(Frankfurt am Main) - Hydrogen is not only suitable as an energy source for fuel cells. It can also be used directly in combustion engines and gas turbines. “However, the chemical properties of hydrogen differ significantly from those that characterize fossil fuels and fuels. Therefore, a technical adaptation of internal combustion engines and turbomachinery is necessary,” says a statement from the Research Association for Internal Combustion Engines (FVV).
Hydrogen in the combustion engine
With a dozen new research projects, the FVV wants to create the scientific basis for how combustion engines can be used to use hydrogen. In this way, ongoing research should be supplemented and the implementation of the German and European hydrogen strategies accelerated. “The goal of the research association is to advance the defossilization of the entire energy chain,” it says. Translated: They want to ban fossil fuels from the energy supply within an undisclosed period of time.
For example, scientists at the Institute for Piston Engines (IFKM) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are investigating the potential of future combustion processes using heavy commercial vehicles as an example. First, the hydrogen is blown into the engine's intake manifold and, after the engine has been converted, directly into the cylinder. This allows the influence of mixture formation on hydrogen combustion to be investigated.
Alternative for commercial vehicles
Hydrogen engines are seen as having great potential, especially in commercial vehicles, such as heavy-duty transport or construction machinery. Both fuel cells and hydrogen combustion in reciprocating engines could come into question. As part of another project, “the technical options for different applications and cycles are simulated and an evaluation matrix is created.”
Shipping as a challenge
In shipping, the introduction of non-fossil energy sources represents a particular challenge, as very high amounts and storage densities of energy are required in long-haul transport. Liquid hydrogen, on the other hand, cannot be stored permanently due to its low boiling temperature and is less suitable for transport over long distances.
The industry is therefore “intensively discussing” the further processing of regeneratively produced hydrogen into ammonia, which also serves as a raw material for hydrogen. Ammonia (NH3) is liquid at room temperature at a pressure of more than nine bar and is therefore easy to store and transport. In a new project, the FVV wants to investigate both the fundamental suitability of ammonia as a future fuel and the boundary conditions for engine combustion.
Jet fuel with hydrogen admixture
The direct use of hydrogen has recently been discussed as an energy source for sustainable air traffic. Similar to engines, turbines would also have to be designed for the new fuel. You benefit from “the fact that research on stationary gas turbines and aircraft turbines is closely networked,” says Dirk Hilberg, technology manager at Rolls-Royce Germany and deputy head of the FVV Scientific Advisory Board. Projects on the influence of hydrogen admixture have already been carried out in the past.
However, the FVV does not only focus on hydrogen-powered energy converters, but also researches the operation of internal combustion engines with other renewable energy sources. Increasing the efficiency of combustion engines, for example through hybrid concepts, also plays an important role in the research portfolio.
FVV research on hydrogen (as of 11/2020)
relevant
- H2 in the gas network (Duration: January 01.01.2020st, 31.12.2021 – December XNUMXst, XNUMX)
- Potential analysis of a self-ignited hydrogen engine in a closed working gas circuit (Duration: January 01.09.2020st, 31.10.2021 – December XNUMXst, XNUMX)
planned
- CO2-neutral long-distance commercial vehicle drives 2050 II
- New hydrogen storage concept using the degrees of freedom of new technologies and materials
- DI hydrogen combustion process
- Highly efficient H2 gasoline engine with direct injection
- Hydrogen combustion & comparison SI/CI concepts
- NH3 combustion process for large engines
- Comparison and further development of future commercial vehicle hydrogen drive systems
- Ammonia as a fuel of the future
- Gaseous H2 inhibitors
- Basic engine components for H2 ICEs
- Combustion noise H2 reciprocating engine
- NVH fuel cell
- Lowest emissions concept for H2-DI gasoline engines
- High-temperature H2-DeNOX on H2-DI gasoline engines
The Internal Combustion Engine Research Association is a network of companies, research centers and funding agencies. It has more than 200 members from the areas of engine manufacturing and fuel cells as well as their suppliers and development service providers.
Photos
Hydrogen test bench at the Institute for Piston Machines / © IKFM, KIT
Hello, now it is high time that more was done in this research. everyone talks about it, no one moves. The H2 or the H2 mixture gas molecules should be tested with all variants in the natural gas network at the latest. For this purpose, student groups would have to be deployed in all areas of knowledge in order to test more and more possibilities and to bring together knowledge results in a targeted manner. There are so many problems to be solved here in the combustion engine sector as well as in the fuel cell sector. It would be important to network the results. As an engineer, I wish you every success. mfg doderer