Fuel cell project stalled
COLAS Rail Freight has“no immediate plans” to continue its involvement in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) trial unless further funding becomes available, writes Graeme Pickering.
This follows a static demonstration at its Rugby depot in September, using Class 37 No. 37254, which was attached to a SOFC running on Bio Liquified Petroleum Gas (BioLPG) to power its exterior and interior lights.
The trial, in partnership with fuel systems developer G-Volution and using equipment supplied by Adelan Ltd, aimed to prove the concept of using on board fuel cells to power locomotive auxiliary equipment. Route simulations carried out by the University of Birmingham showed that, on a working using two Class 37 locomotives, 35kW SOFCs had the potential to give an average carbon dioxide equivalent saving of 12% (50 tonnes) per annum and an average yearly reduction in fuel costs of 8%.
Auxiliaries, which, in addition to lighting, include equipment such as air compressors, cooling fan, control systems and traction motor blowers are termed as ‘parasitic loads’ because they are usually powered via the locomotive’s diesel engine and reduce power available for traction.
The first part of the project received over £378,000 in last year’s round of funding from the Department for Transport’s ‘First of a Kind’ programme.
The next stage would be to install the SOFC equipment on board the locomotive using space available near the electrical control cabinet and batteries, but Colas says the key challenges are cost per kilowatt and packaging a system which would deliver the required output.