Hydrogen Powered Race Cars?

Does anyone know of a hydrogen powered race car competing? Liquid or fuel cell either one

I am fairly sure it should qualify for the green car category at UTCC.

Thanks

jeff

A team from Ohio State ran one in '09 at Bonneville. The organizers were so worried about it going Hindenburg on them, they had them camp a llooonngggg distance away from the regular runners. It held together for a couple of runs, with the last one with it finally running close to where it should, and wound up in the 250ish mph.

They chased electrical gremlins the entire time they were there. Nice looking streamliner, though.

Road racing, dunno of anyone.

hydrogen fuel cell race car wouldn't be the way to go if you're talking about the electric conversion fuel cell, if you're talking the carbon nanotube higher density than compressed hydrogen tanks then that concept is still in research, as for 'combusting' hydrogen well that's another story, http://www.greendiary.com/entry/hessgen-s-hydrogen-powered-race-car-shines-at-baja-race-course/

'Pure' hydrogen combustion is tough as the reaction time is so short in a typical internal combustion engine which takes a long time to burn liquid fuels (on a chemical decomposition time-scale). It's more typical to see hydrogen mixed with another fuel in a traditional IC engine. Not saying it can't be done but controlling injection and timing is a much bigger issue. With higher CR and direct injection of gasoline engines, much of the issues involving higher cylinder pressures and timing seem like they will be worked out on their own.

Raze wrote: hydrogen fuel cell race car wouldn't be the way to go if you're talking about the electric conversion fuel cell, if you're talking the carbon nanotube higher density than compressed hydrogen tanks then that concept is still in research, as for 'combusting' hydrogen well that's another story, http://www.greendiary.com/entry/hessgen-s-hydrogen-powered-race-car-shines-at-baja-race-course/ 'Pure' hydrogen combustion is tough as the reaction time is so short in a typical internal combustion engine which takes a long time to burn liquid fuels (on a chemical decomposition time-scale). It's more typical to see hydrogen mixed with another fuel in a traditional IC engine. Not saying it can't be done but controlling injection and timing is a much bigger issue. With higher CR and direct injection of gasoline engines, much of the issues involving higher cylinder pressures and timing seem like they will be worked out on their own.

There are several technologies under development and I think racing is a great way to develop it. I was at the Center for Hydrogen Research today to discuss options. There has been quite a bit of effort in developing hydrogen powered vehicles - I saw pickup and two vans today - they are both IC fueled by low pressure gas systems - Roush was involved based on the stickers I saw. I also saw the hydrogen fuel cells for forklifts. I have no doubt there are challenges with the techonology. Fuel cell to electric motors is more efficient according to my sources.

The hydrogen flame front is fast and goes supersonic quickly.

So for the green challenge in the UTCC can the car be hybrid hydrogen powered?

Mazda had a program to investigate hydrogen powered rotary engines for a while in the 90's. Seems rotary engines characteristic of not being susceptible to detonation very easily works well with hydrogen’s desire to preignite.

see http://www.roadandtrack.com/auto-news/tech/we-drive-mazda-s-norwegian-hydrogen-powered-rx-8

1993: Hydrogen-powered MX-5 Miata. The first standard Mazda model powered by hydrogen Wankel Rotary engine.

(I saw this Miata in person at the 1995 Chicago auto show.)

RandyS wrote: Mazda had a program to investigate hydrogen powered rotary engines for a while in the 90's. Seems rotary engines characteristic of not being susceptible to detonation very easily works well with hydrogen’s desire to preignite. see http://www.roadandtrack.com/auto-news/tech/we-drive-mazda-s-norwegian-hydrogen-powered-rx-8 1993: Hydrogen-powered MX-5 Miata. The first standard Mazda model powered by hydrogen Wankel Rotary engine. (I saw this Miata in person at the 1995 Chicago auto show.)

I am surprised by the the amount of ICE and PEM-FC work that has been done. The system does require some infrastructure support.

I would love to see some hydrogen rx8 race cars. They'd be slow, but what's the problem when you can just add rotors? Also the enviro-weenies would love it, and I'd be able to guiltlessly gun it all the time. Of course, i'd have to gun it all the time with such low power output... 108 hp is enough to chug along, though, plus i doubt the rotary would gum up as bad running hydrogen...

I need to get DOE to let us test one of these MB B Class on track. Unfortunately they are all designated for the left coast it seems.

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=441