A Review on Fuel Cell-Based Locomotive Powering Options for Sustainable Transportation

摘要

Conventional locomotives employing diesel-based propulsion systems have raised concerns about the environment and hence sustainable development due to their emissions. To obtain an environmentally benign railway system, fuel cell-based locomotives are considered promising candidates owing to their high efficiencies as well as environmental performance. In the present study, a review of the development of fuel cell-based locomotives is conducted and their current progress is described. Further, investigations conducted on various aspects of these types of locomotives are discussed. The literature studies were found to be focused on four main areas namely (1) prototype design/analysis, (2) energy management, (3) feasibility and economic assessment and (4) environmental performance. Fuel cell-based hybrid locomotives entail the potential to reduce the environmental emissions considerably with similar investment costs as diesel fuel-based locomotives. Nearly 3318 tonnes/year of CO2 emissions may be reduced by replacing diesel engine locomotives with fuel cell trains. Approximately 98% of NOx emissions are estimated to be reduced with the utilization of hybrid fuel cell locomotives. Moreover, several control systems utilizing fuzzy logic control strategy have been proved to be efficient energy management aids for such locomotives. Overall locomotive efficiencies of 50.9% are achievable with the deployment of such control strategies that effectively manage the power demands between the fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors.