INVESTIGATION OF HYBRID FUEL CELL (HFC) TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS ON THE FUTURE PASSENGER RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION: PART Ⅱ: Fuel Cell Based Hybrid Technology: A Promising Technology For The Future Passenger Railroad Transportation

摘要

Rail passenger transportation is the weak link in the whole transportation system of the Unite States. The fast developing of fuel cell technology and energy storage system, such as batteries, ultracapacitors and flywheels and power electronics supply the excellent feasibilities for the development of high speed, clean, efficient and comfortable rail passenger transportation system for middle distance trips. Passenger railroad vehicles discussed in this paper is a fuel cell powered hybrid drive train in which fuel cells are used as its primary power source and batteries or ultracapacitors or flywheels as its peaking power source. The fuel cells supply a base power with modest magnitude and operated in their optimal region. The peaking power sources (batteries, ultracapacitors or flywheels) supply peaking power for acceleration and uphill operation, In deceleration or downhill operation, part of the braking energy can be recovered and restored into the peaking power source and then be re-used later on. Nowadays, many difficulties exist for the application of fuel cell on road vehicles, such as heavy, bulky batteries, bulky fuel cell system and fuel storage or fuel preparing system (hydrogen tank or fuel reformer). These difficulties become less severe for rail vehicles, due to the relatively large available space, need for weight to increase wheel traction and professional management. In this paper, the applicability of fuel cell powered hybrid to a passenger train will be investigated.