2024-07-09 00:06:08
A team of American engineers managed to create a two-stroke V4 engine that can run on hydrogen. The unit is primarily intended for aviation use, but it is so light and compact that engineers want to test it in cars.
Reciprocating engines have largely been replaced by jet and turboprop engines in modern aircraft. In the past, most airplanes had such motors, which were similar to car motors, only larger.
Engineers from the American company Deltahawk are now trying to return the piston engine to service. They have developed a two-stroke V4 engine that can run on both jet fuel and hydrogen, claims Interesting Engineering. The engine has already been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The new Deltahawk engine is called the DHK180 and has been developed with as few components as possible for maximum reliability. The engine has a volume of 3.3 liters and has a mechanical compressor and a turbocharger. It’s rated at 180 hp, and according to Deltahawk, it’s 40 percent more efficient than other reciprocating engines.
The weight of the engine is only 162 kg, and the first version is intended for small aircraft. There is also a version that runs on hydrogen instead of jet fuel. Thanks to the light weight, engineers are now proposing to test the two-stroke drive in cars and vans.