Public Funding for Dolphin N2 Limited

HydroMAR-E will develop a mono-fuel Hydrogen version of the Recuperated Split Cycle Engine. This highly innovative thermal engine can be used in a range of heavy duty applications for land and sea. It offers very high efficiency (competitive with a PEM fuel cell), very low emissions (SULEV with aftertreatment), and ease of transition (existing ICE manufacture and installation requirements; moderate capital cost increase). Uniquely, and unlike a standard ICE, the RSCE has demonstrated ability to use Diesel, Methane and Hydrogen in the same core engine (and has potential for the same with Ammonia or Methanol) with the same high efficiency and low emissions, enabling a rapid transition as future fuels become more widely available. HydroMAR-E will use a laboratory single cylinder engine, which has already demonstrated starting and running, to develop this spark-guided system to TRL4, then a multi-cylinder prototype to demonstrate TRL5 in readiness for future application demonstration in marine (and other) environments. Supporting work will develop an improved recuperator system, and review marinization, installation, vessel systems and regulatory aspects. The project brings together the technology developer Dolphin N2 (Part of the Iveco Group, a global supplier of marine engines in the 100-600kW range), Brighton University (the UK APC's Thermal Propulsion Efficiency spoke), leading marine architects BMT, and recuperator technology developer Hiflux.

Within the EU, Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) are responsible for 30% of on-road CO2 emissions. Hybrid & & electrification strategies, now being introduced in the light duty vehicle (LDV) sector are ineffective in HDVs due to prohibitive on-cost, high associated mass & compromised range & load carrying capacity. Without a sector-specific carbon reduction technology, the contribution & importance of HDV carbon emissions will inevitably rise as other sectors adopt effective low carbon propulsion solutions. To address the significant CO2 production within the sector, the UK Automotive Council roadmap calls for new thermodynamic cycles as a key medium-term objective. STEPCO2 represents a disruptive shift in combustion engine technology, & addresses this call through the use of split cycle technology with a novel step to significantly increase engine efficiency. Extensive feasibility studies supported by test results from previous projects, indicate the technology has potential to radically increase the efficiency of an engine in a HDV application. The project objective is to progress this game-changing concept from a research environment towards a working concept demonstrator & eventual application within HDVs, leading to drastic reduction in fuel usage & CO2 emission within the heavy duty transport sector.