Takamitsu Yamamoto

Experimental Study on a PEMFC Fed Railway Vehicle Motor Drive System

In this paper, we present experimental test results at RTRIs rolling stock test facility with a 28kW rating polymer membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a 90KVA general purpose inverter and actual traction motors for a commuter train to verify the compatibility of the PEMFC with an induction motor railway vehicle traction system. Through these tests, we have verified that the PEMFC can properly feed electrical power to control traction motors even in the case of sudden change of motor consuming power and, that PEMFCs can be applied to railway vehicle traction system. We are convinced that this research work contributes to promoting environmental friendliness of railway transportation system in the future

Development of the fuel-cell/battery hybrid railway vehicle

In order to save energy and reduce environmental burdens, we (Railway Technical Research Institute) have been developing a railway vehicle powered by fuel cells since FY 2001. In FY 2006, we produced the railway vehicle powered by a 100kW-class fuel cell system with assumed the power supply for railway vehicle traction, and succeeded in making the vehicle run for one car. The results of these tests indicated that energy efficiency of the fuel cell increased by about 50%, and that the fuel consumption rate varied widely depending on running conditions. In FY 2008, as a measure to utilize the energy at regenerative braking, we developed the lithium-ion battery system with an energy capacity of 36 kWh and the DC/DC converter for power management. With these equipments installed on the vehicle, we composed the fuel-cell/battery hybrid railway vehicle consisting of two cars, and executed running tests at our test line.

Drive control for fuel cells and lithium ion battery hybrid railway vehicle

A hybrid train system employing fuel cells (FC) and lithium-ion batteries (Li Bat) is one of the most effective ways of coping with the drawbacks of diesel vehicles. This paper describes the design, construction and testing of a drive control method for such a hybrid test train using a traction inverter for which the user can modify the control program. The primary objective of this research is to deduce operation statuses of power sources from the input voltage of the traction inverter. A secondary aim is to change the maximum traction electric power based on the outcome of such deduction. This paper presents the design of the method along with the results of practical testing, and investigates compatibility between the drive control method and the FC/Li Bat hybrid system.

Drive control of the traction inverter installed on the autonomous-decentralized hybrid test train

Main target of this research is developing of a simple hybrid power control method for existing trains. This paper describes the design, construction and testing of the drive control method for the autonomous-decentralized hybrid test train equipped with proton-exchangemembrane-type fuel cells (PEMFC) system and lithium-ion battery system (Li-Batt). The main object of this research is to estimate operation status of power sources from the input voltage of the traction inverter and to control the maximum traction electric power based on this estimation result.