Future train motive power technologies

Project Manager:

Dr Mohammad Rasul

Sponsor Organisations:

• CRC for Rail Innovation
• QR
• Rio Tinto
• DoT Victoria

Staff Members:

• Prof Colin Cole
• Dr Galina Ivanova
• Professor Peter Wolfs

Objectives

Evaluate existing and emerging locomotive technologies and recommend environmentally and economically more efficient technologies that can be implemented by Australian rail industry for a carbon-constrained environment. The project will evaluate options beyond emerging technologies including more radical versions of hybrid locomotives and systems and train traction/energy options with the view to ensuring future value of the research.

Background

Early work on hybrid locomotives was focused on shunting locomotives. These were obvious targets for improvement since duty cycles were low and often the oldest and most inefficient locomotives were assigned to shunting duties. Future improvements in this application area (i.e., shunting locomotives) are also thought to be possible by introducing more advanced hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell locomotives, better design and configurations, etc.

Some manufacturers are reviewing each locomotive subsystem for small incremental energy savings. The idea here is to gain a little from aerodynamics, a little from slightly better traction/braking systems, etc., all the while searching for mass savings in the rollingstock frame and so on. The problem, here, is that the existing technological paradigm can only conceivably be pushed so far.

More recent ideas in hybrid locomotives have included battery packages in freight haulage locomotives with improvements in the traditional fuel systems to gain both energy and emissions improvements. The concept is that batteries can be charged during regenerative braking. The energy can then be recovered as a traction boost on say a steep grade.

Outcomes

Detailed overview of emerging and existing technologies and their potential utilisation with a view to providing foresight for the Australian rail industry.

Models and criteria for assessing the efficacy and feasibility of new technologies.

Rationale for what infrastructural changes and conditions are likely to be required to facilitate the implementation of more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient technologies.

Provide a knowledge base that will prevent incorrect short-term decisions on energy and traction system options.