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Two leading options are biodiesel and renewable diesel, which are produced from organic materials: plants, agricultural waste. They’re often blended with petroleum-based diesel for a fuel that produces less carbon than traditional fuels.
But, as the percentage of biofuels increases, testing is required to make sure that engine impact is not affected. If this can be confirmed, it would enable the rail industry to keep using existing fleets while lowering emissions – important because locomotives have a service life of more than 30 years.
The US Department of Energy’s Argonne Laboratory is working with Progress Rail, a division of Caterpillar, to research a variety of fuels. “There is a lot of rail interest today in alternative fuels as a means to reduce the impact from greenhouse gases,” said Michael Cleveland, director of advanced energy for Progress Rail. “Progress Rail is excited to be part of the evaluation of biodiesel and renewable diesel to support our customers’ sustainability-related goals.”
Progress Rail has provided a single-cylinder locomotive test engine. “Progress Rail and Argonne will focus on the short-term challenges of biodiesel and renewable diesel blends and their impact on engine operation, performance and emissions,” said Essam El-Hannouny, an Argonne principal mechanical engineer. “The freight rail industry is limited in terms of tools to decarbonise its engines, and these fuels will play an important role in lowering the carbon intensity of the fleet.”
Three-pronged approach
There are three phases to the project. In the first, Argonne scientists will create computer models of different combustion systems, and then in the second they’ll use those models to build a test engine. The final phase will see scientists testing bio and renewable diesel fuels, measuring torque, power, thermal efficiency and emissions.
“The goal is to use the highest blends of bio- and renewable diesels without compromising engine performance,” said Munidhar Biruduganti, an Argonne principal research engineer. “If there is an impact, measures will be taken to modify engine hardware and operation to accommodate widespread adoption of these fuels. Lower-carbon fuels and engines work in tandem to reduce climate change while maximising energy use.”
“The ultimate goal is to decarbonise the rail industry, and this project is a critical step in that direction,” said El-Hannouny.
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