UW Materials Science & Engineering Department

H2 Production System for Submarine Propulsion, Phase 2

In this project hydrogen generation through an aluminum-water splitting process was pursued as a clean energy option for transportation applications such as watercraft and submersibles, with a need to improve reaction control, propulsion integration, and economic viability beyond an earlier prototype. The student team worked to develop a mini-submersible or watercraft platform that uses hydrogen produced onboard to power a throttleable propulsion system. The project focused on studying the factors that influenced hydrogen production rate, creating a reaction chamber for controlled experiments, and designing a propulsion approach with sound fluid dynamic and material considerations to manage both gas flow and excess heat from hydrogen generation. The team produced a prototype that could demonstrate adjustable hydrogen production and variable-speed propulsion, enabling evaluation of this energy approach for practical marine use, including potential operation in seawater and assessment of its commercial feasibility.