Is it possible to make a standard piston engine run off hydrogen?

Question

I know you would have to start by modifying the entire fuel system, but is there any reason why the basic engine couldn't handle it?

Answer 1

I recently watched on TV a show about Futurecars and fuels, and they stated that Sweden has a country-wide use of Hydrogen on all of their vehicles, and have a new process which is economical compared to most other ways to create the hydrogen gas from water and have kept this process secret.

It showed 4 meter tall machines used in place of what we view as "gas pumps"  with specialized hoses and connectors to use to hook up to vehicles for transference, as well as the vehicles having collection tanks built in them to collect the "waste water" to transfer back to these machines to be recyled back into hydrogen with the machines venting the oxygen into the atmosphere while retaining the hydrogen.

Answer 2

With alterations, but hydrogen is NOT a viable fuel source due to the fact that it takes lots of energy (electricity) to seperate it from water. And most electricity comes from fossil fuels...

Answer 3

A basic engine could handle it no problem, only minor alterations, but the fuel is not very efficient.

Answer 4

Sure. Auto manufacturers have been experimenting with that idea since the 1970's. All it takes is a gas regulator, like the ones used for gas welding or scuba diving. It's VERY clean. The only real problems are (1) compressing enough gas into a tank to get a decent distance between fill ups. Last I heard, they were experimenting with hydride metals. But even that wasn't really great.

And (2) cracking enough hydrogen to fuel the nation's vehicle fleet. Cleanly.

Answer 5

Gasoline burns in a controlled explosion. Hydrogen explodes violently and would destroy pistons, rods, valves, and cylinder heads in a normal engine. Hydrogen engines would need super expensive exotic alloys, special extreme fuel tanks, special expensive fuel stations, and very smart and careful people to load the fuels. None of that is feasible, economical, or safe for the average wonk to mess with.

The zeppelin Hindenburg had hydrogen gas explode and burn it down in 10 seconds. Can you imagine the bomb created in a car crash with a tank full of liquid hydrogen?? No survivors for a block!

Answer 6

Yes.   You can run a regular gas engine car off hydrogen, propane, butane, methane, or basically any hydro-carbon, or in this case "hydro".  

You can just plumb a valve into the intake manifold and have a valve inside the car to control the rate of flow.  

For the valves, call a nitrous oxide supplier, like N.O.S.  In fact you could get the whole kit for your car and just refill the bottle with hydrogen.

Or what might be better is a diesel performance shop that sells propane power boosters.  Just refill the propane bottle with hydrogen.

This will be much easier with a pre 1990's car as dealing with disabling the EFI might be complicated.  Stick with a carburated vehicle.

But if you are doing it to be "green" and cut your CO2 (because your fuel now has no carbon) just remember when that hydrogen was made, the carbon was released then by burning coal, oil, or natural gas to get electricity.

But you asked how, so there you go.

Answer 7

Hi, everyone has a go at it, But i like to summarise it as this.

Hydrogen, H2 is a hydrogen element will produce energy when react with O2. This reaction release energy , Just a your gasoline , which is hydro-carbon  and when combine with O2 release energy and CO2 and water vapour.

Ordinary engine can be convert to run on hydrogen, but you will not go very far ,,due to the low energy level of H2 and it will tends to destroy the engine. All our fuels are like a kerosene pump in the old day when we burn it and they burn at a certain rate. All fuel and different buring rate and different calories. In fact the highest calories you can produce is to create energy from plutonium and it burns a hole throught the ground.  Hydrogen been the lightest element is also the lowest in calories.. The piece of wood contains more calories the the H2. in a compressed cylinder., Thus the limitation of the H2 as a fuel requires special engine design and material in order to make in practical. My conclusion till this moment is whether the hydrogen been and ideal fuel can it be the ultimate solution will need some time to be define because of its inherent weakness.

Whilst it is true that CNG which is nothing but methane is more practical as an intermediate solution with the prospect of the CNG will lead to the ultimate H2 economy will yet to be seen.. Technically it can be use in intercombustion engine,, but the engine will be so sluggish that it will crawl unless you size it up 5 times,,  It is not as dangerous as once think. In fact O2 is even more dangerous the H2 .. Those who are in the gas business will understand what i am refering to .

Just as CNG,, we have not record accident of CNG but we have record of LPG blowing up..  That LPG is your gas stoves cylinder in your ktichen. I dont mean to belittle the danger of any gas, but given the due diligent, accident is kept and bay and almost all accident are due to human negligent or ignorance.

Answer 8

Actually some of the European manufacturers are looking at doing that and have created piston engine concepts that run off hydrogen.  They are not as efficient as fuel cells, but they are possible.  In fact, I think one European manufacturer is looking at creating an engine that could run on hydrogen or gas.

Many of the auto suppliers are expecting to one day have to convert to hydrogen power and some of them are looking at piston engines moreso than fuel cells because the technology is cheaper to produce (although not as efficient) and because they also have the possibility of running both gas and hydrogen.

I'd be very careful about trying to convert one yourself.  That could be very dangerous if you don't really know what you are doing.

Answer 9

Sure.  Lots of engines can be refit to run CNG, mainly this is done in fleets (trucks, taxicabs).  This is supported by the manufacturer, covered by warranty etc.  It's a way that automakers and corporate fleets meet alternative-fuel mandates.

CNG is very similar to hydrogen, so it shouldn't take much more than a regulator adjustment.  It would probably void the warranty on the engine and conversion, though.