Opposed-Piston Engine Layout for Integrated Hydrogen Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines face challenges in achieving high performance without penalizing autonomy due to the need for large, heavy hydrogen tanks and the impact on vehicle dynamics.

Innovation Solution

A car design with a central, low-slung opposed-piston two-stroke internal combustion engine and a dual-clutch gearbox, combined with a hybrid propulsion system, optimizes hydrogen storage and weight distribution, allowing for high performance and efficient use of space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If very voluminous hydrogen tanks are used to store sufficient hydrogen mass, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but vehicle length and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen storage capacityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogen tanks are positioned inside the hollow crankcase of the opposed-piston engine, nesting the storage system within the engine structure. This eliminates the need for separate external tank mounting space, reducing overall vehicle length while maintaining hydrogen storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine crankcase and hydrogen storage system are merged into a single integrated structure. The crankcase serves dual functions as both the engine component and the hydrogen tank housing, reducing total vehicle weight by eliminating redundant structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If very voluminous hydrogen tanks are used to store sufficient hydrogen mass, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but vehicle length increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen storage capacityVSAvoidvehicle length

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogen tanks are positioned inside the hollow crankcase of the opposed-piston engine, nesting the storage system within the engine structure. This eliminates the need for separate external tank mounting space, reducing overall vehicle length while maintaining hydrogen storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If hydrogen tanks are positioned to be protected against impacts from all directions, then safety is improved, but positioning flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen tank safetyVSAvoidpositioning flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The engine crankcase and hydrogen storage system are merged into a single integrated structure. The crankcase serves dual functions as both the engine component and the hydrogen tank housing, reducing total vehicle weight by eliminating redundant structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of positioning tanks externally and protecting them from impacts, the design inverts the approach by placing tanks internally within the protected crankcase structure, where the engine housing itself provides the protective barrier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Quantity of substance

If an opposed-piston two-stroke engine is used, then hydrogen storage efficiency is improved, but engine complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen storage efficiencyVSAvoidengine complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogen tanks are positioned inside the hollow crankcase of the opposed-piston engine, nesting the storage system within the engine structure. This eliminates the need for separate external tank mounting space, reducing overall vehicle length while maintaining hydrogen storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 high dynamic performance and autonomy by maximizing hydrogen storage capacity and minimizing vehicle length and weight, while ensuring easy maintenance and optimal accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

an internal combustion engine powered with hydrogen does not generate greenhouse gas (CO2) and generates very little CO, HC and fine particulate matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP4375480B1Car provided with an internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2025.08.20 FERRARI SPA

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AI summary

A car (1) having: two front wheels (2); two rear wheels (4); an opposed-piston internal combustion engine (5) and having: a crankcase (15), a number of cylinders (14) obtained in the crankcase (15), a number of pistons (13) twice the number of the cylinders (14) as two opposed pistons (13) slide in each cylinder (14), and two crankshafts (16), which are longitudinally oriented and are each connected to a respective half of the pistons (13) arranged on a same side of the crankcase (15); and a gearbox (7), which is connected to the crankshafts (16) of the internal combustion engine (5) and is arranged behind the internal combustion engine (5). The gearbox (7) has two clutches (31), each separate and far from the other clutch (31) and connected to a corresponding crankshaft (16), and two input shafts (32), each connected to a respective clutch (31).