Thermodynamic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Diesel–Fueled Locomotive Configurations for Clean Rail Transportation
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 5
Abstract
Ammonia () 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 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— diesel–fueled locomotive, and with the integration of onboard 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 . 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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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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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