Vladimir Sedov
Director of the SIDERA technology company
This year, serial production of hydrogen engines capable of operating at extremely low temperatures is set to begin, director of the SIDERA technology company Vladimir Sedov told EcoTourism EXPERT.
- How did the idea of an ‘Arctic version’ engine come about?
- The development of this ‘Arctic version’ engine is carried out by SIDERA, the interindustry research and manufacturing center for innovative technologies, set up by our company jointly with the Siberian Federal University’s Oil and Gas Institute. The matter is that associated gas is released in the process of oil production that can be used to produce hydrogen.
Initially, we installed a hydrogen engine in an electric vehicle, which made it possible to increase the vehicle cruising range to 1,000 km. Then, the decision was taken to modify the engine design for use in the Arctic regions.
The difference between our vehicle and a classic electric one is that it takes energy not from a battery charged from the mains but uses the power generated by a hydrogen engine. This difference also makes it possible for our engines to operate at extremely low temperatures - in the Arctic regions - where conventional electric batteries are very quickly flat.
These engines can work at a temperature of minus 65 degrees Celsius, which is almost 30 degrees lower than the temperature at which the existing engines made abroad work. And perhaps, these engines are able to work at even lower temperatures - we are currently working on this.
- When it comes to hydrogen engines, people usually talk about large-size ones and safety problems. Were you successful in resolving these issues in the hydrogen engine you developed?
- The weight of our engines, which were initially 20 kg and 3 kg of fuel, increased in the ‘Arctic’ version up to 25 kilograms and 5 kilograms of hydrogen. There are also no safety problems because the gas in the vehicles is stored in safe sealed composite material cylinders that can withstand high pressure; and in case of critical damage, they depressurize without forming fragments, and the hydrogen gas just quickly evaporates without doing any harm.
When it comes to the advantages of a hydrogen engine in general, I would highlight a vehicle’s large cruising range - from 500 km and over 1,000 km (one-filling), short hydrogen-refueling time, low sensitivity to air temperatures, long service life - at least 10 years. In addition, fuel cells can be used for many years and require virtually no maintenance. There is also the possibility of using hydrogen engines as power generators, allowing users to recharge other electric vehicles and provide electricity to their homes for a long time.
One of the main advantages of generating the hydrogen energy is that it is an environment-friendly process, which is of prime importance for the Arctic. In addition, the use of such engines in the Far North regions allows to do without deliveries of expensive seasonal diesel fuel to this area.
- The advantages of using hydrogen engines are obvious. When will the serial manufacture of the hydrogen engines you developed be launched?
- All necessary tests have been carried out, and some final modifications and improvements have been made based on the test results. Small-scale production of the hydrogen engines will be launched in mid-2024. We will produce not only hydrogen fuel cells, but also vehicles, as well as unmanned aerial systems.
We have already developed SIDERA APUS, the first Russian hydrogen-powered car. We have also developed the hydrogen fueling station options for various purposes, including stationary, home and mobile versions. The mobile option allows transporting your small hydrogen fueling station on your trailer. It’s an ideal option for the Arctic climate and long distances.
Photos courtesy of the SIDERA company
