Hydrogen Car: A Step towards Brighter Future

Nitant Panchal
(13103194)

School of Science and Engineering,

Navrachana University,Vadodara.

Table of content

Abstract3
Objective..3
Origin of Idea...4
Technical Information..5
Application...7
References8

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 Hybrid6
Figure 5: London Black Cab7

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.

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 ecofriendly 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.
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
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.

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 mm
Overall Width: 2036 mm
Overall Height: 1834 mm
Weight: 2180 kg
Motor: 3-phase brushless permanent magnet (100 KW)
Fuel Cell: PEMFC (Intelligent Energy)
Fuel Storage: Pressurized Hydrogen Tank (350 bar)
Battery: Li-polymer battery 14 KWh
Range: 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
References:1) CASE STUDY: HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TAXI
<HTTP://WWW.LOTUSCARS.COM/ENGINEERING/CASE-STUDYHYDROGEN-FUEL-CELL-TAXI>
2) HYDROGEN POWERED VEHICLE : THE CASE FOR HYDROGEN
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
<HTTPS://WWW.WPI.EDU/IMAGES/CMS/UGP/HYDROGEN_POWERED_V
EHICLE.PDF>
3) How Hydrogen Cars Work
<http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/hybrid-technology/hydrogencars4.htm>
4) Hydrogen Vehicle
<http://www2.mazda.com/en/technology/env/hre/>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle>