In the landscape of continuous efforts by major automotive manufacturers to propel hydrogen-powered technology forward, a cohort of undergraduate students from the University of Bath has reached a pioneering milestone in engineering. Their triumph lies in the successful construction and operation of a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. This achievement is especially remarkable given the ongoing challenges in making hydrogen-powered technology commercially viable.
In March, the engineering students at Bath switched on their single-cylinder engine for the first time, and it performed flawlessly. This achievement marks them as the world’s first undergraduate students to develop and run such an engine, according to a statement by the University.
The Bath Hydrogen team, comprising fifteen members enrolled in integrated mechanical and electrical engineering, automotive engineering, and mechanical engineering courses, embarked on this project last year.
Initially, the team members had little knowledge about hydrogen fuel or the requirements for making the engine work. However, they diligently researched existing literature and collaborated to understand the technology and identify feasible goals. Samuel Ray, the team leader, emphasized the motivation behind their endeavor: hydrogen’s potential as a carbon-neutral fuel, especially in light of the impending ban on new gasoline and diesel vehicles starting in 2035.
“We started by reading all of the research and literature we could find, analyzing and cataloguing it all to understand it and prioritize what was possible for us to pull off, as a fairly small team,” said Samuel Ray, an engineering student and leader of Bath Hydrogen team, in a statement.
The team received support from various sponsors, including Vanguard, who provided a modified single-cylinder gasoline engine, and Clean Air Power, who supplied hydrogen-specific fuel injectors. With assistance from Link Engine Management, who furnished a specialized electronic control unit, the team successfully re-engineered the engine. This milestone enabled them to gain valuable insights and skills before proceeding to convert a larger Ford engine to run on hydrogen fuel in the upcoming academic year.
Despite the benefits of hydrogen as a clean fuel source, challenges remain, particularly regarding storage. Hydrogen’s high energy density per unit mass but low energy density per unit volume necessitates complex storage solutions, such as highly compressed gas or liquid form at extremely low temperatures. Safety compliance is also paramount, requiring the team to operate the prototype engine outdoors and remotely through a control panel.
Looking ahead, the Bath Hydrogen team aims to set a land speed record with their newly developed engine using a Ginetta G20 racing vehicle. Their pioneering efforts not only push the boundaries of engineering but also contribute to the advancement of sustainable transportation solutions. Dr. Kevin Robinson, the team’s academic supervisor, expressed pride in their achievement, noting that while it’s still early days, the engine has already completed about three hours of continuous operation, including several minutes at full load.
“Getting the prototype engine running has been a very significant milestone in this project. It’s still early days, but we have completed about three hours of continuous operation so far, including several minutes at full load,” said Dr Kevin Robinson, the team’s academic supervisor, in a statement.
