How water-injected hydrogen engines address preignition issues effectively
Hydrogen combustion engines have been developed into an exciting form of fuel compared to traditional fuels. Hydrogen combustion engines operate more like gasoline engines, where fuel is combusted. A significant advancement implemented in the AVL RACETECH’s engine is water injection to eliminate preignition, a problem associated with hydrogen because of its high reactivity.
Water injection has an or instead serves the function of combustion control, which activates the engine and assists it in increasing overall power and torque to safe levels.
Among the strengths of hydrogen are that it combusts very cleanly, and the byproduct of the combustion is water. However, it has a high reactivity, which creates the possibility of preignition – combustion occurring before necessary.
If not controlled, this leads to colossal cylinder pressure, which is dangerous to the engine. Water injection provides a way of cooling the combustion chamber and minimizing the chances of unwanted combustion; thus, AVL’s hydrogen engine can develop 400 horsepower without compromising engine stability.
Meeting motorsport power demands with innovative hydrogen fuel technology
The AVL RACETECH hydrogen engine is optimized with racing applications in mind, or in other words, motorsports. The engine outputs 400 horsepower and revs to 6,500 RPM, both figures being on par with standard racing engines.
Engineers struggled to apply gaseous fuels such as hydrogen to high power usage. This necessitated the need for elaborate injectors that can deliver large volumes of fuel with high accuracy; AVL came up with hydrogen injector technologies that have enabled it to achieve good power and torque figures while using this fuel.
The combustion of hydrogen can be seen as an attempt to bring sustainable racing near the sound and power of traditional engines. AVL RACETECH is working towards making this technology available for lower-cost, smaller racing classes as a base for motorsport to go green.
With hydrogen classes likely to be introduced in Le Mans by 2027, hydrogen combustion engines may become a familiar sight in racing and possibly a new frontier of sustainable, high-performance motoring engineering.
Facing challenges and planning for a green future of motor racing
The transition to using hydrogen power also implies a transition to the new focus of the motorsport industry, which is environmental concerns. Through hydrogen engines, AVL RACETECH is leading others by example that high performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.
This evolution is not only a plus for our planet. Still, it could also create new publics and sources of funding for sensible players as more and more followers and sponsors choose sustainable technologies for their practice, thus securing the future of this sport.
Designing a high-performance hydrogen engine is not easy, and it poses specific issues like fuel storage, preignition, and accurate control of hydrogen gas supply. However, AVL RACETECH has overcome these barriers, enabling the expansion of hydrogen combustion applications.
Thus, while the automotive world keeps looking for a sustainable solution, hydrogen engines, especially those with water injection systems, could appear as a solution for commercial vehicles, sports cars, and even heavy transportation.
Thus, it can be concluded that the success of AVL RACETECH’s hydrogen-powered engine is a product of innovation and hard work and promotes the idea that motor racing’s future can be considerably green.
Thanks to 400 horsepower output and water injection technology, this engine is a unique breakthrough, setting the direction for future-free automotive power.