Sustainable fuels for rail freight a step closer as new demonstrator begins development
The ground-breaking HyDEX project is responding to calls from the rail freight industry to accelerate the transition to net zero.
The Universities of Nottingham and Derby are collaborating on the development of a hydrogen retrofit flexi-fuel engine with digital twin as part of HyDEX, a Research England project.
This large flexi-fuel engine will enable the co-combustion of different liquid fuels such as diesel, biodiesel and HVO with retrofit hydrogen in different mix ratios. The ultimate aim is to ease and accelerate the net zero transition within the rail freight industry and this first step will help to manage affordability, minimise disruption to the existing infrastructure and be a faster route to minimise emissions.
Volvo Penta 6 cylinder 4-stroke diesel engine test rigThe physical demonstrator is based on a six-cylinder, 4-stroke Volvo Penta diesel engine and research will see various fuel mixes subjected to rigorous techno-economic analyses and lifecycle assessments to guarantee economic and environmental performance. The physical demonstrator is based on a six-cylinder, 4-stroke Volvo Penta diesel engine and research will see various fuel mixes subjected to rigorous techno-economic analyses and lifecycle assessments to guarantee economic and environmental performance.
