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Re: Hydrogen generation like dynamic brakes???
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 01-30-2010 - 14:23
>> Oil above $200 per bbl would likely be the only real motivator.
Obviously, something else motivated the railroad to have this prototype built! As for $200 oil - Could happen as early as tomorrow if we piss off the Saudis. Merely later if we don't. It's only a matter of time!
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>> Would it be possible to attach a hydrogen generating car to a train? Idea is to
>> make the fuel with dynamic electric brakes to slow down the train during normal
>> operations, but the electricity goes into the hydrgen creation. Free fuel plus
>> braking at the same time?
>> Realize this is pretty weird, but just an idea
Not so weird actually!
"This Old House" last year or so featured an "environmentally friendly" house that used a fuel cell as its primary electrical power source. It supplemented the hydrogen source with an electrolysis unit, powered by solar cells. Electrolysis is the opposite chemical process from that of the fuel cell - thus they could complement each other well. That is not so different than a locomotive supplementing its own hydrogen source from dynamic breaking.
Also possible, is dumping the energy from dynamic braking into advanced technology batteries, and then releasing it later, back to the traction motors when needed. This would just be a different chemical process than the one you mentioned.
Such regenerative braking technologies are already in widespread use in hybrid automobiles, to re-charge their propulsion batteries. Fuel cells or batteries? They are just different chemical technologies that do essentially the same things.
But what the article did not say - and I don't know, is if the locomotive uses a fuel cell to generate traction power, or if it merely modified a diesel prime mover to use hydrogen.
While a modified internal combustion engine fueled by pure hydrogen would eliminate most CO2; it would not put out just water, but also tons of nitrous oxide; that pollutant being a byproduct of any form of flaming combustion (the hotter the flame the more NO2). Nitrous oxide is the nasty stuff that turns the haze brown, or even purple when its a really smoggy day.
Does anybody know the actual technical particulars of this loco?
OPB
Obviously, something else motivated the railroad to have this prototype built! As for $200 oil - Could happen as early as tomorrow if we piss off the Saudis. Merely later if we don't. It's only a matter of time!
------------------------------
>> Would it be possible to attach a hydrogen generating car to a train? Idea is to
>> make the fuel with dynamic electric brakes to slow down the train during normal
>> operations, but the electricity goes into the hydrgen creation. Free fuel plus
>> braking at the same time?
>> Realize this is pretty weird, but just an idea
Not so weird actually!
"This Old House" last year or so featured an "environmentally friendly" house that used a fuel cell as its primary electrical power source. It supplemented the hydrogen source with an electrolysis unit, powered by solar cells. Electrolysis is the opposite chemical process from that of the fuel cell - thus they could complement each other well. That is not so different than a locomotive supplementing its own hydrogen source from dynamic breaking.
Also possible, is dumping the energy from dynamic braking into advanced technology batteries, and then releasing it later, back to the traction motors when needed. This would just be a different chemical process than the one you mentioned.
Such regenerative braking technologies are already in widespread use in hybrid automobiles, to re-charge their propulsion batteries. Fuel cells or batteries? They are just different chemical technologies that do essentially the same things.
But what the article did not say - and I don't know, is if the locomotive uses a fuel cell to generate traction power, or if it merely modified a diesel prime mover to use hydrogen.
While a modified internal combustion engine fueled by pure hydrogen would eliminate most CO2; it would not put out just water, but also tons of nitrous oxide; that pollutant being a byproduct of any form of flaming combustion (the hotter the flame the more NO2). Nitrous oxide is the nasty stuff that turns the haze brown, or even purple when its a really smoggy day.
Does anybody know the actual technical particulars of this loco?
OPB
