Hydrail
Encyclopedia
Hydrail is the generic term denoting all forms of rail vehicles, large or small, which use on-board hydrogen
as a source of energy
to power the traction motors, or the auxiliaries
, or both. Hydrail vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen
to mechanical energy
either by burning hydrogen like in a hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle
, or by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell
to run electric motors. Widespread use of hydrogen for fueling rail transportation is a key element of the proposed hydrogen economy
. The term is now used extensively by research scholars and technicians around the world. However, no hydrail rail systems are currently in public use.
Hydrail vehicles are usually hybrid vehicles and also have renewable energy storage
solutions like batteries
or super capacitors, for regenerative braking, which improves efficiency and lowers the amount of hydrogen storage required. Potential hydrail applications include all types of rail transport
, like commuter rail; passenger rail; freight rail; light rail
; rail rapid transit
; mine railways; industrial railway
systems; trams; and special rail rides at parks and museums.
and others organize an International Hydrail Conference, bringing together the scientists working on the technology around the world in order to expedite deployment of the technology for environmental, climate and energy security reasons. In 2010, the Sixth International Hydrail Conference was hosted in Istanbul, Türkiye, by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
and the Turkish State Railways
. Previous International Hydrail Conferences have been held in Herning
, Denmark; Valencia, Spain; Charlotte
, North Carolina; and Salisbury
, North Carolina. Presenters at these conferences have included national and state/provincial agencies from the USA, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nations (UNIDO-ICHET). At this writing, the 2011 Hydrail Conference is scheduled to be convened in Seoul, South Korea, hosted by the Korean Railway Research Institute. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has co-sponsored all three of the International Hydrail Conferences held in the USA.
as a search engine target word to enable scholars and technicians around the world working in the hydrogen rail area to more easily publish and locate all work done in the discipline.
A hydrolley is a streetcar or tram (trolley) using hydrail technology. The term (for hydrogen trolley) was coined at the Fourth International Hydrail Conference, Valencia, Spain, in 2008, as a research-simplifying search engine target word. Onboard hydrogen-derived power eliminates the need for trolley arms and overhead track electrification, reducing construction cost, visual pollution
and maintenance expense. The term 'hydrolley' is preferred to 'hydrail light rail' or other combinations because of their connotation of external electrification.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
as a source of energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
to power the traction motors, or the auxiliaries
Auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft, as well as some large land vehicles.-Function:...
, or both. Hydrail vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
to mechanical energy
Mechanical energy
In physics, mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy present in the components of a mechanical system. It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object. The law of conservation of energy states that in an isolated system that is only subject to...
either by burning hydrogen like in a hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle
Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle
A hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle is a type of hydrogen vehicle using an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles are different from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles ; the hydrogen internal combustion engine is simply a modified version of the traditional...
, or by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
to run electric motors. Widespread use of hydrogen for fueling rail transportation is a key element of the proposed hydrogen economy
Hydrogen economy
The hydrogen economy is a proposed system of delivering energy using hydrogen. The term hydrogen economy was coined by John Bockris during a talk he gave in 1970 at General Motors Technical Center....
. The term is now used extensively by research scholars and technicians around the world. However, no hydrail rail systems are currently in public use.
Hydrail vehicles are usually hybrid vehicles and also have renewable energy storage
Energy storage
Energy storage is accomplished by devices or physical media that store some form of energy to perform some useful operation at a later time. A device that stores energy is sometimes called an accumulator....
solutions like batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
or super capacitors, for regenerative braking, which improves efficiency and lowers the amount of hydrogen storage required. Potential hydrail applications include all types of rail transport
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, like commuter rail; passenger rail; freight rail; light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
; rail rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
; mine railways; industrial railway
Industrial railway
An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site...
systems; trams; and special rail rides at parks and museums.
International Hydrail Conference
Each year Appalachian State UniversityAppalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
and others organize an International Hydrail Conference, bringing together the scientists working on the technology around the world in order to expedite deployment of the technology for environmental, climate and energy security reasons. In 2010, the Sixth International Hydrail Conference was hosted in Istanbul, Türkiye, by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization , French/Spanish acronym ONUDI, is a specialized agency in the United Nations system, headquartered in Vienna, Austria...
and the Turkish State Railways
Turkish State Railways
The State Railways of the Turkish Republic or TCDD is the government owned, national railway carrier in the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara...
. Previous International Hydrail Conferences have been held in Herning
Herning
Herning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208...
, Denmark; Valencia, Spain; Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina; and Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, North Carolina. Presenters at these conferences have included national and state/provincial agencies from the USA, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nations (UNIDO-ICHET). At this writing, the 2011 Hydrail Conference is scheduled to be convened in Seoul, South Korea, hosted by the Korean Railway Research Institute. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has co-sponsored all three of the International Hydrail Conferences held in the USA.
Coining
The term hydrail was coined on April 17 2004 in the International Journal of Hydrogen EnergyInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
The International Journal of Hydrogen Energy is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published for the International Association for Hydrogen Energy by Elsevier. It covers all aspects of hydrogen generation and storage....
as a search engine target word to enable scholars and technicians around the world working in the hydrogen rail area to more easily publish and locate all work done in the discipline.
A hydrolley is a streetcar or tram (trolley) using hydrail technology. The term (for hydrogen trolley) was coined at the Fourth International Hydrail Conference, Valencia, Spain, in 2008, as a research-simplifying search engine target word. Onboard hydrogen-derived power eliminates the need for trolley arms and overhead track electrification, reducing construction cost, visual pollution
Visual pollution
Visual pollution is the term given to unattractive and man-made visual elements of a vista, a landscape, or any other thing that a person does not feel comfortable to look at. Visual pollution is an aesthetic issue, referring to the impacts of pollution that impair one's ability to enjoy a vista or...
and maintenance expense. The term 'hydrolley' is preferred to 'hydrail light rail' or other combinations because of their connotation of external electrification.
History, projects and prototypes
- In 2002 the first 3.6 tonne, 17 kW, hydrogen-powered mining locomotiveLocomotiveA locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
was demonstrated in Val-d'Or, QuebecVal-d'Or, Quebec-External links:* ***...
.
- In April 2006 came the world's first hydrail railcar, which was developed by East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- In October 2006, the Railway Technical Research InstituteRailway Technical Research Institute, or , is the technical research company under the Japan Railways group of companies.- Overview :RTRI was established in its current form in 1986 just before Japanese National Railways was privatised and split into separate JR group companies. RTRI conducts research about everything related to...
in Japan conducted tests on a fuel cell hydrail vehicle by Nuvera Fuel Cells.
- In April 2007, The mini-hydrail from the Taiwan National Science and Technology MuseumNational Science and Technology MuseumThe National Science and Technology Museum is a museum of applied science and technology in Kaohsiung in southwest Taiwan.Established in November 1997, is covers 19 hectares on Chiuju Road in Sanmin District...
and Taiwan Fuel Cell Partnership combination made its first educational ride.
- In 2007, The Railway Technical Research InstituteRailway Technical Research Institute, or , is the technical research company under the Japan Railways group of companies.- Overview :RTRI was established in its current form in 1986 just before Japanese National Railways was privatised and split into separate JR group companies. RTRI conducts research about everything related to...
in Japan built two 62 ton passenger cars, each with a 450 kW PEMProton exchange membrane fuel cellProton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells , are a type of fuel cell being developed for transport applications as well as for stationary fuel cell applications and portable fuel cell applications. Their distinguishing features include lower...
fuel cell and a 150 kW battery.
- In 2008, the East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
in Japan tested its experimental "NE TrainNE TrainThe is an experimental railcar which has been used to test a number of alternative power sources by the Railway Technical Research Institute and East Japan Railway Company in Japan.-KiYa E991 diesel/battery hybrid railcar:...
" hybrid train fitted with two 65 kW PEMProton exchange membrane fuel cellProton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells , are a type of fuel cell being developed for transport applications as well as for stationary fuel cell applications and portable fuel cell applications. Their distinguishing features include lower...
fuel cellFuel cellA fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s and 19 kWh lithium ion batteries for a short period in the Nagano area.
- In 2009, BNSF unveiled the first hydrail locomotive, powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
- In 2010, a 357 kilometres (221.8 mi) high-speed hydrail line was proposed in Indonesia. The rail link, now under feasibility study, would connect several cities in JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
with a hydrogen-powered maglev system.
- In November 2010, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
demonstrated their first hydrail prototype.
- The Hydrogen Train Project in DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
is attempting to build Europe's first hydrogen powered train using hydrogen in an internal combustion engineHydrogen internal combustion engine vehicleA hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle is a type of hydrogen vehicle using an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles are different from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles ; the hydrogen internal combustion engine is simply a modified version of the traditional...
.
See also
- Hydrogen vehicleHydrogen vehicleA hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power. Hydrogen vehicles include hydrogen fueled space rockets, as well as automobiles and other transportation vehicles...
- LocomotiveLocomotiveA locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
- Vehicle Projects HH20B, a Hydrogen fuel cell powered locomotive testbed
External links
- EU FP 6 HyRail Project
- Hydrail.org Appalachian State University