Ford patents hydrogen engine: future for combustion engines?
Created: 04/05/2022 09:19
By: Simon Mones
Does the internal combustion engine still have a chance to exist in the future?
A Ford patent gives hope for a hydrogen solution.
Dearbourne (USA) – It wasn't that long ago that Ford announced that it would be repositioning itself.
In the future, Model E will be responsible for electric vehicles, while Ford Blue will take care of combustion engines.
The US group does not seem to have given up on the latter, as a new patent shows.
Accordingly, the US group is working on a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine, as reported by 24auto.de.
The corresponding patent was discovered by the "Muscle Car and Trucks" portal.
Ford is not alone in this, Renault also recently announced a concept car.
In addition, Yamaha is developing such a drive for Toyota.
There are also similar projects at Deutz AG and the manufacturer Punch Hydrocells.
Ford patents hydrogen engine: future for combustion engines?
Typically, a system similar to that of electric cars actually comes about, in which the energy stored in the hydrogen is converted into electricity in a fuel cell.
In the combustion replacement, however, the hydrogen is used as a fuel.
In the case of Ford, this happens in a turbocharged internal combustion engine.
Does Ford save the combustion engine with the new patent?
(Iconic image) © Ford
The engine should be able to operate in a wide range of air/fuel lambda values.
As in a classic engine, the combustion process would be controlled via exhaust gas recirculation and valve control.
Ford patents hydrogen engine: higher lambda values possible
Compared to a petrol engine, the hydrogen combustion engine would also enable significantly higher lambda values of over 2.00.
The air-hydrogen mixture would therefore be at a ratio of 68 to 1. For comparison: a gasoline engine can have between 0.54 lambda and 1.25 lambda.
Ford is apparently working on an internal combustion engine with hydrogen.
© US Patent and Trademark Office
The Ford patent also provides for direct injection of the hydrogen into the cylinder.
In theory, up to 15 percent more power is possible than with a comparable petrol engine.
Use in a hybrid drive train with a motor-generator arranged between the engine and transmission also seems possible.
However, Ford only patented the combustion and control, not the entire engine.
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