Technical Papers
Mar 21, 2017

Thermodynamic and Environmental Impact Assessment of NH3 Diesel–Fueled Locomotive Configurations for Clean Rail Transportation

Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 5

Abstract

Ammonia (NH3) is considered as a combustion fuel, hydrogen carrier, and heat-recovery and working fluid within locomotive propulsion-system configurations. Thermodynamic and environmental analyses and assessments are conducted for a modern two-stroke diesel-fueled locomotive and the proposed NH3 configurations. The present study proposes and comparatively assesses the potential long-term solutions for sustainable, clean rail transportation. The diesel locomotive is considered as the baseline system, with energetic and exergetic efficiencies of 33 and 31%. The two alternative configurations—NH3 diesel–fueled locomotive, and with the integration of onboard H2 fuel production—have energetic utilization efficiencies of 34.3 and 35.7%, and exergetic utilization efficiencies of 31.4 and 32.6%, respectively. The air-contaminant emissions are evaluated based on diesel fuel reduction, and reduction by selective catalytic reduction using NH3. The greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by up to 53%.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Transport Canada Clean Rail Program in conducting this work.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Energy Engineering
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 143Issue 5October 2017

History

Received: Jun 3, 2016
Accepted: Oct 4, 2016
Published ahead of print: Mar 21, 2017
Published online: Mar 22, 2017
Discussion open until: Aug 22, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017

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Authors

Affiliations

Janette Hogerwaard [email protected]
Ph.D. Student, Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Univ. of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Ibrahim Dincer, Ph.D. [email protected]
Professor, Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Univ. of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4. E-mail: [email protected]
Calin Zamfirescu, Ph.D. [email protected]
Researcher, Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Univ. of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada, L1H 7K4. E-mail: [email protected]

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