Name: BERNARDO BICALHO CARVALHAES
Type: MSc dissertation
Publication date: 02/06/2016
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| RODRIGO DE ALVARENGA ROSA | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| GISELE DE LORENA DINIZ CHAVES | External Examiner * |
| JOÃO LUIZ CALMON NOGUEIRA DA GAMA | Internal Examiner * |
| RODRIGO DE ALVARENGA ROSA | Advisor * |
Summary: Brazilian railroads transported over 460 million tons in 2014 and are reaching to achieve
international environmental standards. Thus, it is important to analyze the environmental
impact of the use of diesel and alternative fuels. This paper proposes a method based upon the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) metrics to evaluate the
railroads locomotive operation eco-efficiency. Seven Eco-Efficiency Measurement (EM)
indicators were created so that the scenarios could be properly compared. They are
respectively: Total energy consumption (E), Total renewable energy consumption (RE),
Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), Carbon monoxide emissions (CO), Nitrogen oxides
emissions (NOx), Particulate matter emissions (PM) and Cost Efficiency (investment,
maintenance and fuel) (CE). The method was applied to Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas
(EFVM), one of the most important railroads in Brazil. Five different scenarios representing
the exchange of fuel sources were developed, tested and analyzed, Scenario 1 being the actual
operational model of the railroad. The many scenarios take into consideration the use of
biodiesel blended with standard petroleum diesel at 5% (B5) and also at 25% (B25). Liquefied
natural gas (LNG) was also evaluated blended with B5 and B25. After the data analysis, the
results showed that if Scenario 4 was implemented, compared to Scenario 1 the railroad could
gain 2.3% in energy efficiency, 139.0% in renewable energy efficiency, 32.0% in CO2
emissions, 100.0% in PM, 60.0% in NOx and 12.6% in cost efficiency. The only indicator that
shows worse result when comparing Scenario 4 to Scenario 1 is CO with -3.2%, due to the
use of LNG. The results indicate that the proposed method can be used as a support tool to
help the railroad decide what is the best mix of fuel and the best technology in order to
minimize the environmental impacts and also the operational cost. The results were compared
to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, and in some cases,
achieved the highest standard.
Keywords: Eco-efficiency. Liquefied natural gas. Biodiesel. Locomotives.
