Hydrogen Car: A Step towards Brighter Future

Nitant Panchal(13103194)

School of Science and Engineering,

Navrachana University,Vadodara.

Table of content

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………3

Objective…………………………………………………………………………………..3

Origin of Idea………...……………………………………………………………………4

Technical Information……………………………………………………………………..5

Application………………………………………………………………………………...7

References…………………………………………………………………………………8

Table of figures

Figure 1: Honda FCX……………………………………………………………………...4

Figure 2: Layout of Honda FCX…………………………………………………………..4

Figure 3: Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid………………………………………….6

Figure 4: Layout of Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid………………………………………6

Figure 5: London Black Cab………………………………………………………………7

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Abstract:-

Hydrogen powered vehicles have been in development for the past decade.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines may prove to be the most effective solution for

the immediate future.

Today human population is increasing day by day and the need of automobiles is

increasing. This has brought us on the verge of getting our natural sources depleted. So

hydrogen is the best alternative for the mankind to use as a fuel instead of non

consumable natural resources and save our resources.

Hydrogen car can take place of the other cars which use petroleum products as a

fuel source and emit harmful gases like CO2, etc. As the major concern today is the air

pollution which can be reduced by using hydrogen car.

Keywords: Hydrogen internal combustion engine, depletion, alternative.

Objectives:-

To increase the use of hydrogen car and reduce use of petroleum cars.

Indirectly reduce air pollution.

To make more efficient and economical hydrogen car.

Eco-friendly.

More pros over other automobiles.

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Origin of idea:-

Today seeing the amount of pollution around us, we always want to breathe fresh

air, live a healthy life. But the pollution day by day is increasing and that to a very fast

rate. About 25% of pollution is caused by the automobile sector and that is a very high.

This will increase as the population is increasing and we will be on the verge of losing all

our petroleum resources. So, we need an alternative which reduces the pollution, reduces

consumption of petroleum resources and is very efficient. The answer to this question is

'Hydrogen Car'. Hydrogen - the simplest and most abundant element in the universe.

Hydrogen Car which doesn't use gasoline and it doesn't pollute the air in fact; it produces

steam instead of exhaust. Actually, the technology for using hydrogen to generate power

has been around since the first part of the 19th century, that's longer than cars have been

around. What's new is that you might actually see a hydrogen-powered car on the road,

with steam coming out of its exhaust pipe instead of foul-smelling gases. Several

hydrogen cars are now in existence, but most of them are concept cars. These eco-

friendly driving machines include the Chevrolet Equinox, the BMW 745h and the one

that's currently available for lease in California, the Honda FCX.

Figure 1: Honda FCX.

Figure 2: Layout

of

Honda FCX.

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Technical Information:-

So, to produce a hydrogen car we basically need Hydrogen Internal Combustion

Engine, which is the core part of our car. But for the engine to perform we need to supply

hydrogen so that the engine runs. So the question is how the hydrogen itself will be

produced. Given that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, constituting

roughly 90 percent of the atoms in existence, you'd think that this wouldn't be a problem.

The simplest way of getting hydrogen from water is the one that Sir William

Grove knew about more than 150 years ago: electrolysis. If you pass an electric current

through water, the H2Omolecules break down. Similar to fuel cell operation, this process

uses an anode and a cathode, usually made from inert metals. When an electric current is

applied to the water, hydrogen forms at the cathode, and oxygen forms at the anode.

Although this process is slow, it can be done on a large scale.

An alternative source for hydrogen is natural gas, which consists of naturally

occurring hydrocarbons. A process called steam reformation can be used to separate the

hydrogen in the gas from the carbon. At present, this is the most common method of

industrial-scale production of hydrogen and would likely be the first method used to

produce the hydrogen for fuel-cell vehicles. Unfortunately, this process uses fossil fuels

the natural gas so if the point of building cars that runs on hydrogen is to avoid depleting

fossil fuel reserves, natural gas would be the worst possible source of this fuel.

Some experts have suggested that it might be possible to build miniature

hydrogen plants that will fit in the average person's garage, so it won't even be necessary

to drive to the local fueling station to fill up the car's hydrogen tank. The most extreme

form of this idea has been the suggestion that electrolysis could be performed inside the

car itself, which would make possible the astounding idea of a car that runs on water!

However, the power for the electrolysis has to come from some sort of battery, so a

water-powered car would need to be periodically recharged.

Hydrogen internal combustion engine cars are different from hydrogen fuel cell

cars. The hydrogen internal combustion car is a slightly modified version of the

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traditional gasoline internal combustion engine car. These hydrogen engines burn fuel in

the same manner that gasoline engines do; the main difference is the exhaust product.

Gasoline combustion results in carbon dioxide and water vapor, while the only exhaust

product of hydrogen combustion is water vapour.

Hydrogen has different properties than the hydrocarbon fuels. It has a lower

ignition point, a higher range of flammability. Two injection ports at each intake must be

formatted in such a way to inject the gas-air mixture more evenly into the chamber

evenly without pre-ignition. The combustion chamber itself should be a flat disc shape,

with a flat ceiling and piston, to be sure that all the hydrogen is burned. A modified

cooling system is very important so as to further prevent the ignition, because if the

engine is kept too, the injected fuels can combust early.

Now a days duel fuel system is introduced in the hydrogen car which will be

helpful for long journeys as when there is no hydrogen fuel left the car can still run on

gasoline because hydrogen fuel station are not available very frequently, so this

implementation can help make hydrogen car look more suitable.

Figure 3: Mazda

Premacy Hydrogen

RE Hybrid.

Figure 4: Layout of

the Mazda Premacy

Hydrogen RE Hybrid.

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Applications:-

The combustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces water as its only product.

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O The power output of a direct injected hydrogen engine vehicle is 20% more than

for a gasoline engine vehicle and 42% more than a hydrogen engine vehicle using a carburetor.

So looking at the advantages of this car we can at least save our future by using such cars (not buying it but in some places we can get it on lease) and help reduce the pollution.

Into the coming future this car is going to make a huge difference in our life and will be able to save some amount of non-renewable resources.

This concept can later be used in the buses, trams and all public transport vehicles so this can help reduce the pollution and allow serving the mankind.

Example:-

While the taxi looks and drives like an iconic London black cab, the Fuel Cell

Black Cab is powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system hybridized with

lithium polymer batteries; allowing the vehicle to operate for a full day without the need

for refueling. Capable of achieving a top speed of over 80 mph, refuels in about 5

minutes and produces no emissions other than water vapour.

Specifications:-

Overall length: 4580 mmOverall Width: 2036 mmOverall Height: 1834 mmWeight: 2180 kgMotor: 3-phase brushless permanent magnet (100 KW)Fuel Cell: PEMFC (Intelligent Energy)Fuel Storage: Pressurized Hydrogen Tank (350 bar)Battery: Li-polymer battery 14 KWhRange: 160 miles (257 km)Top Speed: 80 mph 9128 km/h)Acceleration on 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h): 15.5 seconds.

Figure 5: London Black Cab

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References:-

1) CASE STUDY: HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TAXI <HTTP://WWW.LOTUSCARS.COM/ENGINEERING/CASE-STUDY-HYDROGEN-FUEL-CELL-TAXI>

2) HYDROGEN POWERED VEHICLE : THE CASE FOR HYDROGEN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES <HTTPS://WWW.WPI.EDU/IMAGES/CMS/UGP/HYDROGEN_POWERED_VEHICLE.PDF>

3) How Hydrogen Cars Work<http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/hybrid-technology/hydrogen-cars4.htm>

4) Hydrogen Vehicle<http://www2.mazda.com/en/technology/env/hre/><https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle>

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