Pioneering Hydrogen Engine Research at ETH Zurich's CAPS Lab
Key Ideas
  • ETH Zurich's CAPS Lab conducts groundbreaking experiments manipulating combustion with sound to advance hydrogen engines.
  • The lab's research focuses on industry-relevant projects while also exploring blue-skies research in combustion, fluid dynamics, and acoustics.
  • Experiments at the CAPS Lab involve recreating high-altitude engine conditions to study combustion, with a focus on observing flame morphology and analyzing combustion processes.
  • The lab is working on addressing challenges such as flashbacks and thermoacoustic instabilities in hydrogen combustion by developing new injector technologies and implementing acoustic dampeners.
The Combustion, Acoustics and Flow Physics (CAPS) Lab at ETH Zurich is at the forefront of pioneering research in hydrogen engine technology. With a team of 15 researchers and multiple projects running concurrently, the lab manipulates combustion inside jet engines using sound to shape the first generation of hydrogen engines. By recreating high-altitude engine conditions in their experiments, researchers at the CAPS Lab study combustion processes, observe flame morphology, and analyze combustion using advanced techniques like high-speed particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence. One of the main challenges in hydrogen combustion is the high reactivity of hydrogen gas compared to kerosene, leading to issues like flashbacks and thermoacoustic instabilities. To address these challenges, the lab is developing new injector technologies with special aerodynamic properties and incorporating acoustic dampeners to prevent vibrations that can damage the engine. Through a combination of computational and experimental research, the CAPS Lab aims to make significant advancements in hydrogen engine technology. The ultimate goal of the research is to see a hydrogen-powered aircraft with an engine equipped with the tested injector developed at CAPS. The lab's commitment to industry-relevant projects and innovative solutions underscores the importance of applied research in advancing hydrogen combustion technology for a more sustainable aviation industry.
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