Revolve ready with dual-fuel hydrogen-diesel van

摘要

UK - As part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project, engineering consultancy, Revolve Technologies Ltd of Brentwood, has developed a hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel van - a Ford Transit fitted with the converted Ford 2.2-litre 4-cylinder Puma diesel Euro 5 engine - which will be first displayed and available for test drive at the UK's low carbon vehicle event at Millbrook in September. Paul Turner, technical director, product development at the Automotive Cleantech Event in London last week said that it had taken the development work of the hydrogen-petrol engine in the GM Pick-up Truck in the US and then the Ford Transit petrol van in the UK of the past eight years and applied this to a new concept using a compression ignition engine. Turner said that the diesel is used as a liquid ignition source for the hydrogen and that a blend of H2 and diesel is used at peak loads for performance. The conversion features Ford's 2.2-litre 4-cylinder Puma diesel engine, to which it added hydrogen injection and separate ECU control system. This provides hydrogen into the engine, which is then ignited in a carefully controlled manner using the right quantity of diesel injected at the right time, Turner explained. The engine retains its conventional diesel injection and ECU control system, which allows it to maintain its full diesel range. Turner said that Resolve had achieved a technology that matches the diesel engine in power, torque and thermal efficiency. The ratio of hydrogen to diesel fuel used currently is 95:5, said Turner. Transport for London, however, has already lowered the carbon dioxide tail pipe emission limit from 100g to 75g of CO_2/km since the launch of the LHNE project in January. Turner said that by controlling the glow plugs emissions could be cut to 40e.