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Kohler Engines unveils Direct Injection Hydrogen (KDH) engine, announces hydrogen fuel cell power system

Kohler Engines unveiled its new Kohler Direct Injection Hydrogen (KDH) engine, an internal combustion engine running on hydrogen, at the recent 2023 Agritechnica tradeshow. This move aligns with Kohler Engines’ ongoing commitment to develop technologies with reduced environmental impact as well as the evolving landscape of the engine industry, which is increasingly driven by the imperative of decarbonization and finding viable alternative solutions.

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The hydrogen engine technology is being applied for the first time to the KDI 2504 TCR derivative engine, which takes advantage of conventional combustion engine architecture but replaces diesel with hydrogen. This new engine solution maintains the same in-machine installation, dimensions, PTOs and performance as conventional diesel engines, while using a zero-carbon solution.

Characterized by wide flammability range, high flame speed, low ignition energy, and high diffusivity, hydrogen holds promise as a cleaner alternate fuel for internal combustion engines.

The choice of direct injection (DI) technology, as opposed to port fuel injection (PFI), allows the preservation of diesel performance, including transient response, by avoiding the backfire problem. The design aims to provide the same performance as the original diesel engine, such as max power, peak and low-end torque, as well as transient response and drivability, to ensure and maximize productivity of the equipment.

The combustion of a hydrogen engine is much cleaner than a standard diesel engine. Moreover, when an aftertreatment system (ATS) is applied to a hydrogen internal combustion engine, the environmental benefits of using hydrogen are further amplified. The addition of the ATS results in a reduction of exhaust emissions to extremely low values, thus making the engine near zero-emission according to the most recent agencies’ definitions.

The hydrogen internal combustion engine is designed to be a drop-in solution, making it potentially adaptable to a wide range of equipment applications. Kohler Engine’s commitment to providing a convenient solution for OEMs is evident in the fact that no major changes to the engine compartment will be required, as this solution fits the current size of Kohler compact diesel engines; the KDH hydrogen engine has the same engine envelope as the KDI diesel engine.

The engine platform of the machine will keep the same cooling circuit, power take-off and flywheel, engine mounting points, and intake line; in addition, the exhaust line does not need ATS in Stage 5. Therefore, OEMs can expect compatibility with existing machine platforms.

Kohler Engines remains aligned with OEMs’ development programs, ensuring that the hydrogen engine production schedule aligns with industry demands. Kohler Engines also offers support to customers in conducting proof-of-concept evaluations, addressing any challenges that may arise, and identifying mitigations.

Additionally, Kohler Energy's industrial business will launch its first hydrogen fuel cell power system, a 100 kW Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell, using green hydrogen, for emergency backup, peak shaving and demand response. The system is suitable for a broad range of mission-critical power users including hospitals, data centers, utilities, ports and water treatment plants.

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