The FCH2RAIL Project was selected by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) of the European Commission which is engaged in driving the development of the hydrogen powered fuel cells and it is supported by European funds through the H2020 program.
This aims to develop a bi-mode demonstrator train that will be powered from the overhead line when running in electrified sections, and from the Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Pack when running in the catenary-free sections.
Within the scope of this project, CAF Power&Automation has developed and manufactured its own batteries module, which will be part of the Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Pack that will be installed in the demonstrator train, a CIVIA electric commuter train provided by Renfe and being now refurbished by CAF.
This Onboard Energy Storage System has been successfully tested in CAF P&A´s power lab. During the testing period, performances and capacities of the system have been tested whether it can operate both as power generator in catenary-free running andas power storage in electrified sections.
One of the Onboard Energy Storage Systems will be delivered to the CNH2 in order to test it together with the Fuel Cell modules provided by Toyota Motor Europe, in the stationary test bench which is being assembled in their facilities and with which the operation of the complete Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Pack will be simulated.
A second Onboard Energy Storage System has been directly sent to CAF´s factory in Zaragoza to be installed in the demonstrator train.
CAF Power&Automation will also provide the necessary control equipment to manage the hybridization and to monitor all the equipment composing the Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Pack, including the hydrogen tanks and feeding lines. This will be achieved through the Driver Advisory System & Energy Management (DASEM), which will work in a coordinated way with the Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS) existing in the current train.
Finally, CAF Power&Automation will participate in the hybrid system integration and validation, both in the CNH2 bench tests and the tests on tracks which will be carried out with the demonstrator train.
