LocalHy – Decentralized water electrolysis with combined hydrogen and oxygen utilization from renewable energies

Subproject: Development of a hydrogen cycle engine incl. Generator for reverse power generation

In the subproject of LocalHy “Development of a hydrogen cycle engine including generator for reverse power generation”.
funded by the

Federal Ministry of Education and Research
the focus is on motor energy generation from regeneratively produced hydrogen. The main difference to all other hydrogen engines under development is the use of oxygen, which was previously traded as a waste product of electrolysis. The closed-loop engine technology achieves real zero emissions. At the same time, the efficiency can be increased to a level that cannot be achieved with an air-intake motor. The water produced in the recirculating engine is then to be treated so that it can be made available again for electrolysis. Thus, the recirculating engine becomes part of an energy cell consisting of an electrolyzer, hydrogen and oxygen storage and a recirculating engine. This innovative combustion process was first applied to a 1-cylinder research engine and then implemented on a full CHP engine.

Based on the 1-cylinder tests on the research engine, it was possible to demonstrate an efficiency advantage of 6.5 percentage points over an air-intake engine. The decisive factor for the significant efficiency advantage is the inert gas in the circuit, which has a higher isentropic exponent compared to air. The efficiency advantage and robustness of the motor technology developed over a period of more than 100 years make this concept interesting as part of an energy cell. The energy cell is particularly suitable for use during short storage periods of a few days and simultaneously high amounts of energy to be stored. This new concept is thus in direct competition with the fuel cell, whose performance range is currently still very limited and whose acquisition costs are comparatively high. The innovative system can play a decisive role in decentralized, grid-relieving energy storage with subsequent demand-based reconversion. Companies and research institutes from various fields have joined forces as partners in the network. These are listed below:

• Bauhaus University Weimar
• sera ComPress GmbH
• Kumatec Ltd.
• Fraunhofer CSP Hall
• isle ltd.
• Sonneberg waterworks

More information at:
www.localhy.de