Accelerating Progress in Liquid Hydrogen Racecar Development: Five Upgrades Completed at Autopolis Within Two Months
In the world of racing, Toyota's liquid hydrogen Corolla has been making waves in the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023. The vehicle underwent significant upgrades for Round 4, aiming to improve its overall performance.
The Toyota liquid hydrogen Corolla showed improvement this year, increasing its range between refuels by approximately 23 km compared to last year. This enhancement is a result of improvements in the liquid hydrogen pump and a 40 kg weight reduction.
The weight reduction was implemented to improve the vehicle's performance. Engineers fitted mechanisms to reduce friction and shock between gears and bearings in the liquid hydrogen pump, improving pump durability by 30%. This upgrade led to a lighter and more efficient pump, allowing for smaller and lighter components.
The Toyota liquid hydrogen Corolla is designed to run at low pressure, which engineers believe will eventually make it lighter than high-pressure gaseous fuel systems. The vehicle's weight, currently at 1,910 kg, is still heavier than the GR Corolla base vehicle's 1,470 kg, but efforts are being made to reduce its weight further.
The liquid hydrogen system in the Toyota liquid hydrogen Corolla is currently heavier than high-pressure gaseous fuel systems, but the team is working tirelessly to address this issue. The adoption of liquid hydrogen technology typically enables more compact fuel storage compared to gaseous hydrogen tanks, potentially lowering overall system weight.
The improvements to the liquid hydrogen pump aim to make the pump last longer and perform more efficiently. However, the durability of the liquid hydrogen pump was a critical issue at the Fuji 24-hour race, necessitating two scheduled pitstops for pump replacement. The team is continuing to address these challenges to improve race car performance.
The Toyota liquid hydrogen Corolla is designed to run without lubrication to avoid the danger of lubricant oils entering the tank and mixing with the fuel. This unique design adds another layer of complexity to the vehicle's engineering.
The ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023 Round 4 concluded on July 30 at Autopolis, Hita, Oita. Toyota's liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla competed in Round 4 after last competing in Round 2. Despite an engine oil leak that forced the vehicle to retire during Round 4, the team remains optimistic about the vehicle's potential.
GR Vehicle Development Division Project General Manager Naoaki Ito aims to make the Toyota liquid hydrogen Corolla lighter than high-pressure gaseous fuel systems, which typically weigh around 1,700 kg. The team's efforts to reduce the vehicle's weight and improve its performance are a testament to their commitment to innovation and sustainability in racing.
[1] Toyota's upgrades to the liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla have improved pump durability and reduced vehicle weight mainly through innovations in their liquid hydrogen fuel system, although specific technical details on pump durability and weight reduction are limited in the available data. [3] Key improvements include the shift from gaseous to liquid hydrogen fuel, which is denser and provides higher energy content onboard, enabling more fuel to be stored and injected directly into the combustion chamber with boosted pressure and turbocharging for improved power output. This system, while challenging due to the need for extremely low-temperature storage (below -253°C), also offers advancements in fuel delivery and combustion efficiency.
- The Toyota GR Vehicle Development Division is working tirelessly to make the liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla lighter than high-pressure gaseous fuel systems, aiming to achieve a weight below 1,700 kg.
- The team's efforts in the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023 to enhance the liquid hydrogen fuel system in the Corolla have led to improvements not only in pump durability but also in the overall performance of transportation and automotive technology.
