First hydrogen-powered rail coach

Why in news?

Union Railway Minister announced that the Indian Railways has successfully tested the country's First hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

• Proposed route - The train scheduled to carrying passengers between Jind and Sonipat on an 89-km route in Haryana.
• Design & Approval – The design, validation and testing are done by Indian Railways’ Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO).
• Components –
  • The conversion of two conventional 1600 Horse Power (HP) diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered traction system.
  • Setting up hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind in Haryana.

• Principle - In a hydrogen fuel cell, oxygen and hydrogen undergo electrochemical reactions to produce electricity, water, and heat.
• Hydrogen Fuelling facility – The hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind will have a storage capacity of 3,000 kg of Hydrogen.
  • Operated and maintained in accordance with the standards and specification of Petroleum Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
• Regenerative braking – The train uses regenerative braking to capture kinetic energy during deceleration and convert it back into electricity to recharge the onboard batteries.
• Safety features - That includes pressure relief valves, leak detection, flame detection sensors, temperature detection systems, and scientifically designed ventilation.
• Independent audit – An independent third-party safety auditor – ‘Technischer Uberwachungsverein Sud’ (TUV-SUD) of Germany has been roped in for ensuring the safety standards.
• Future expansion – Indian Railways plans to run hydrogen trains on several heritage and hill routes.
• Significance – Increased use of hydrogen, which is a cleaner fuel, will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Hydrogen is the colourless, odourless, tasteless, lightest and highly flammable.

• Only a few countries – The hydrogen fuel in the railways have tried by a few countries in the world that includes Germany, France, Sweden, and China.

Quick Facts

References

1. The Hindu | Indian Railways first hydrogen powered coach
2. Indian Express | Indian Railways tests first hydrogen-powered coach