Second Season's Progression: Corolla with Liquid Hydrogen Keeps Advancing
In the thrilling world of endurance racing, the 2024 ENEOS Super Taikyu Series Empowered by BRIDGESTONE's Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race, held on May 27-28, saw the participation of a groundbreaking vehicle – the liquid hydrogen Corolla. Despite a lengthy pitstop during the race, this was not related to pump durability issues, as previously experienced.
The liquid hydrogen Corolla, a pioneer in its field, underwent significant changes to its pump system to improve durability. Project General Manager Naoaki Ito, who oversees the hydrogen engine project, acknowledged the pump as the biggest challenge and the weak point in liquid hydrogen technologies. The solution to the pump problem involved the addition of a dual-drive gear set to the system.
The dual-drive gear set, consisting of blue and red parts, transmits the driving force to both sides of the crank, alleviating torsion in the components and boosting durability. This innovative mechanism ensures that the vehicle can operate efficiently over extended periods without mechanical failures.
Keeping the solution simple was crucial in the weight reduction-obsessed world of racing. The addition of the dual-drive gear set was a key improvement in the liquid hydrogen Corolla's pump system, contributing to enhanced pump durability.
The modifications to the pump system completely eliminated pump failures in follow-up testing. These advancements also include a system to manage boil-off gas, which is vaporized hydrogen that occurs naturally due to heat. This gas is redirected to a self-pressurizer that converts it back into reusable fuel, improving overall energy efficiency.
While specific details about the race performance are not provided in the context of the dual-drive mechanism, the improved pump durability and more efficient fuel management system would contribute to a more consistent and reliable power output during the race. This reliability is essential for endurance racing, where minimizing downtime and maintaining performance over long periods is critical.
Hiroaki Ishiura, the driver of the #32 liquid hydrogen-fueled Corolla, revealed his disappointment during a post-race interview. Despite the team's efforts, the liquid hydrogen Corolla completed the race with 332 laps (approx. 1,515 km), falling short of last year's 358 laps (approx. 1,634 km). The vehicle also spent nine hours in the pits due to brake system problems, which were unrelated to the pump improvements.
In summary, the enhancements to the liquid hydrogen pump, including the dual-drive crank mechanism, significantly improve the Corolla's ability to perform in endurance races by increasing reliability and efficiency. The team behind the liquid hydrogen Corolla demonstrated remarkable progress despite not achieving the desired result in the 2024 Fuji 24 Hours Race. Improved pump durability was one of the key areas of progress in the liquid hydrogen Corolla, setting the stage for future success in endurance racing.
- The innovative addition of a dual-drive gear set to the liquid hydrogen Corolla's pump system, consisting of blue and red parts, was derived from the Finance and Technology sectors, aiming to boost the Automotive industry's efficiency and reliability in prolonged operations.
- specialist Naoaki Ito, who oversees the hydrogen engine project, assessed the pump as the biggest challenge and a weak point in liquid hydrogen technologies, highlighting the necessity for collaboration between the Finance, Industry, and Technology sectors to continually enhance pump durability in the automotive sector.
