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to wear, corrosion, or degradation due to the intrusion of water into the oil system? Another potential issue may arise from additives, such as detergents, that contain metallic components. These metal ions, under certain engine operating conditions, could eventually form “hot spots” resulting in uncontrolled ignition, termed as pre-ignition, in the combustion chamber. This area is being actively researched by the OEMs, and Chevron Oronite is also investigating engine operating conditions and the lubricant additive formulations that influence uncontrolled pre-ignition in hydrogen internal combustion engines.


These are the types of questions researchers are seeking to answer. Some chemists have theorised that there may be unknown physical and/or chemical changes when the lubricant comes into contact with hydrogen in liquid or gaseous form. Exhaustive bench testing at Chevron Oronite has found this not to be the case in a normal engine environment. However, this is an example of the type of phenomena that scientists are trying to anticipate and test for proactively.


Versatility is key


The performance demands on lubricant additives in a hydrogen-powered ICEs will depend largely on the application – long-haul on-highway, urban stop-and-go (school buses or waste haulers, for instance), off-road for mining or construction, possibly even passenger cars. No one is certain at this point which applications are likely to lead the transition into hydrogen use in ICEs. Lubricant producers need to be prepared with versatile solutions that can suit a variety of applications. Additive formulators, meanwhile, can adjust the levels of their various components – detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, friction modifiers and so on – to understand the effects of different balances in various test cycles.


A major challenge confronting the study of lubricant additives in this space is having the right facilities and equipment for testing. With hydrogen ICE technology still in a nascent stage, engines and vehicles for testing are understandably in a short supply. However, seasoned lubricant and additive formulators are in a position to make well-educated assumptions based on years of experience working with similar challenges encountered in areas of gaseous ICE fuels, ICE pre-ignition in light-duty vehicles, and water emulsion formation in the short driving cycles. The challenges


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of hydrogen-powered engines are not too dissimilar from those associated with diesel or natural gas. Formulating for hydrogen is a matter of figuring out the nuances.


Notwithstanding the promise of hydrogen, there is still much to be proven. For now, it is one of the many alternative routes to lower carbon energy sources that is under consideration. However, based on preliminary results for fuel economy and lower emissions, it has the potential to figure more prominently in the mix. Given the level of interest and investment in hydrogen, it may well advance quickly and become commercially viable sooner rather than later, and the lubrication industry needs to be ready for a variety of application scenarios.


Chevron Oronite anticipates a greater demand for hydrogen-powered ICEs and is actively working with OEMs and its lubricant partners to identify additive solutions that will meet their needs.


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