photo: Siemens press materials/Siemens Mobility
Nearly half of the railroad lines in Europe are not electrified. The diesel-powered trains that run on these tracks produce emissions. Switching to hydrogen would eliminate these emissions. Siemens Mobility is equipping trains with hydrogen fuel cells. And De-Niang Maria Peymandar is responsible for integrating fuel cells in the system. The cells support onboard power generation, and the entire system can enable ranges of up to 1000 kilometers.
"The idea for my patented invention came about in conversation with colleagues who are in direct contact with customers," says De-Niang Maria Peymandar. "Without the knowledge of real customer needs, the question of how we could make the fuel cell even ‘greener,' more affordable and thus more attractive might not have arisen for me at all," she added.
They stand taller than men, their streamlined heads peering out of the open gate of a brick building on the factory grounds of Siemens Mobility in Krefeld. Hero, Mireo trains are assembled. Starting in January 2022, one of them will be equipped with technology that could turn the rail industry toward zero-emission rail transportation. Together with Deutsche Bahn, Siemens mobility makes hydrogen usable as an energy supplier for multiple units. The trains will be equipped with fuel cells for this purpose.
Source: Siemens press materials
"I am convinced that green hydrogen still has a lot of potentials to reduce our emissions from transport,” says De-Niang Maria Peymandar as she climbs an iron staircase in the assembly hall that leads to a gallery. Here you can see the roof of the trains, the area where the fuel cells will be mounted. Maria Peymandar holds a doctorate in chemistry and works as a design manager at Siemens Mobility in Krefeld. The team she works with is working on fuel cell-based power generation onboard Mireo trains.
As a design manager, De-Niang Maria Peymandar is responsible for testing, acceptance, and integration of the system on the vehicle. For her ideas and patents related to this innovation, she has been awarded Siemens “inventor of the year 2021” in the Newcomers category,” Our current project is about testing a completely new overall system consisting of a hydrogen-powered train and a newly designed filling station,” the awarded winner tells us. “Fuel cells are needed because the hydrogen is converted into electrical energy in the fuel cell. This energy is then temporarily stored in a battery and used, among other things, as propulsion energy.” In the development for Deutsche Bahn, she said, the goal is to design the interaction of the hydrogen and battery systems in such a way that the longest possible ranges are possible. “For the future, we expect to achieve ranges of up to 1000 km,” says Peymandar. “This makes the trains ideal for operation in regional transport.”
The creativity of the entire team is something that sustains and motivates her, she says. “sometimes you have an idea in the middle of the night, you¨re excited, you tell it the next day – and then you get great, constructive feedback that moves you forward. We have a culture of conversation where you can tell ideas without fear.” says De-Niang Maria Peymandar.
The figures show the great potential of this approach: In Europe, 46% of rail lines are not electrified. More environmentally friendly propulsion technologies – including those using green hydrogen – could reduce CO2 emissions on lines still served by diesel multiple units.
Source: Siemens press materials
When we were developing the prototype for the project with Deutsche Bahn, ideas were forming in the back of my mind about what we could improve,” Maria Peymandar says. She is holding a technical drawing in her hands. It shows a certain and a sketch of a component with several layers. “There are the bipolar plates of a fuel cell,” she explains.
The idea for my patented invention came about in conversation with colleagues who are in direct contact with customers,” she says. “Without the knowledge of real customer needs, the question of how we could make the fuel cell even `greener,` more affordable and thus more attractive might not have arisen for me at all,” says De-Niang Maria Peymandar.
Source: Siemens press materials