A tool for rapid simulation and sizing of hybrid traction systems with fuel cells

Diesel multiple units (DMU) offer an affordable alternative to electric trains on lines in which infrastructural and maintenance costs of electrification are not justified. A further improvement of sustainability involves the abandonment of internal combustion engines in favour of an electric power train sustained by an on-board storage system. In this work, the authors propose a model to perform a rapid simulation of hybrid storage systems based on hydrogen fuel cells,a technology that should be complementary with respect to battery-operated trains. The proposed tool is applied, as a benchmark test case, to a modular passenger train devoted to regional service. Obtained results clearly demonstrate the capabilities of proposed tools and give useful indications for a feasible optimization and integration of fuel cells for railway applications.