Hydrogen engine systems for land vehicles

Abstract Based on the research results at Musashi Institute of Technology since 1970, the next two systems are to be proposed for hydrogen fuel engine for land vehicles are: (1) A substitute for gasoline engine; LH2 tank is pressurized by evaporated H2-gas with its inner pressure at 1 MPa, and LH2 is delivered from bottom of the tank. Cold hydrogen (about −30°C) is injected at 1 MPa into the cylinder during the first half of the compression stroke, then it is ignited by a spark. Its maximum power to be attained is 10–20% more than that of the gasoline engine, and its thermal efficiency under the partial load becomes higher than the gasoline engine because of lean combustion. (2) A substitute for diesel engine; The system consists of a LH2-tank at low pressure, LH2-pump for high pressure injection and spark igniter. Its maximum power is attainable to the same as gasoline engine. A high pressure hydrogen gas expander will be developed in the future for obtaining useful power and cold hydrogen.