Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. (MHIET), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has successfully achieved rated operation (435kW/1,500min-1) using 100% hydrogen fuel in a trial run of a 500kW-class hydrogen engine generator set at its Sagamihara Plant. This breakthrough follows extensive safety and reliability evaluations, and development efforts will now accelerate toward commercialization.
The test is significant as it utilizes a hydrogen engine generator set designed for real-world commercialization, moving beyond the single-cylinder engine previously used to demonstrate stable hydrogen combustion. The generator set incorporates a newly engineered 6-cylinder 500kW-class hydrogen engine and auxiliary equipment with enhanced safety features designed for hydrogen use. The demonstration tested the complete system, including the engine, generator, and auxiliary components.
The trial confirmed the stable operation of the generator set using 100% hydrogen across all stages, from engine start to power generation at rated output, as well as the effective functioning of emergency safety measures. With the demonstration now complete, MHIET is poised to apply the results to the final product as it moves toward further reliability and safety evaluations ahead of commercialization.
Reciprocating engines are expected to play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon or decarbonized society. Hydrogen engine generator sets, in particular, offer the advantage of emitting zero CO2 during fuel combustion, making them key to the decarbonization of distributed power systems. MHIET aims to expedite commercialization to support the global shift toward hydrogen-based energy solutions.
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