Oil killer: Toyota Mirai's first hydrogen car with a powerful engine. Hydrogen engine

The last energy crisis swept the world back in 2008, and it may seem that there are no more problems with the amount of oil: production rates are getting higher, and the price is lower. But despite this, no one can deny that the planet's fuel reserves are declining. Automobile concerns pay for research and development of alternative fuels. The Rivaz engine, running on water, appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. The invention was presented in 1806 and was the first engine internal combustion, overtaking gasoline and gas engines. Developers for a long time tried to continue development in this direction, but in order to carry out electrolysis and get required amount energy required a lot of electricity, which made this type of fuel unprofitable. In the end, this, combined with the explosiveness, put an end to the research.

The return to hydrogen occurred in the late 1950s. last century: the fuel cell was installed on tractors in the USA. Three years later - in 1962 - the hydrogen engine appeared in small golf cars, five years later - in motorcycles. Hydrogen in internal combustion engines (ICE) can be used in two ways: as hybrid engine and as a fuel cell.

Hybrid hydrogen engine

The hybrid hydrogen engine is used as an additive in internal combustion engines for gasoline or gas. When using hydrogen, the flammability of the fuel is improved, but due to high degree the volatility of the gas increases the risk of ignition. But despite this disadvantage, the corrosion of metals and vibration are reduced. For the use of hydrogen, there is no need for an additional device fuel tank, hydrogen is produced from distilled water. When using hydrogen, the distance that can be driven is increased by 30 percent. Safe use gas is possible with low temperatures up to -30⁰С and at relatively high temperatures up to +30⁰С.

fuel cell

Fuel cell engines generate their own electricity by splitting hydrogen into negative electrons and positive protons. The use of such engines is beneficial for large volumes, so they are most often used in heavy trucks. On this moment testing in Denmark, USA and Japan railway trains that run on fuel cell engines. This is a promising way to develop alternative fuels, because the consumption of hydrogen less consumption gasoline per unit distance.

Another direction for the development of such engines is aviation. In the TU-154 aircraft, such a fuel cell was used, of course, after the collapse of the USSR, all developments in this direction were frozen. Nevertheless, scientists from the European Union and China are working on a project for a passenger aircraft that will run on hydrogen. In order for the engine to work, such an aircraft must develop hyperspeed, which will be possible only if there is additional engine. ICE advantages on hydrogen are associated with its environmental impact and high efficiency.

High level of environmental friendliness

Of course, a low degree of pollution is present, but due to the presence of oil in the car mechanism. Even adding hydrogen to conventional fuels improves performance by 20%. For 5 kg of hydrogen fuel, a car travels up to 500 km. Scientists consider hydrogen the only renewable energy source.

With its undeniable advantages, today there are much more disadvantages, which are mainly related to the design of the engine:

• fugacity of hydrogen. Refueling a car with an internal combustion engine on hydrogen is possible only at a gas station. Refueling from another car or from a canister on the road will not work.
• Explosive and fire hazard. Everyone knows the disaster of the Hindenburg airship, which caught fire in flight from a single spark: a third of the 97 people on board died.
• The high cost of fuel cells and a hydrogen engine, which in turn increases the cost of the car. An analogue with a hydrogen engine costs twice as much. A car powered by a hydrogen engine is 100 times more expensive to maintain than a conventional engine.
• The hydrogen engine occupies a large volume. In trucks and buses, this does not cause any inconvenience, but in cars the volume of the luggage compartment is reduced.

The hydrogen engine is not science fiction. For example, Honda, Toyota and Hyndai have established a line for the production of cars with hydrogen-powered engines and densely occupied the market: Toyota Mirai(2015), Honda FCX Clarity (2008), Hyundai ix35 fuel cell. In the middle of December last year Audi announced its decision to release new concept on hydrogen - Q6 H-Tron.

Despite all the shortcomings, hydrogen is the only renewable and unlimited resource on the planet. In order for cars with such an internal combustion engine to become widespread, scientists and developers will need to decide how to eliminate negative characteristics and reduce the cost of the mechanism, and states to establish infrastructure so that hydrogen cars are no longer a rarity on the roads.

Modern automotive industry is developing with an emphasis on the production of more environmentally friendly Vehicle. This is due to the worldwide struggle for purity. atmospheric air by reducing carbon emissions. The constant rise in gasoline prices is also forcing manufacturers to look for other sources of energy. Many leading automakers are gradually moving to serial production cars running on alternative fuel, which in the very near future will lead to the appearance on the roads of the world enough not only electric cars, but also cars with engines powered by hydrogen fuel.

How hydrogen cars work

A hydrogen-powered car is designed to reduce atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide, as well as other harmful impurities. The use of hydrogen to propel a wheeled vehicle is possible in two different ways:

• the use of a hydrogen internal combustion engine (VDVS);
• power plant electrical unit operating from hydrogen elements (HE).

While we used to fill up with gasoline or diesel fuel your car, a new marvel - powered by the most abundant element in the universe - hydrogen

VVS is an analogue of the engines widely used today, the fuel for which is propane. It is this model of the engine that is easiest to reconfigure to work on hydrogen. The principle of its operation is the same as that of a gasoline engine, only liquefied hydrogen enters the combustion chamber instead of gasoline. A car with renewable energy is, in fact, an electric car. Hydrogen here is only a raw material for generating electricity needed to power an electric motor.

The hydrogen element consists of the following parts:

• corps;
• a membrane that allows only protons to pass through - it divides the capacity into two parts: anode and cathode;
• an anode coated with a catalyst (palladium or platinum);
• cathode with the same catalyst.

The principle of operation of VE is based on a physicochemical reaction, consisting of the following:

Thus, when the car is moving, no carbon dioxide is emitted, but only water vapor, electricity and nitric oxide.

Key Features of Hydrogen Cars

The main players in the automotive market already have prototypes of their products using hydrogen as fuel. You can definitely highlight the individual technical characteristics of such machines:

• maximum developed speed up to 140 km/h;
• the average mileage from one refueling is 300 km (some manufacturers, for example, Toyota or Honda, declare twice the figure - 650 or 700 km, respectively, on hydrogen alone);
• acceleration time to 100 km / h from zero - 9 seconds;
• power power plant up to 153 horsepower.

This car can accelerate to 179 km / h, and up to 100 km / h the car accelerates in 9.6 seconds and, most importantly, it is able to travel 482 km without additional refueling

Quite good parameters even for gasoline engines. There has not yet been a shift towards the Air Force using liquefied H2 or vehicles powered by renewable energy, and it is not clear which of these types of engines will achieve the best specifications and economic indicators. But today, more models of machines with an electric drive, powered by renewable energy, have been produced, which give greater efficiency. Although the consumption of hydrogen to obtain 1 kW of energy is less in the VDVS.

In addition, re-equipment of internal combustion engines for hydrogen in order to increase efficiency requires a change in the ignition system of the installation. The problem of rapid burnout of pistons and valves due to more high temperature combustion of hydrogen. Everything will be decided here further development both technologies, as well as price dynamics during the transition to mass production.

Pros and cons of cars running on hydrogen

Among the main advantages of hydrogen vehicles are:

• high environmental friendliness, consisting in the absence of most harmful substances in the exhaust typical for the operation of a gasoline engine - carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide and dioxide, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons;
• more high efficiency, compared to gasoline cars;

In general, the car has ambitions to conquer the whole world.

• less noise from the engine;
• lack of complex, unreliable fuel supply and cooling systems;
• the possibility of using two types of fuel.

In addition, air-powered vehicles have less weight and more useful volume, despite the need to install fuel tanks.

The disadvantages of hydrogen cars include:

• the bulkiness of the power plant when using fuel cells, which reduces the maneuverability of the car;
• the high cost of the hydrogen elements themselves due to the palladium or platinum they contain;
• imperfection of the design and uncertainty in the material for the manufacture of tanks for hydrogen fuel;
• lack of hydrogen storage technology;
• lack of hydrogen filling stations, the infrastructure of which is very poorly developed throughout the world.

However, with the transition to the mass production of cars equipped with hydrogen power plants, most of these shortcomings will most likely be eliminated.

Which hydrogen-powered vehicles are already in production

The production of machines for hydrogen fuel engaged in the world's leading automotive companies such as BMW, Mazda, Mercedes, Honda, MAN and Toyota, Daimler AG and General Motors. Among the experimental models, and some manufacturers already have small-scale ones, there are cars that operate only on hydrogen, or with the possibility of using two types of fuel, the so-called hybrids.

Such models of hydrogen vehicles are already being produced, such as:

• Ford Focus FCV;
• Mazda RX-8 hydrogen;
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class;
• Honda FCX;
• Toyota Mirai;
• Buses MAN Lion City Bus and Ford E-450;
• hybrid car bi-fuel BMW Hydrogen 7.

Today we can definitely say that, despite the existing difficulties (the new always makes its way with difficulty), the future belongs to more green cars. Autocars running on hydrogen fuel will be worthy competition electric vehicles.

Toyota was the first developer to introduce a hydrogen engine for a car to the general public. Back in 1997, they presented the FCHV SUV, which was never launched at that time.

A good alternative to gasoline could be a hydrogen engine

Today, other companies are conducting research, among them:

• Honda motor,
• volkswagen,
• General Motors,
• Daimler AG,
• ford motor,
• BMW and so on.

How does a hydrogen engine work?

Hydrogen powered vehicles can be divided into three groups:

• a car with two energy carriers, which has a highly economical engine that can operate both on pure hydrogen and on a mixture of it. The efficiency of such an engine is 90–95%, while that of a diesel engine is 50%, and that of a gasoline engine is 35%. Such cars comply with the Euro-4 standard;
• hydrogen car with a built-in electric motor that feeds the main fuel cell installed on board. Now cars with efficiency above 75% have been created;
• ordinary cars running on mixture or pure hydrogen. The exhaust is much cleaner, and the efficiency will “grow up” by about 20%.

How does a hydrogen engine work? There are 2 types of power plants according to the principle of operation:

• hydrogen internal combustion engines. A rotary engine is used;
• power plants on hydrogen fuel cells - their principle of operation is based on a chemical reaction. The cell body has a membrane that conducts only protons and separates the chambers with electrodes - the anode and the cathode. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode chamber, oxygen is supplied to the cathode chamber. The electrodes are covered with a layer of catalyst, for example, it is platinum. Molecular hydrogen loses electrons under the influence of a catalyst. Protons are conducted through the membrane to the cathode, under the influence of a catalyst, as a result of combination with electrons, water is formed. Electrons leave the anode chamber to electrical circuit which is connected. This generates current to power the motor.

Advantages of a hydrogen engine:

• The combustion product of hydrogen is water. So, this is the most environmentally friendly fuel;
• power, throttle response and other indicators of the engine are higher than those of the standard one - electricity provides them in full;
• low noise level;
• ease of maintenance - a complex transmission is not needed, and there are fewer rubbing parts;
• low cost;
• lower fuel consumption and high speed gas stations;
• higher power reserve;
• Hydrogen has great potential as an alternative fuel, as it can be obtained from a variety of sources, including solar energy or wind;
• the main raw material - water - is free.

Disadvantages of a hydrogen engine:

• The use of fuel cells in conventional engine is fraught with fire or explosion due to its design.
• Their cost is also very high.
• The weight of the car is increased as a result of the use of current converters and powerful batteries.
• The process of obtaining hydrogen from water is also not cheap, as is the transportation of new fuel.
• Environmental problems are also predicted - an increase in the amount of hydrogen in the atmosphere can adversely affect the ozone layer of the Earth.
• - also harmful to environment process.
• One problem with hydrogen vehicles is the high cost of platinum, which is needed for the chemical reaction in the engine.
• Lack of hydrogen filling stations makes hydrogen cars uncompetitive compared to conventional cars.
• Storage issue not resolved. To date, it is proposed to store in a liquefied form or under high pressure but research is ongoing.

Hydrogen fuel cells

IN different years hydrogen fuel cells have been used:

• for tractors
• locomotives,
• submarines,
• helicopters
• in a golf car
• on a motorcycle.

Hydrogen-powered cars and buses use proton exchange membrane (PEM) cells and are compact and lightweight.

Auto on hydrogen

• The Toyota that tamed hydrogen, the Fuel Cell Sedan, is the comfort and spaciousness of the standard model. In order to increase space in the cabin and trunk, compressed hydrogen tanks are located in the floor of the car. The car is designed for five passengers, the price will be $ 67,500.
• Space technologies in everyday life. BMW Hydrogen 7 has already proven its capabilities in practice, about a hundred BMW cars Hydrogen 7 has been tested by prominent figures in culture, politics, business and the media. Real-world test experience has shown that switching to hydrogen is fully compatible with the comfort, dynamics and safety you would expect from a BMW. Cars can be switched from one type of fuel to another. Max Speed 229 km/h
• Honda FCX Clarity power generator. According to the developers, it is possible to connect to a transformer and supply electricity to all household appliances. Hydrogen tanks are under rear seats, and then full refueling She has enough fuel for 500 km. Price from $62807.
• Part MAN buses runs on hydrogen.

Hydrogen engines of the future

• General Motors (GM) and Honda Motor have started a new cooperation in the automotive sector. Both companies plan to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cells over the next seven years. The exchange of know-how will help reduce the cost of technology and making it a major goal to respond to the increase in global emission reduction requirements, the Euro 4 standard has a strict framework.
• The power plant of the car can also serve as a power plant for the house, providing it with energy for 5 days.
• Each manufacturer in soon expects to sell at least a thousand ecocars per year, the expected price is $97,000.
• By 2050, hydrogen as a fuel source will cover a third of the energy produced.

But Elon Musk (head of SpaceX and Tesla) is extremely critical of the new fuel, considering its creation marketing ploy. Musk stated that the use of technology will not solve real transportation problems and that lithium-ion batteries have an energy storage density that exceeds all hydrogen developments. What do you think?

The Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered alternative to the market-breaking electric cars, has successfully completed the latest "secret" road test. Just the other day, representatives of the company announced that they were ready to put the car into production.

Thanks to the efforts Japanese manufacturers cars, in the foreseeable future, hydrogen cars may become commonplace on the roads in the most different countries. So, a hybrid car on hydrogen Toyota engine Mirai is already ready to enter the global market today.

For the first time yet conceptual model, Toyota Mirai was introduced in 2013 on Tokyo Motor Show. Later, the car was shown to the public in a modified form in 2014 and 2015. It was expected that the car will hit the roads before the end of 2015, but later the date was postponed to 2016. At the same time pre-sales Auto started back in 2014 in Japan. One Toyota Mirai costs about 57 thousand US dollars. In the US and Europe, Toyota Mirai will be sold after the official release.

The hydrogen car has a four-seat sedan body. Body length - 4870 mm, width - 1810 mm, height - 1535 mm. The model used is ZBA-JPD10-CEDSS. The machine only uses front-wheel drive. The turning radius is 5.7 meters, and the tire size is 215/55. The base set uses alloy wheels R17. Ground clearance- 130 mm. To date, this is all that is officially known about the technical component of the Toyota Mirai.

The parameters of the power plant of the car were also announced. The car will be driven thanks to the FCA110, which will be powered by FC stack class fuel cells. The engine produces electricity due to the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen occurring in it. Maximum efficiency is 83%, for comparison, 1.3-liter Gas engine gives only 38%. Max power the electric motor in this case will be 153 hp.

None harmful emissions Toyota Mirai does not create, only pure energy and water comes out of the engine of the car. For 4 km, the machine will release 240 milliliters of water into the atmosphere.

Much more important and interesting is that on February 10, 2016, the last 107-day test of the Toyota Mirai ended. The car drove on the roads of Japan, the USA, Germany and many other countries. In total, cars, and passed 100 thousand kilometers. During this time, the car changed its tires twice and once pads. fuel cells hydrogen car showed their best side.

It is worth noting that Toyota brand entered .