AUTOMOTIVE
The emergence of hydrogen fuel: what It means for lubricant additive suppliers
Dinesh Bansal, Senior Research & Development Specialist, Pritesh Patel, (AEO/VM/SE) Technology Manager, and Emmanuelle Faure, (AEO/VM/MCO) Global Product Line Manager, Chevron Oronite
As automotive manufacturers around the world race to meet lower carbon aspirations, much of the industry has focused its efforts on vehicle electrification. However, governments and automotive OEMs are realising that the electrical energy grid may not yet be fully prepared to support electric vehicles (EVs) at scale, especially in developing countries that are still struggling to deliver reliable power to their populations. As a result, the discussion has broadened to include alternative fuels that could more quickly take the place of diesel and petrol. And among those fuels, hydrogen has emerged as an attractive near-term solution – the most attractive, in the eyes of several industry experts. With this in mind, Chevron Oronite has been actively studying the impacts and any associated special needs of lubricant additive formulations that are designed for use in a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (ICEs).
Hydrogen is a non-toxic fuel that does not produce greenhouse gases when used in ICEs. It is also recognised for high energy per unit mass and flame velocity well suited to ICEs. Recent regulatory decisions appear to favour the advancement of hydrogen as an alternative fuel in conjunction with the advancements in battery power. For example, engines fueled by hydrogen could fall well within the current EU definition of zero-emission (less than 5 grams/t. km of CO2
emissions), which is likely to
help speed its adoption over other alternatives. In India, where electric vehicles may be too taxing for the country’s tenuous power grid, the government is backing research and development on hydrogen.
Moreover, where EVs may require a wholesale re-tooling of manufacturing processes and factories, hydrogen proponents point out that the transition from diesel to hydrogen-powered ICEs is far less of a leap for OEMs. Meanwhile, Europe and the US have taken important steps toward developing a hydrogen fueling infrastructure, addressing one of the key bottlenecks to widespread hydrogen adoption.
Lubricants and additives implications So, what does all this mean for lubricant and lubricant additive manufacturers? Beyond the basics of engine cleanliness, wear protection and oxidation stability, will hydrogen-powered ICE engines present any performance nuances that will require new oil formulations? The answer is still largely uncertain, but that initial testing (conducted by Oronite) has pointed towards certain performance needs. While there are some light duty vehicles on the road using hydrogen fuel cells, OEMs are still working to determine the optimal engine technology and architecture for hydrogen-powered ICEs. Issues such as spark versus compression ignition or fuel injection pressure need to be resolved. Nonetheless, some road trials are underway and lubricant additive research is proceeding in parallel.
One issue that researchers anticipate is the potential for water buildup in crankcase oil. Water vapour is a major byproduct of hydrogen combustion which travels with blowby gases into the crankcase. Will oils need to be able to hold water and prevent phase separation? Will bearings and bushings be vulnerable Continued on page 17
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.177 OCTOBER 2023 15
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