Performance assessment and durability of piezoelectric actuators for hydrogen fuel injectors

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Transportation and industrial power generation sectors are the largest CO2 emission sources in Canada. Air pollution caused by transportation and industrial power generation has a direct effect on the health of people and quality of life. The development of a sustainable transportation sector relying on hydrogen and other clean fuel technologies is the long-term answer for reducing harmful emissions and preserving the environment. Westport Power Inc. in Vancouver is the leading Canadian developer of internal combustion engine technology based on clean-burning fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen and Hydrogen enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG). A key element of hydrogen-based clean engine technology is the fuel injector. It is widely accepted that improved fuel injection strategies are the key to implementing an optimized engine strategy to achieve high efficiency. The development of hydrogen-based engine technology therefore requires research on advanced fuel injector designs and performance and durability of injector technology in hydrogen environments. The main challenge with hydrogen fuel injectors is durability and injection accuracy. As a part of their long-term strategy, Westport will also be developing next generation fuel injectors for hydrogen-based clean engines. Piezo actuator-based hydrogen injectors can provide superior injection accuracy and control. At present, there is very limited understanding of the performance and durability of piezo actuators in hydrogen environments. This project is therefore aimed at filling this knowledge gap by examining the key research issues related to the performance and durability of and development of health monitoring technology for piezo actuators exposed to hydrogen. The findings of this project would provide Canadian clean engine technology developers such as Westport with strategies to improve their technology development for the hydrogen economy and become more