"Next-Generation Locomotives Run on Hydrogen"...Successful Localization of Core Technology

Korea Railroad Research Institute

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Next-generation railway locomotives will run on hydrogen."

The Korea Railroad Research Institute announced on the 31st that it has succeeded in a combined test that supplies liquefied hydrogen, a core technology of hydrogen locomotives, to fuel cells and controls the output as electrical energy.

This technology supplies liquefied hydrogen to a 190kW fuel cell and controls the output up to 300kW by performing charging and discharging based on a hybrid control device and a battery charge state of 60%. The institute plans to apply this technology to hydrogen trams for testing next year. Additionally, by 2024, it aims to develop a module consisting of a 70kg-class liquefied hydrogen tank and a 380kW-class fuel cell. It is expected that equipping six developed modules on a locomotive will be able to replace diesel locomotives.

The Railroad Research Institute has been developing core technologies for liquefied hydrogen-based hydrogen locomotives since 2021. Once completed, this technology will become the world's first liquefied hydrogen-based hydrogen locomotive. They are also developing a liquefied hydrogen hybrid propulsion system, liquefied hydrogen supply, and high-speed charging systems. The research to apply technology that supplies, controls, and stores large-capacity cryogenic liquefied hydrogen to railway vehicles is the world's first and is expected to be utilized in other transportation modes such as ships and airplanes.

Globally, research on hydrogen multiple units has been underway since around 2016, but research on hydrogen locomotives has been actively pursued since 2021. Canadian Pacific (CP) in Canada, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) in China, Wabtec in the United States, PESA in Poland, and CZ LOKO in the Czech Republic are researching hydrogen locomotives. Multiple units are railway vehicles with power units mounted under the vehicle and carry passengers or cargo above, while locomotives are railway vehicles that pull passenger or freight cars without power units.

Liquefied hydrogen trains are the most optimized railway vehicles for climate change because they do not emit pollutants during the energy conversion process. Liquefied hydrogen is hydrogen liquefied at an ultra-low temperature below minus 253 degrees Celsius, which allows hydrogen to be stored and transported in a stable state at much lower pressure compared to high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. Its storage density is about twice that of gaseous hydrogen, and its transportation efficiency is more than seven times more economical.

Kim Gil-dong, senior researcher at the Railroad Research Institute and head of the research and development, said, "After completing the performance verification of the module using liquefied hydrogen and finalizing sandbox regulatory consultations, we plan to conduct tests on hydrogen trams and improve the technology."