. You might say there is the Rs. 50 daily pass for this purpose but what if the rate is cheaper than Rs. 50 yet has to change buses? Also, for this there must be only one type of bus fare. Considering the fact that deluxe, express and normal buses ply on the same road, get caught in the same traffic, reach the destinations at almost the same time, have the same number of stops and face the same maintenance issues, it would be fair for the commuter and the transport corporation that all the buses are of the same type and the fare is kept on the basis of distances and, also, the tickets are dispensed at bus stops itself. This is indeed possible as the MTC employs people to make sure share autos do not stop at bus stops and ruin away with commuters waiting for buses. 

Above all, such an unified transport authority would ease travel through the city and in turn, reduce the traffic density on the ever choking roads.

FIRED AUTOMOBILES

Off late we have come across many an accident in the press that does not involve any collision. Vehicles going up in flames, train compartments burning passengers alive, etc. There can be many causes for the fire, ranging from human causes, mechanical causes and chemical causes. All the causes can sometimes work together causing fire. Once a vehicle’s on fire, many factors tend to complicate it. But when you are inside and the car is on fire, it does not matter what caused it, your car is on fire. You have to get out and run as far away from the car as possible.

Design flaws do not directly cause fire. But these can create conditions for an inevitable fire. Several tests are made during design stages and if there are frequent complaints of a particular make of cars going ablaze, that particular brand of cars are recalled to get the problem fixed. The first to be checked always is a design flaw. But blaming the design of the vehicle or a component is not always the solution of a blaze.

Poor maintenance of the vehicle can also be clubbed as human error. It is the perfect example to show that laziness actually kills. Broken parts not replaced, leaky seals not fixed, faulty wiring not repaired are all recipes for fire. An engine with bad gasket drips the flammable fluids. Exposed wiring can spark and begin the fire. It is always recommended to keep up with the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle and also conduct regular checks under the hood for any damages.

The worst human “error” can be Arson. Just like in a movie where actor Vadivel sets a bike on fire playfully, ends up realizing the other person was seeking revenge. So if you own a car, better make sure you do not make any enemies, who in the name of revenge can roast you inside your own car.

An overheated catalytic converter is often overlooked as a cause. But with almost all of vehicles having a catalytic converter (due to pollution norms) and improper maintenance of engine (worn out spark plugs), unburnt fuel in the engine along with the usual suspects in the exhaust gas end up in the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter has to work more to break down the fuel and as a result heat up from the operating temperature range of 650^oC-900^oC to a temperature of over 1100^oC. This causes long term damage to the converter and to the car as well. If the catalytic converter gets hot enough, it could ignite the cabin insulation and carpeting right through the heat shields and metal floor pan.

An overheated engine is one of the major cause of most fires. Engine can overheat due to improper coolant circulation, radiator malfunction or leaky seal or gasket. An overheated engine rises the temperatures of the lubricating oil and coolant. These oils can leak out in the engine bay or over exhaust systems, where it can attain its ignition temperature. Engine overheating generally occurs due to mechanical failure. But in modern cars, a software update or changing the ECU to regulate the temperature of the engine is enough to prevent the problem. But at the end of the day, taking the vehicle to the authorized service station is the best solution for the same.

Oil in the engine and coolant are not the only flammable fluids in your vehicle. Leak of transmission oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, apart from the fuel itself, can also cause fire. For this to happen, something else should have gone wrong first. Like a car crash or a hit on the fluid line by a stone or culvert or a failed part result in leakage of fluid, resulting in fire. Though most of such blazes start from the engine bay, some can start from any length of the car as the brake line and the fuel line travel almost the entire length of the vehicle. But fuel system fire is the most common cause of vehicle fires. Fuel leaks can occur anywhere, anytime and without any warning, hence, making them dangerous. Fuel dripping on hot metal and plastic parts can cause a fast spreading fire. The best way to prevent fire due to fuel is by maintaining the vehicle properly. If you smell fuel in or around the car, find the leak and fix it immediately.

Electrical failures are equally dangerous as fuel leaks. Car batteries, especially in hybrid vehicles, are problematic. Battery’s charging cycles causes explosive hydrogen gas to build up in the engine bay. Electric current provided by the battery can produce sparks that can ignite fluid vapours or dripping fluid. Short circuit in electrical wiring running throughout the length of vehicle, through channels, into doors, under carpets, etc. can cause fire within minutes.

Therefore, preventing fire in your car does not depend on the availability of a fire extinguisher inside the car but on the periodic and proper maintenance of the vehicle.

NOTE: This post was first published for the MiTech Digest, A technical magazine for Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai. www.csmit.org/MiTechDigest/