From 2035, decentralised gas-fired power plants are to be operated mainly with green hydrogen. With its many years of expertise in the fields of hydrogen and tribology, the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) is supporting the development of the prototype for a new generation of hydrogen engines in the joint project Phoenix, which is being led by Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The project is being funded by the German Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz BMWK with almost 5 million euros in the 7th Energy Research Programme of the German Federal Government in the area of sector coupling and hydrogen technologies.
According to BAM, so-called combustion anomalies are a particular technical challenge in the development of these H2 engines.
„Compared to natural gas, hydrogen is more prone to anomalies such as pre-ignition“, says Enis Askar from BAM's Hydrogen Competence Centre. „This means that the engine ignites too early and high pressure peaks occur. This in turn can have a negative impact on the efficiency of the engine and its service life. We are primarily investigating the role of the lubricant in this process and are testing various lubricant compositions that are being developed in the project.“
Power density and efficiency as in natural gas operation
BAM is also researching in special test facilities whether the lubricant can also reliably fulfil its actual tasks in the demanding hydrogen environment, i.e. whether it offers lubrication and protection against wear.
In addition to Rolls-Royce Power Systems, the Phoenix consortium partners include the TU Münschen, MAHLE Industriemotoren-Komponenten GmbH, FUCHS Schmierstoffe GmbH and the Bosch Large Engine division.
The consortium is pursuing the goal of developing a technology and engine concept with which the same power density and efficiency can be achieved in CO2-neutral hydrogen operation as in natural gas operation.
(Source: BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung)