Hydrogen train
The word hydrail is the generic term of art denoting all forms of railway transportation, large or small, where hydrogen is carried onboard to supply energy for tractive effort and, sometimes, for auxiliary services power as well. "Hydrail" is applicable to any railway propulsion system deriving tractive power onboard from the combination of hydrogen with ambient oxygen from the air.
The most familiar instance of hydrail is fuel cells powering electric traction motors—usually in a hydbrid configuration, with batteries recovering stopping energy to help reaccelerate the train.
Other possible configurations involve combustion of hydrogen in an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine powering a rail vehicle, either through a mechanical transmission or through alternators/generators powering electric traction motors on wheelsets or "bogeys" (British).
Hydrail applications include—but are not limited to—commuter rail; passenger and freight rail; industrial site rail systems (above or below ground); streetcars; subways; and special systems such as rides at parks and museums.
Hydrail trams—streetcars in the US—are called "hydrolleys." Onboard hydrogen-derived power eliminates the need for trolley arms and overhead track electrification, reducing construction cost, visual pollution and maintenance expense.
The terms "light rail" and "trolley" specifically denote external track electrification as opposed to onboard power; therefore neither term can appropriately be used with the adjective hydrail.
The term hydrail was coined in 2004 in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 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.
History
In 2002 the first 3.6 tonne, 17 kW, hydrogen-powered mining locomotive was demonstrated in Val-d'Or, Quebec.[1][2]
April 2007 - The mini-hydrail from the Taiwan Science and Technology Museum and Taiwan Fuel Cell Partnership combination made the first educational ride.[3]
A "hydrolley" is a street car or tram (trolley) using hydrail technology.[4]
Research
2007 - The hydrail trains from the Railway Technical Research Institute in Japan are two 62 ton passenger cars with a 450 kW PEM fuel cell and a 150 kW battery[5].
July 2008 - The NE Train from East Japan Railway is a hybrid hydrail with two 65 kW PEM fuel cells, a 19 kWh lithium ion battery, a diesel-run generator[6], two 95 kW electric motors[7], and a regenerative braking system between Kobuchizawa and Komoro[8].