India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Train and Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC)

About India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Train

• Indian Railways has approved the introduction of a 10-car Hydrogen Fuel Cell-based trainset.
• Dedicated route: The train will travel on the dedicated Jind-Sonipat section (Haryana) of Northern Railway.
• Agencies involved
  • Developed by: It is developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
  • The train is designed as per specifications framed by the Research, Design & Standards Organization (RDSO).
  • The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has granted the required license for storage and dispensing of compressed hydrogen gas.
• Indian Railways under “Hydrogen for Heritage” envisages deploying 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes across the country.
• Prominent features of Hydrogen Train-set are as below:
  • Designed and Developed in India demonstrating Indian Railways’ commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Presently, it is the world’s longest (10 coaches) and most powerful (2400 kW) Hydrogen Train-set on Broad Gauge platform.
  • The train-set comprises of two Driving Power Cars (DPCs) of 1200 kW each, totaling 2400 kW along with eight passenger cars.
  • Zero CO2 emissions; only emission is water vapour.
  • The trainset will operate at a maximum speed of 75 kmph.
• With this initiative, India joins a select group of countries such as Germany, Japan, China and the United States that are exploring the use of hydrogen for cleaner rail transportation.

About Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC)

• Hydrogen fuel cell technology generates electricity through a chemical reaction using hydrogen, with water vapour as the only emission, making it a clean alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based traction systems.
• Components: The primary components of an HFC are –
  • Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)
  • Bipolar plates
• Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA): The MEA is where the electrochemical reaction takes place.
  • It consists of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) placed between two catalyst layers – anode (where hydrogen gas enters the fuel cell) and cathode (where oxygen from the air enters).
  • They are surrounded by the Gas Diffusion Layers that help distribute reactant gases (hydrogen and oxygen) and remove byproducts (water and heat).
  • The PEM is a specially treated material that looks something like ordinary kitchen plastic wrap.
  • It conducts only positively charged ions and blocks the electrons.
  • The PEM is the key to the fuel cell technology; it must permit only the necessary ions to pass between the anode and cathode.
• Working mechanism
  • First, hydrogen fuel (H2) is passed through the anode and is split into protons (H+) and electrons (e-) via oxidation using a catalyst.
  • Then the PEM allows only protons to pass through to the cathode and blocks the electrons.
  • Electrons flow through an external circuit, generating electricity.
  • At the cathode, oxygen (O2) from the air interacts with the catalyst and undergoes reduction.
  • Subsequently, Oxygen reacts with the protons that have passed through the membrane and the electrons from the external circuit to produce water (H2O).