HYDROGEN POWER FOR CARS

MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES TO OPERATE ON HYDROGEN-AIR OR HYDROGEN-AIR-GASOLINE MIXTURES ARE REVIEWED. A FORD BOSS 351-CU-IN V-8 HYDROGEN CAR DEVELOPED BY UCLA IS DESCRIBED. THE STOCK 11.7:1 COMPRESSION RATIO WAS LOWERED TO 8.9:1 AND THE STANDARD EXHAUST VALUES WERE REPLACED WITH SODIUM-FILLED VALVES. ALL EDGES AND SURFACES IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND ON THE PISTON WERE POLISHED TO MINIMIZE HOT SPOTS, AND OIL CONTROL WAS IMPROVED BY WIDENING THE TOP TWO PISTON-RING GROOVES AND FITTING TWO RINGS IN EACH. BREAKIN OF PISTON RINGS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY RUNNING THE EINGINE ON GASOLINE, USING SHORT BURSTS OF WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. DETAILS ARE GIVEN OF THE INTAKE SYSTEM, THE GAS STORAGE AND THE FUEL FLOW. PROBLEMS THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED SUCH AS KNOCKING, BACKFIRES AND PREIGNITION ARE DESCRIBED. THE GREMLIN BUILT BY UCLA MET THE 1975 AND 1976 EMISSION STANDARDS. FURTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THIS MACHINE CONSISTED OF AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST RECIRCULATION. THE HYDROGEN-AIR MIXTURE STRENGTH WAS RAISED TO STOICHIMETRIC. AS A RESULT, MORE POWER HAS BEEN OBTAINED AND EMISSIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE EVEN LOWER. KNOCKING IS CURTAILED AND BACKFIRING IS ELIMINATED. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES HAVE BETTER THERMAL EFFICIENCY BUT LOWER POWER PUTPUT WHEN BURNING HYDROGEN. A DISCUSSION OF THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE STORAGE OF HYDROGEN, GIVES CONSIDERATION TO THE SPECIAL ASPECTS OF LIQUID HYDROGEN AND METAL HYDRIDES. AN ON-BOARD HYDROGEN GENERATOR SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IS DESCRIBED WHICH WOULD PRODUCE HYDROGEN AS NEEDED, AND FEED INTO A VERY LEAN FUEL-AIR MIXTURE. SAFETY OBSTRACLES THAT MUST BE OVERCOME AND THE EXONOMICS OF A CHANGEOVER TO HYDROGEN ARE REVIEWED.

• Corporate Authors:

  Roadc and Track

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Dinkel, J
• Publication Date: 1974-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 63-7
• Serial:
  • Volume: 25 N

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Economics; Energy; Exhaust gases; Gasoline; Handling and storage; Hydrides; Hydrogen; Internal combustion engines; Safety; Storage facilities; Thermal efficiency
• Old TRIS Terms: Recirculation
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224586
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 16 1974 12:00AM