Institute of Vehicle Propulsion Systems

The project is funded by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Rheinland-Pfalz.

 

Project basis / objective

In order to develop new propulsion technologies for use in commercial vehicles in particular, a test bench is being upgraded at the Institute of Vehicle Propulsion Systems (LAF) at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern for operation with hydrogen as a fuel. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Rheinland-Pfalz.

Project scope

The conversion measures to be carried out as part of the project include, in particular, the installation of a hydrogen supply for the test systems and the equipment of an engine test bench for the use of hydrogen.

A gas system is planned for supplying a test bench with hydrogen, consisting of a distribution station for connecting a swap tank solution, supply lines to the test bench, systems for setting the operating boundary conditions and sensors.

On the test bench side, safety-relevant conversion measures will be carried out in particular, e.g. a special test bench ventilation system, modernised test and control devices and a system for monitoring the test bench in hydrogen operation.

Outlook

With this expanded test bench infrastructure, the Institute of Vehicle Propulsion Systems at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern will have the opportunity to investigate, in addition to the liquid and gaseous alternative fuels based on hydrocarbons (predominantly from renewable sources) already under investigation, hydrogen-based propulsion systems in the future, which allow the direct use of "green" generated hydrogen and thus completely CO2-free operation. Smaller to medium-sized commercial vehicle engines can be operated on the test bench. This offers a wide range of applications from local and supra-regional delivery traffic ("on-road") to municipal services and use in agricultural and construction machinery ("off-road").

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