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Non-Tech : MCLN (McLaren Automotive) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Abuckatatime who wrote (274)	1/7/2003 12:28:32 AM
From: Savant	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 289

FORD SHOWS CONCEPT CAR WITH SUPERCHARGED HYDROGEN IC ENGINE Ford Motor Co. has experimented with hydrogen-fueled piston engines for years, but always ended up with significantly lower power than with gasoline fuel. Now it says that shortcoming can be overcome with a supercharger that provides nearly 15 psi of boost on demand. Ford is displaying the system in its Model U electric hybrid concept vehicle at the upcoming auto show in Detroit. At 45 mpg, the vehicle is about 25% more fuel efficient than a comparable gasoline powered car. It also generates fewer oxides of nitrogen and no hydrocarbon or carbon dioxide emissions. The engine is based on Ford's 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine, which is used in a variety of Ford and Mazda vehicles. It's optimized to burn hydrogen with 12.2:1 high compression pistons, fuel injectors designed to handle hydrogen gas, coil-on-plug ignition system, electronic throttle and new engine management software. McLaren supplies the hydrogen fuel rails and supercharger, Makel Engineering developed the hydrogen sensors and controller and Quantum provides the fuel injectors. Because hydrogen has a wide combustion range (from 4% to 75% hydrogen-to oxygen ratio), hydrogen-fueled engines can use a wider range of air/fuel mixtures than gasoline engines, Ford notes. Similar to a diesel engine, the hydrogen ICE runs unthrottled with air/fuel mixtures as lean as 86:1 on the highway vs. 14.7:1 for gasoline-based powerplants. Ford says the engine can reach an overall efficiency of 38%—about 25% better than a gasoline counterpart. After leaving the supercharger, the intake air passes through a conventional air-to-air intercooler, then through an air conditioning-to-air intercooler for a further reduction in temperature. Ford says the patent-pending design helps improve performance. The concept car can carry 15 lbs of hydrogen in a 10,000-psi tank (supplied by Dynatek) that is made of a 3mm aluminum pressure barrier with a carbon-fiber casing. This gives the vehicle a driving range of about 300 miles. The vehicle replaces the torque converter with a 300-volt, three-phase electric motor and two hydraulic clutches. Ford says the motor acts as a flywheel, starter, alternator and hybrid traction system. pb/one happy ending S.