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The internal combustion engine,
running hydrogen, is a much better choice
Bob Willis:
The internal combustion engine, running hydrogen,
is a much better choice at this time. I would like
to encourage Mr. Wallace to continue his efforts
to produce hydrogen ICE automobiles, in mass
production, as soon as possible. There is a way to
improve performance in the hydrogen internal
combustion engine that will not require any major
R&D or major modifications to existing engines.
Roy McAlister (President of the American Hydrogen
Association) has invented a replacement for the
spark plug, called a Spark Injector, that provides
both delivery of hydrogen and the spark that
follows. The result is stratified-charge
combustion in the cylinder, increasing power and
efficiency by about 20%, while also eliminating
the possibility of backfiring. It also eliminates
NOX emissions because ignition takes place at a
temperature that is too low to produce them.
Starting fuel cells in cold weather is not a
problem with hydrogen internal combustion engines.
While touring China in his hydrogen pickup, Roy
McAlister was able to start the engine on a day of
extremely cold weather. It was so cold that none
of the gasoline engines in the tour group were
able to start. I would also encourage Ford to take
a look at the Larsen RADAX engine, which has set
the record as the world's most efficient internal
combustion engine. Running on hydrogen, this
engine weighs less than 250 pounds and produces
300 HP. If installed in an automobile, it could
sit on an axle and provide drive without a
transmission. Production would be less costly, and
there would be enough room in the engine
compartment to hold a hydrogen tank. Go to the
American Hydrogen Association web site for more
information at http://www.clean-air.org. Questions
can be answered directly by sending E-mail to
answerguy@clean-air.org.
16/Apr/2002
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