MIT startup LNK Energies introduces a hydrogen conversion method for diesel trucks using liquid organic hydrogen carriers stored in standard fuel tanks.
An onboard reactor powered by engine waste heat releases hydrogen on demand, bypassing high-pressure compression.
How the hydrogen system works
The company has developed a reactor the size of a small refrigerator that is mounted on the vehicle. The hydrogen is transported chemically bonded in liquid form inside traditional fuel tanks. This avoids the need for expensive and energy-intensive compression of the hydrogen to very high pressure.
The system uses waste heat from the engine to power the reactor and release hydrogen. This hydrogen can then be burned in a conventional engine with few modifications or used in fuel cells. In addition, the liquid fuel can be pumped using equipment similar to today's diesel stations, without the need for a completely new infrastructure.
Next steps and presentation
The company was founded by Sayandeep Biswas and Alexis Huynh, who serve as CEO and CTO respectively. The research team already has a lab demonstration that can power a lawnmower engine.
Within eighteen months, the company plans to install a larger version of the system in a commercial truck. The solution will be demonstrated live on stage at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, which will take place October 13-15 in San Francisco.
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