Hydrogen Car Powertrain Layout With Over-Engine Tank Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cars with internal combustion engines powered by hydrogen face challenges in achieving high performance without compromising autonomy due to the large and heavy hydrogen storage tanks required, which affect dynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid car design featuring an opposed-piston two-stroke internal combustion engine with hydrogen storage tanks arranged above the engine and drive system, allowing for optimal placement and minimizing the car's length and weight, combined with a dual-clutch gearbox and rear differential for improved dynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage tanks are made large and voluminous to store sufficient hydrogen mass, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but car length and weight increase, deteriorating dynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions hydrogen storage tanks in the vertical dimension above the engine and drive system, rather than extending the car longitudinally. This spatial reconfiguration allows sufficient hydrogen storage capacity while maintaining a compact car length and optimized weight distribution, directly resolving the contradiction between storage quantity and vehicle weight.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage tanks are made large and voluminous to store sufficient hydrogen mass, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but car length increases, deteriorating dynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions hydrogen storage tanks in the vertical dimension above the engine and drive system, rather than extending the car longitudinally. This spatial reconfiguration allows sufficient hydrogen storage capacity while maintaining a compact car length and optimized weight distribution, directly resolving the contradiction between storage quantity and vehicle weight.
3Reliability
If hydrogen tanks are positioned to be protected against impacts from all directions, then safety is improved, but positioning flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions hydrogen storage tanks in the vertical dimension above the engine and drive system, rather than extending the car longitudinally. This spatial reconfiguration allows sufficient hydrogen storage capacity while maintaining a compact car length and optimized weight distribution, directly resolving the contradiction between storage quantity and vehicle weight.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a balance between hydrogen storage capacity and dynamic performance by centralizing the engine and drive system, reducing the car's length and weight, and enhancing aerodynamics while maintaining accessibility for maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an internal combustion engine powered with hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A car having: two front wheels; two rear wheels; an opposed-piston internal combustion engine and having: a crankcase, a number of cylinders obtained in the crankcase, a number of pistons twice the number of the cylinders as two opposed pistons slide in each cylinder, and two crankshafts, which are longitudinally oriented and are each connected to a respective half of the pistons arranged on a same side of the crankcase; and a gearbox, which is connected to the crankshafts of the internal combustion engine and is arranged behind the internal combustion engine. The gearbox has two clutches, each separate and far from the other clutch and connected to a corresponding crankshaft, and two input shafts, each connected to a respective clutch.