scholarly journals Concept development and testing of the UK’s first hydrogen-hybrid train (HydroFLEX)

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-257
Author(s):  
Charles Calvert ◽  
Jeff Allan ◽  
Peter Amor ◽  
Stuart Hillmansen ◽  
Clive Roberts ◽  
...  

AbstractIn October 2018, Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham announced the HydroFLEX project, to demonstrate a hydrogen-hybrid modified train at Rail Live 2019. The concept of modifying a Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit was developed, with equipment including a fuel cell stack, traction battery, 24 V control system and hydrogen storage elements to be mounted inside one of the carriages. This was followed by procurement of a fuel cell stack, traction batteries, and control equipment, which was then installed inside the train, being fixed to the seat rails. One substantial change from the concept was the provision of considerably more hydrogen storage than the minimum necessary, providing the train with more potential to be further modified to allow for higher speed mainline testing. After the Rail Live exhibition where HydroFLEX was demonstrated, numerous modifications were performed to increase the reliability and power of the HydroFLEX train, primarily concerned with modifying the base train logic, with the aim of a successful mainline test. Supporting this effort was a multitude of documentation concerning safety, operations, and approvals to gain approvals from the relevant approvals bodies. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using hydrogen fuel cells as an autonomous fuel for railway propulsion systems, which has the potential for full decarbonisation.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Khlid Ben Hamad ◽  
Mohamed Tariq Kahn

It is a reality that future development in the energy sector is founded on the utilization of renewable and sustainable energy sources. These energy sources can empower to meet the double targets of diminishing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy supply. Fuel cells are one of the advanced clean energy technologies and have demonstrated their ability to be a decent substitute to address the above-mentioned concerns. They are viewed as reliable and efficient technologies to operate either tied or non-tied to the grid and power applications ranging from domestic, commercial to industrial. Among different fuel cell technologies, proton exchange membrane is the most attractive. Its connection to the utility grid requires that the power conditioning system serving as the interface between the stack and the grid operates accordingly. This study aims to model and control a power conditioning system for the grid-connection of a megawatt fuel cell stack. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW/1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, a 1.3 MW/600 V three-level diode clamped inverter and an LCL filter which is designed to reduced harmonics and meet the standards such as IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-6. The power conditioning control scheme comprises voltage and current regulators to provide a good power factor and satisfy synchronization requirements with the grid. The frequency and phase are synchronized with those of the grid through a phase-locked-loop. The modelling and simulation are performed using Matlab/Simulink. The results show good performance of the proposed microgrid as well as the inverter design and control approach with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.35% for the voltage and 0.19% for the current.   


Author(s):  
Jason R. Kolodziej

The purpose of this paper is to present a nonlinear control method for accurately maintaining coolant temperature within a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack by controlling coolant flow rate. Due to the current sensitive nature of the membrane and a strict relative humidity requirement it is critical to precisely control the internal temperature of the fuel cell. First, an optimization-based parameter identification is applied to determine unknown coefficients to the nonlinear thermal model of the fuel cell stack. The stack is modelled according to a lumped parameter Continuous-flow Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) form. The paper then presents a nonlinear disturbance rejection control technique to accomplish the necessary temperature control. Experimental data from a 17-cell fuel cell stack is used for both the modelling and control portions of this work.


Author(s):  
Gerry D. Agnew ◽  
James Townsend ◽  
Robert R. Moritz ◽  
Michele Bozzolo ◽  
Steve Berenyi ◽  
...  

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (RRFCS) is developing a low cost 1MW fuel cell hybrid system package, supported by a prototype demonstration of a 250kW module in 2006. This paper describes the detailed design process that has been carried out to produce the fuel cell stack, tailored turbo-machinery and other plant components for this hybrid. Progress in demonstrating components is described. Component interfacing, operability and control challenges have been assessed prior to assembly of the complete system and are reviewed. The baseline plant will be highly efficient compared to incumbent power generation technologies but is primarily optimised around cost-reduction. Evolution of the product will include opportunities for further increases in efficiency and power density. Opportunities for improvement are discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 470-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel O'Keefe ◽  
M.Y. El-Sharkh ◽  
John C. Telotte ◽  
Srinivas Palanki

Author(s):  
John Gangloff ◽  
James Kast ◽  
Geoffrey Morrison ◽  
Jason Marcinkoski

Hydrogen fuel cells are an important part of a portfolio of strategies for reducing petroleum use and emissions from medium and heavy duty (MD and HD) vehicles; however, their deployment is very limited compared to other powertrains. This paper addresses gaseous hydrogen storage tank design and location on representative MD and HD vehicles. Storage design is based on vehicle size and occupation. The available storage space on representative vehicles is assessed and is used to estimate the weight and capacity of composite material-based compressed gaseous storage at 350 and 700 bar. Results demonstrate the technical feasibility of using hydrogen storage for Fuel Cell Electric Trucks (FCETs) across a wide range of the MD and HD vehicle market. This analysis is part of a longer-term project to understand which market segments provide the maximum economic impact and greenhouse gas reduction opportunities for FCETs.


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