Cummins And Leclanché S.A. To Collaborate On Lower-Emissions Solutions For Use In Marine And Rail Applications
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Cummins.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Today, global power and technology leader, Cummins Inc., and leading provider of energy storage solutions, Leclanché S.A, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The collaboration represents a significant step forward in providing customers with a broader portfolio of integrated power solutions.
Effectively, this means that all customer requirements for integrated power solutions can be met by the two companies.
It appears to me, that if someone wanted Cummins to provide a system like the HybridFLEX train, I wrote about in Rolls-Royce And Porterbrook Launch First Hybrid Rail Project In The UK With MTU Hybrid PowerPacks, then Cummins and Leclanché have the technology between them to create a system.
In the UK, Cummins power these relatively-modern trains.
- Class 175 – 9 x two-car and 15 x three-car.
- Class 180 – 1 x four-car and 12 x five-car.
- Class 185 – 51 x three-car.
- Class 220 – 34 x four-car.
- Class 221 – 24 x four-car and 18 x five-car.
- Class 222 – 23 x five-car and 4 x seven-car.
Note.
- They are capable of 100 mph or 125 mph.
- Condition of the interiors is generally good.
- There are 9 x two-car, 66 x three-car, 59 x four-car, 53 five-car and 4 x seven-car.
- In Grand Central DMU To Be Used For Dual-Fuel Trial, I described innovative fuel trails in a Class 180 train.
- There could be other similar trains in Europe and around the world.
How many of these trains could be converted to hybrid operation, if Cummins and Leclanché were to create their version of the mtu Hybrid PowerPack?
Conclusion
Have Cummins and Leclanché decided that if a hybrid approach is good enough for Rolls-Royce mtu, then it’s good enough for them?
UK’s First 100mph Battery-Diesel Hybrid Train Enters Passenger Service
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on ITV.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The UK’s first 100mph battery-diesel hybrid train is entering passenger service to cut carbon emissions and boost air quality.
It was developed by adding a powerful battery to a 20-year-old diesel train to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 25%, according to owner Porterbrook.
The firm added that the two-carriage train, named HybridFLEX, also provides a 75% decrease in noise and a 70% decrease in nitrogen oxide.
The battery-diesel hybrid transmission is from MTU, who are a Rolls-Royce company and they go further with this press release which is entitled World Premiere: MTU Hybrid PowerPack From Rolls-Royce Enters Passenger Service.
This is the first paragraph.
Rolls-Royce, Porterbrook and Chiltern Railways are making rail history together with a climate-friendly world premiere: A hybrid diesel-battery-electric train that reduces CO2 emissions by up to 25% entered passenger service in the UK today for the first time. The so-called HybridFLEX train is powered by two mtu Hybrid PowerPacks and is operated by Chiltern Railways on the route between London Marylebone and Aylesbury. Together with the leasing company Porterbrook and Chiltern Railways, Rolls-Royce has converted a Class 168 DMU into the HybridFLEX train. The partners are proving that existing rail vehicles can be used in a climate-friendly way without the need to install complex and expensive new infrastructure. It is the world’s first regular passenger operation with mtu Hybrid PowerPacks, of which 13 have already been ordered.
This is significant for the railways of the UK.
The train that has been converted is a Class 168 train, which itself had been converted from a Class 170 train, when it transferred to Chiltern Railways in 2016.
I think this means that all Bombardier Turbostars in Classes 168, 170, 171 and 172 can probably be fitted with MTU Hybrid PowerPacks.
That is the following numbers of trains and cars.
- Class 168 – 28 trains – 86 cars
- Class 170 – 139 trains – 372 cars
- Class 171 – 20 trains – 56 cars
- Class 172 – 39 trains – 93 cars
Note.
- This totals to 226 trains and 607 cars.
- As each car has an engine, this will be an order of 607 PowerPacks, if all trains were to be converted.
This could certainly help to meet the Government’s aim of getting rid of all diesel only trains by 2040.
Can The CAF Civities Be Converted?
There are three Classes of CAF Civity diesel multiple units; 195, 196 and 197, all of which have Rolls-Royce MTU engines.
Could these be converted to hybrid operation by the swapping of the current diesel engines for MTU Hybrid PowerPacks?
I would suspect they could, as the CAF Civity trains might have been designed after MTU disclosed plans of the MTU Hybrid PowerPack to train builders prior to its announcement in September 2018.
Conclusion
MTU Hybrid PowerPacks could go a long way to eliminating diesel-only trains on UK railways. They could even run the diesels on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to lower their carbon-footprint further.
First Passenger Journey In The UK With mtu Hybrid PowerPack
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.
This is the first paragraph.
The mtu Hybrid-PowerPack has passed another milestone successfully: In the UK, a train with mtu hybrid drive carried passengers for the first time as part of a special journey.
So how did mtu, a German manufacturer of large diesel engines for trains and ships, end up in bed with Rolls-Royce?
Wikipedia says this.
MTU Friedrichshafen remained a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler until 2006 when it was sold off to the EQT IV private equity fund, becoming a part of the Tognum Corporation.
Rolls-Royce Holdings and Daimler AG acquired Tognum in 2011. In 2014, Tognum was renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems, having become a 100 per cent subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Holdings.
A bit tortuous, to say the least!
This paragraph from the press release describes the journey.
The journey of the train – called HybridFLEX – was part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of UK rail operator Chiltern Railways, which will use the train on its routes. It is a converted Turbostar DMU, which was previously equipped with a conventional mtu drive system.
It doesn’t sound very special, but it’s the equivalent of taking your BMW, Jaguar or Mercedes from twenty years ago and converting it to a full hybrid car with batteries, to assist the diesel engine.
Fuel and emission savings of 25 per cent are claimed, with the additional benefit that the train will not use the diesel engines in stations or sensitive areas.
In HybridFLEX Battery-Diesel Train Continues Programme Of Testing, I said this.
In the UK, the following diesel multiple units are fitted with modern MTU engines and could be candidates from a replacement power pack.
-
- Class 168 train – 19 trains – 82 diesel engines
- Class 170 train – 136 trains – 350 diesel engines
- Class 171 train – 20 trains – 56 diesel engines
- Class 172 train – 39 trains – 93 diesel engines
- Class 195 train – 58 trains – 149 diesel engines
- Class 196 train – 26 trains – 80 diesel engines
- Class 197 train – 77 trains – 180 diesel engines
That is a total of 990 diesel engines.
As some of the Class 196 and Class 197 trains have yet to be delivered, I do wonder, if it would be sensible to deliver them as diesel-battery hybrid trains.
That is a lot of diesel engines, that could be replaced by MTU Hybrid Power Packs.
Conversions of other trains are also ongoing in Germany and Ireland.
This article from Rolls-Royce, is entitled Hybrid Train Trials and gives a lot more details.
This is a quote from the article on fuel savings.
A fuel saving of 15 per cent is a
fantastic result and means that under
optimum conditions, 20 to 25
per cent should be possible.
The savings certainly fit with Chiltern’s findings.
I have a few questions.
Can Locomotive Size PowerPacks Be Built?
As an engineer, I don’t see why not!
And there is certainly a need for them to cut diesel usage and carbon emissions with locomotives.
Conclusion
These conversions could be a very good interim solution.
HybridFLEX Battery-Diesel Train Continues Programme Of Testing
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Global Railway Review.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The HybridFLEX battery-diesel train is currently undertaking a programme of tests between Duffield and Wirksworth, prior to returning to Chiltern Railways in the summer.
Fitted with a Rolls Royce MTU hybrid drive, the HybridFLEX will cut noise emissions in stations and deliver zero emissions when operating under battery power.
All seems to be going well, according to the article.
I like the concept, as to replace a diesel engine with a diesel-battery hybrid power pack must surely be a sensible way to at least partially decarbonise.
In the UK, the following diesel multiple units are fitted with modern MTU engines and could be candidates from a replacement power pack.
- Class 168 train – 19 trains – 82 diesel engines
- Class 170 train – 136 trains – 350 diesel engines
- Class 171 train – 20 trains – 56 diesel engines
- Class 172 train – 39 trains – 93 diesel engines
- Class 195 train – 58 trains – 149 diesel engines
- Class 196 train – 26 trains – 80 diesel engines
- Class 197 train – 77 trains – 180 diesel engines
That is a total of 990 diesel engines.
As some of the Class 196 and Class 197 trains have yet to be delivered, I do wonder, if it would be sensible to deliver them as diesel-battery hybrid trains.
Iarnród Éireann Orders Stage V MTU PowerPacks
The title of this post, is the same as that as this article on Railway Gazette International.
The IE 22000 Class trains appear to be the main rolling stock of Irish Rail.
The Railway Gazette International article describes in detail how MTU are updating the standard diesel engines in these trains with their latest Hybrid PowerPacks.
The aim is to achieve a reduction of over thirty percent in both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
From reading the article, it doesn’t appear to be a challenging project, once the testing is complete.
It does appear that MTU seem to get these conversion projects right.
Progress On The Porterbrook HybridFLEX Project
There is another engine conversion project, that uses MTU PowerPacks, underway in the UK, which I wrote about in Rolls-Royce And Porterbrook Launch First Hybrid Rail Project In The UK With MTU Hybrid PowerPacks, in September 2018.
Porterbrook call it the HybridFLEX project. I wonder how it is getting on.
This article on Diesel and Gas Turbine Worldwide, which is entitled Ricardo Leading Hybrid Train Project In UK, is the last reference I can find in January 2019.
As there are over two hundred trains, that can be converted in the UK, I’m looking forward to the rolling out of Porterbrook’s HybridFLEX project.
I suspect operators are too, as they’d like to save all that diesel.
The Anonymous Widower 