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  1. Materials

Developer to Produce New Hydrogen-Fueled Industrial Engines

Oct. 16, 2008
Compacted-graphite iron allows continuous operation for power generation

Hydrogen Engine Center Inc., a developer of alternative-fuel internal combustion systems, will manufacture a new, 9.3-liter V-8 engine, intended for large, hydrogen-fueled electrical power generation systems, as well as buses. It’s anticipated to be the largest spark-ignited V-8 engine yet to be built.

HEC, Algona, IA, also intends to develop a 10.2-liter version of the engine.

“This 572-in3 engine will give us a much-needed power source. Hydrogen is very light and it takes a lot of displacement for every kilowatt of power produced,” explains Ted Hollinger, HEC founder. He said the blocks and heads will be produced in compacted-graphite iron in order to increase the strength and life of the engine by more than five times, “and thus give very long engine life which is essential for engines running 24/7. This is our first distributed-generation engine. After years of work I believe that HEC has an engine that can achieve the efficiency and durability that the industry has long been looking for,” he said.

CGI engine blocks and cylinder heads will be produced and machined by Eliminator Performance Products, a Michigan-based manufacturer of high-performance engine blocks and cylinder heads, primarily for the automotive aftermarket. No production volumes or schedules have been released.

According to SinterCast, which will provide the process control technology to be used for producing CGI, the blocks and heads are to be based on SinterCast CGI products now cast by Motor Castings Co. in Milwaukee.

Eliminator president Michael Bowery says HEC’s Oxx Power block and cylinder heads will benefit from his company’s experience in the “performance” industry. “To date we have over 4,000 industrial units operating, accumulating almost 50 million run-time hours. Durability and reliability are essential in both markets, therefore we are obligated to be abreast of any new technologies as they arrive,” Bowery says.