Toyota's Innovative Technology to Harness Boil-Off Gas for Increased Efficiency
Key Ideas
- Toyota's concept model explores using boil-off gas generated while driving to increase the efficiency of liquid hydrogen as an engine fuel, seeking partners for development.
- The technology aims to recover and reuse boil-off gas as energy, improving the energy efficiency of the entire liquid hydrogen system.
- By utilizing a self-pressuriser and a fuel cell stack, Toyota's concept can convert surplus boil-off gas into usable hydrogen fuel and generate electricity to power components, enhancing energy efficiency.
- The safe release of surplus boil-off gas as water vapour highlights Toyota's commitment to sustainability in hydrogen technology development.
Toyota has unveiled a concept model that focuses on harnessing boil-off gas, or vaporized hydrogen, generated while driving to enhance the efficiency of liquid hydrogen as an engine fuel. This innovative technology was showcased at the 2024 ENEOS Super Taikyu race series in Japan, featuring a GR Corolla running on liquid hydrogen. Toyota plans to collaborate with partners to further develop this breakthrough concept.
The key technology principle involves addressing the issue of boil-off in liquid hydrogen systems, where the fuel evaporates due to external heat entering the tank. Toyota's concept model demonstrates a solution to utilize the boil-off gas to improve energy efficiency. By sending the gas to a self-pressuriser, the pressure is increased without external energy, converting it back to usable hydrogen fuel for the engine.
Additionally, Toyota's technology incorporates a fuel cell stack to generate electricity from surplus boil-off gas, which can power components like the liquid hydrogen pump. This process enhances energy efficiency by producing supplementary electricity equivalent to that of an alternator, showcasing the potential for sustainable energy solutions.
Moreover, the safe release of surplus boil-off gas as water vapor, after not being utilized for electricity generation, highlights Toyota's commitment to environmental sustainability. The company's innovative approach to reusing boil-off gas for fuel and electricity generation signifies a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality and advancing hydrogen technology for a greener future.