Hydrail

Hydrail is an umbrella term for all forms of rail vehicles that use hydrogen as an energy source for operating a traction motor, the auxiliary power unit, or both. Hydrail vehicles release chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy. This is done in order to operate electric motors, either by burning of hydrogen in a hydrogen combustion engine or by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell. The heavy use of hydrogen as a fuel for rail transport is a key element of the hydrogen economy.

The term Hydrail is now heavily utilized by researchers and technicians.

Currently, all Hydrailsysteme are still in test mode or in planning.

Hydrailfahrzeuge are usually hybrid vehicles and renewable energy storage have as batteries or double-layer capacitors, regenerative braking, which increase the efficiency and reduce the amount of hydrogen needed. Potential Hydrailanwendungen are all types of rail transport, such as persons, goods or high- speed trains.

Word origin

The term hydrail to have been created in the issue dated 17 April 2004 of the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. The aim was to find a catchy word that allows researchers and technicians, easier to disseminate the results of their work in the professional community.

A Hydrolley is a tram ( trolley), uses the Hydrail technology. The term ( for hydrogen trolley, German: hydrogen tram ) was created at the Fourth International Hydrailkonferenz in Spain in 2008, also in order to simplify the search for the results of other search engines. The hydrogen tram does not require more overhead wires, thus reducing construction and maintenance costs.

History, projects and prototypes

• In 2002 the first 3.6 tonne, 17 kW hydrogen locomotive was introduced in Val- d'Or.
• The Wasserstoffzugprojekt in Denmark tried since 2005 to build Europe's first Wasserstoffzug.
• In April 2006, the East Japan Railway Company presented the first Hydrailrailcar,
• In April 2007, made a mini- hydrail from the Taiwan National Science and Technology Museum and Taiwan Fuel Cell Partnership his first ride.
• In 2008, the East Japan Railway Company in Japan tested its Versuchshybridzug. It was provided with a 65 kW fuel cell and 19 kWh lithium-ion batteries.
• In 2009, BNSF unveiled the first Hydraillok, the electric drives with the help of hydrogen cells.
• In August 2010, a 357 km long high- speed line for a Wasserstoffzug was proposed in Indonesia.
• In November 2010, China introduced its first Hydrailprototyp.