A high-efficiency internal combustion engine using oxygen and hydrogen

The work proposes the design of a novel internal combustion engine developed to benefit from the availability on board of cryogenic pressurized hydrogen and oxygen to serve a mechanical propulsion system. The rationale behind the design, as well as the results of simulations, are presented. The two-stroke engine uses direct injection of hydrogen, oxygen, and water, and downstream power turbines, to deliver power densities above 220 kW/L, zero-emission of nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide, and efficiency above 0.70. The novel engine could be an alternative to fuel cell electric propulsion systems, delivering in addition to better hydrogen fuel efficiency, also reduced weight and space of the complete propulsion system.