Germany: Propane air conditioning in trains – a proven success!

In a pioneering project, Germany has become the first to successfully operate a passenger train with an air conditioning system using R290 (propane) as refrigerant. This breakthrough comes after extensive testing and safety investigations, marking a significant step toward more sustainable cooling systems in rail transport.  

 

The propane-based system was installed in a Class 440 regional train, running alongside the standard R134a system. 

 

After over a year of operation, the results showed that the propane system matched the performance and energy efficiency of the traditional R134a system. Simulation models also indicate that integrating a heat pump could further increase the energy efficiency of the system. Building on the success of the trial, the propane AC system is now set to be used in Germany’s new high-speed ICE 3neo trains, representing a major step forward in eco-friendly train technology. 

 

Source 

https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/propane-ac-a-success-on-german-trains/