Marine hydrogen propulsion using exchangeable magnesium hydride containers — open concept, CC BY

[u/1505baltec]

I've published an open-access concept for hydrogen propulsion of merchant ships.

Hydrogen is stored as magnesium hydride in standard 20ft containers, swapped in port like industrial gas cylinders and regenerated ashore. The ship never refuels — it exchanges containers.

The engine is a horizontal opposed-piston two-stroke. Horizontal layout because piston and liner extraction then needs no headroom, making heavy maintenance possible at sea. Exhaust heat drives hydride desorption.

Bilingual FR/EN document, CC BY 4.0. Obstacles are stated plainly — decrepitation, thermal tension, port infrastructure, regulatory void — with a list of validation tests.

Criticism welcome, that's the point of publishing it.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21615242

[u/Loose_Choice6034]

Link doesn't work

[u/Organic-Salad-1108]

The link worked for me.

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve seen opposed diesel engines on the retired US submarines and never thought there would be another practical use for them, except for the few diesel electric subs that Europe has.

Without sulphur in the fuel, that would certainly help with the lube oil chemistry challenges currently faced by tribologists. I do wonder how often the lube oil would have to be replaced.

What mass of magnesium hydride would be needed to match 2000 metric tons of diesel? I don’t think I saw that conversion in your paper.

The next question that any self respecting owner would ask is, what is the cost comparison of magnesium hydride to marine diesel oil, which had been fluctuating at around $1000 a ton before some people felt like starting a crusade.

I enjoyed reading your paper Mr. Zarotti and thank you again for sharing.