Abstract
Hydrogen fuel ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle has higher reliability and cost performance, and requires less investment for mass-production than fuel cell vehicle (FCV). Therefore, hydrogen ICE can play an important role as an automotive power source in the future though tank-to-wheel efficiency needs to be improved. Furthermore, when high power density and instant power response are required, hydrogen ICE will be a desirable choice.
Mazda´s unique rotary engine (RE) has an advantage in preventing pre-ignition associated with hydrogen combustion. Mazda has been developing hydrogen vehicles powered by rotary engine (RE) from the early 1990s. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE features the dual-fuel system that enables driving with either hydrogen or gasoline as fuel. New systems for high-pressure hydrogen safety, hydrogen RE control, and automatic fuel switching have been developed and adopted.
These sets of control software were developed in-house, considering the importance of the software to materialize the dual-fuel system.
Keywords:hydrogen vehicle, control design, rotary engine, Matlab, software