Dont Know If This Is Old News But
#1
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Dont Know If This Is Old News But
I never seen this befor
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage5162.html
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage5162.html
A hydrogen-powered Mazda rotary engine could be raced in the American Le-Mans Series as early as next year.
Mazda North America is looking at converting its three-rotor LMP2 powerplant, used last year in the works backed B-K Motorsports team, from gasoline to zero-emissions hydrogen, It would employ technology already pioneered in Japan by its parent company on a special version of its RX-8 rotary engined sportscar.
Robert Davis, the Mazda North American executive who looks after motorsport, said:
"We have been investigating this for one and a half years and the arrival of the Audi R10 turbo-diesel prototype has generated a lot of publicity for alterative fuels. We see a big benefit to going racing with a zero emissions power plant".
" There is a road car running in Japan and the transformation of technology for a racing application would be relatively straightforward. Many of the internal parts on our race engines are the same as standard."
The biggest obstacle Mazda and B-K must overcome is storing the fuel in the prototype race car.
"Clearly there is a bigger volume required with a hygrogen gas than a gasoline", Davis explained, "We haven't cracked the code for how to store the fuel yet".
"We are looking at many options, we want to keep the tank between the engine and the driver because that is the safest place, but we are also looking at other areas of the car. Storing hydrogen in liquid form could be another option, but that presents its own problems due to the low temperatures required".
Mazda North America is looking at converting its three-rotor LMP2 powerplant, used last year in the works backed B-K Motorsports team, from gasoline to zero-emissions hydrogen, It would employ technology already pioneered in Japan by its parent company on a special version of its RX-8 rotary engined sportscar.
Robert Davis, the Mazda North American executive who looks after motorsport, said:
"We have been investigating this for one and a half years and the arrival of the Audi R10 turbo-diesel prototype has generated a lot of publicity for alterative fuels. We see a big benefit to going racing with a zero emissions power plant".
" There is a road car running in Japan and the transformation of technology for a racing application would be relatively straightforward. Many of the internal parts on our race engines are the same as standard."
The biggest obstacle Mazda and B-K must overcome is storing the fuel in the prototype race car.
"Clearly there is a bigger volume required with a hygrogen gas than a gasoline", Davis explained, "We haven't cracked the code for how to store the fuel yet".
"We are looking at many options, we want to keep the tank between the engine and the driver because that is the safest place, but we are also looking at other areas of the car. Storing hydrogen in liquid form could be another option, but that presents its own problems due to the low temperatures required".
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Haven't heard about that, but the Hydrogen fuel cells only allow the 8's in Japan to go like 60 miles, the rest is on standard fuel. Hydrogen is also less powerful so there's two obstacles right there.
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell = convert Hydrogen to Electricity
Fueled by Hydrogen = Internal combustion, no gasoline, burn Hydrogen instead. Resulting emissions = H20 (and other trace gases and such).
BMW has some Hydrogen powered fleet cars running around somewhere. Not electric.
My father in law used to run a propane-powered C20 Chevy van. Same principle, except
Hydrogen instead of Propane.
Only big problem is storing enough hydrogen. Only efficient way currently is to store as a compressed liquid at ultra-low temps. Hydrogen storage methods are in their infancy right now. Not sure I'd want a couple 5000-30000 PSI tanks of compressed gas hanging around under my race car....
Also, refueling a hydrogen powered race car would be really slow, based on what I see for trying to get pressurized gases from one container into another container (i.e. - refilling a propane tank at the local Costco).
Fueled by Hydrogen = Internal combustion, no gasoline, burn Hydrogen instead. Resulting emissions = H20 (and other trace gases and such).
BMW has some Hydrogen powered fleet cars running around somewhere. Not electric.
My father in law used to run a propane-powered C20 Chevy van. Same principle, except
Hydrogen instead of Propane.
Only big problem is storing enough hydrogen. Only efficient way currently is to store as a compressed liquid at ultra-low temps. Hydrogen storage methods are in their infancy right now. Not sure I'd want a couple 5000-30000 PSI tanks of compressed gas hanging around under my race car....
Also, refueling a hydrogen powered race car would be really slow, based on what I see for trying to get pressurized gases from one container into another container (i.e. - refilling a propane tank at the local Costco).
Last edited by skillmaker; 06-07-2006 at 10:24 AM.
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A hydrogen powered race car is INSANE. I give mazda major props for attempting this.
This is definetely placing them as a pioneer in the racing world.
The biggest issue with hydrogen in the past years, is how explosive it can be. To put this in a race car, show its safe, show its efficieint under the most aggressive conditions, and win... will put them in a class of their own.
-hS
This is definetely placing them as a pioneer in the racing world.
The biggest issue with hydrogen in the past years, is how explosive it can be. To put this in a race car, show its safe, show its efficieint under the most aggressive conditions, and win... will put them in a class of their own.
-hS
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Originally Posted by skillmaker
...Only big problem is storing enough hydrogen. Only efficient way currently is to store as a compressed liquid at ultra-low temps. Hydrogen storage methods are in their infancy right now. Not sure I'd want a couple 5000-30000 PSI tanks of compressed gas hanging around under my race car....
Also, refueling a hydrogen powered race car would be really slow, based on what I see for trying to get pressurized gases from one container into another container (i.e. - refilling a propane tank at the local Costco).
Also, refueling a hydrogen powered race car would be really slow, based on what I see for trying to get pressurized gases from one container into another container (i.e. - refilling a propane tank at the local Costco).
The main problem is the energy of the hydrogen is so much less than gasoline that the range and power won't be competetive. So while Mazda will look environmentally enlightened, don't expect to see them on the podium.
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Originally Posted by Blue87Sport
High pressure tanks would not have the capacity required and would be a safety hazard. Cryogenic liquid hydrogen would be the only logical choice. The fuel tank on the car would be an insulated Dewer flask, e.g., a big Thermos bottle, The liquid hydrogen could be pumped like gasolne so refueling wouldn't be too slow. But the temperature of liquid H2 ( -423F) would pose some challenging design problems. Material issues, thermal shock, and icing come to mind.
The main problem is the energy of the hydrogen is so much less than gasoline that the range and power won't be competetive. So while Mazda will look environmentally enlightened, don't expect to see them on the podium.
The main problem is the energy of the hydrogen is so much less than gasoline that the range and power won't be competetive. So while Mazda will look environmentally enlightened, don't expect to see them on the podium.
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