HYDROGEN ON TRACK

Andreas Hoffrichter

Doctoral ResearcherUniversity of Birmingham 4th of July 2012

Supervisors: Dr. Stuart Hillmansen, Prof. Clive Roberts

Funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)

Outline

Brief overview of hydrail prototype development Railways and Energy Future direction of research to PhD completion

Vehicle Projects Inc developed and built the first hydrogen-powered railway vehicle in 2002: A mining locomotive.

PEM-FCmetal hydride storagenon-hybrid

Superior to the battery vehicle in power, range, recharge time

Vehicle Projects Inc Vehicles-1

2009: Hydrogen-Hybrid Switcher. 240 kW PEM-FCs, 70 kg hydrogen storage, compressed gas 350 bar, 700 kWh lead-acid battery, 1.5 MW maximum power. 2012: Road SwitcherCurrently the switcher is being upgraded to a road switcher, to be finished in September 2012.500 kW net PEM-FCs, 70 kg hydrogen storage is upgraded to 400 kg by adding 21 cylinders and storing at 10 000 psi (685 bar), 168 kWh lithium-ion battery, 1.5 MW maximum power for 5-10 minutes duration.

Vehicle Projects Inc Vehicles-2video

2012: 5 Hydrogen-Hybrid Mining Locomotives.First series of hydrogen powered rail vehicles rather than a single prototype.Each locomotive has: 17 kW PEM-FC; 3.5 kg hydrogen storage; metal hydride tank, 10 -20 min refuelling;8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery; 1.5 MW maximum power.

Thank you to Vehicle Projects Inc for providing: photos, the video, and information about their hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Vehicle Projects Inc Vehicles-3

Hydrail Vehicles in Japan

2006: JR East New Energy Train

2006/2008: Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) railcars

www.jreast.co.jp

•410 litres hydrogen,350 bar •130 kW PEM FC •Lithium-ion battery 19 kWh

•18 kg hydrogen, 350 bar•100 kW PEM FC•Lithium-ion battery 19 kWh

Hydrail Vehicles in Europe

2011: FEVE Tram 2012: University of Birmingham

More information on this vehicle is given later – also see the demonstration

• PEMFC• Li-ion batteries• Super capacitors• 600 l hydrogen,

compressed at 200 bar

Railways and Energy Main energy sources today: diesel and electricity Require large amounts of energy; often the largest single energy user of a

country Whole energy supply chain has to be considered to make environmental

assessment and give a meaningful efficiency figure

Definition:

Analysis of net efficiency or emissions from a primary energy to traction work of a

vehicle

Hypothetical Example:

Compare net efficiency from a common primary energy:

Electric loco: petroleum in ground → refinery → diesel fuel → engine → alternator →

transformer x 2 → transmission x 2 → traction motors → wheel

Diesel loco: petroleum in ground → refinery → diesel fuel → engine → alternator →

traction motors → wheel

Well-to-wheel analysis

The difference is in the physical state of water in the reaction:

H2 + ½ O2 H2O (gas), ∆H = 142 MJ/kg Low Heating Value (LHV)

H2 + ½ O2 H2O (liquid), ∆H = 120 MJ/kg High Heating Value (HHV)

Low- and High Heating Value

Hoffrichter, A., Miller, A., R., Hillmansen, S., & Roberts, C. (2012). Well-to-Wheel Analysis for Electric, Diesel and Hydrogen Traction for Railways. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 17(1), 28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2011.09.002

Well-to-wheel analysis - renewables

Hoffrichter, A., Miller, A., R., Hillmansen, S., & Roberts, C. (2012). Well-to-Wheel Analysis for Electric, Diesel and Hydrogen Traction for Railways. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 17(1), 28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2011.09.002

*The solar case includes long distance transport of 3000 km

1. Hydrogen as a power carrier has been demonstrated in several rail applications

2. All projects concluded that hydrogen is a feasible power carrier for railway applications

3. Hydrail can have lower CO2 emissions4. Well-to-wheel efficiency similar to existing systems

Summary and Conclusion of Work Completed

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/K_Tower_Amtrak_2008b.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/F59PHI_458_at_Solana_Beach.JPG

To be done:Performance comparison between diesel

and hydrogen locomotive

Autumn 2012. Together with Vehicle Projects and a Railway OperatorEstablish:

Vehicle EfficienciesFuel consumptionOther performance characteristics

Will allow determination of operational cost benefits

Acknowledgements

Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) for financial support

Vehicle Projects for providing information, photos, and a video, as well as enabling a research trip to Los Angeles

RTRI for information and a photo

THANK YOU!

Further Information at:http://postgrad.eee.bham.ac.uk/AXH955/website/index.htm