Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to the social media platform X, and shared the video of the first look of India’s first Hydrogen-Powered train. The project was worth Rs. 136 Cr, and it is India’s new step towards newer and better technology. This will be India’s first Hydrogen-powered train service that will run on the route connecting Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. With this new step, India is set to become the fifth country to deploy trains powered by Hydrogen technology, along with Germany, France, Sweden, and China.
This train has the capacity to transport 2,600 passengers. The testing was completed at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF). The technology behind is that each power car will carry 220 kg of hydrogen in specially designed cylinders pressurised to 350 bar. The system will power traction motors through fuel cells to generate electricity by combining hydrogen with Oxygen, releasing only water vapour as a by-product. Since Hydrogen is highly flammable in nature, safety must be a critical focus. To guarantee robust mitigation measure, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies have been conducted to stimulate potential leak scenarios, guaranteeing robust mitigation measures. These new trains will be equipped with multiple safety systems, including pressure relief valves, leak detection, flame sensors, temperature monitors, and optimised ventilation.
The project was initiated by the Northern Railway Zone in 2020-21. It includes two components:-
- Conversion of two conventional 1600 HP diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered traction systems, and
- Establishment of a hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind, Haryana.
The fuelling facility at Jind will store 2,320 kg of Hydrogen at low pressure and 680 kg at high pressure. The facility is built according to the standards set by the Petroleum Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). Hence, the new facility will have supporting infrastructure like a dedicated power supply, firefighting systems, and access to roads. TÜV SÜD, a German safety auditor has been commissioned for an independent assessment of safety standards. The design management and conversion is being conducted at ICF, Chennai, while Medha Servo Drives of Hyderabad is handling the technical integration.
India is growing at a rapid pace in all sectors. It’s time we all put in our respective actions to keep up with this growth.
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