Comparative study of ammonia-based clean rail transportation systems for Greater Toronto area
dc.contributor.advisor | Dincer, Ibrahim | |
dc.contributor.author | Hogerwaard, Janette | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-05-28T20:00:42Z | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2022-03-25T19:02:45Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-05-28T20:00:42Z | |
dc.date.available | 2022-03-25T19:02:45Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-04-01 | |
dc.degree.discipline | Mechanical Engineering | |
dc.degree.level | Master of Applied Science (MASc) | |
dc.description.abstract | Ammonia as a transportation fuel offers a carbon-free, hydrogen rich energy source that emits no greenhouse gases in combustion, and has no global warming potential. Furthermore, it may be produced from any renewable energy resource, and is a strong option for long term sustainability. Ammonia also provides a pathway towards a hydrogen economy, which is the long term goal for environmental sustainability. This thesis investigates the feasibility of integrating ammonia as a combustion fuel, hydrogen carrier, heat recovery and working fluid, and for indirect engine cooling, within locomotive propulsion systems for nine novel ammonia-based configurations. Thermodynamic, environmental, and economic analyses are conducted for a typical modern diesel-fueled locomotive and the proposed ammonia configurations. The study comparatively assesses potential long term solutions for sustainable, clean rail transportation. From the modeled results, the proposed systems operating with 50% of required fuel energy replaced by ammonia have a reduction in diesel fuel consumption from 0.211 kg/s to less than 0.10 kg/s. This is associated with a reduction in GHG emissions of more than 8 tonnes CO2eq for a typical daily locomotive duty cycle for commuter operation. Criteria air contaminants are reduced to below upcoming Tier 3 emission levels for NOx and HC emissions, and meet current levels for PM emissions. In total, ten locomotive propulsion systems are investigated including the diesel-fueled locomotive baseline, and the performance gains are considered against economic factors for fuel and equipment costs in a comparative assessment. | en |
dc.description.sponsorship | University of Ontario Institute of Technology | en |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10155/431 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.subject | Ammonia | en |
dc.subject | Locomotive | en |
dc.subject | Environmental impact | en |
dc.subject | Sustainability | en |
dc.title | Comparative study of ammonia-based clean rail transportation systems for Greater Toronto area | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
thesis.degree.discipline | Mechanical Engineering | |
thesis.degree.grantor | University of Ontario Institute of Technology | |
thesis.degree.name | Master of Applied Science (MASc) |