This hydrogen turbine turns controlled explosions into electricity

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have achieved a major milestone in hydrogen power by operating a new compressorless gas turbine for a record 303 seconds. The burner uses an advanced form of pressure-gain combustion and surpassed NASA's previous record of 250 seconds.

The result also marks progress toward using hydrogen for cleaner energy production. Unlike natural gas, hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy sources. Earlier this year, the KIT team also became the first to generate electricity with a hydrogen gas turbine that does not rely on a mechanical compressor.

Hydrogen Turbine Runs for More Than Five Minutes

Earlier experiments could continue for only fractions of a second because longer operation would cause the combustion chambers to melt. The new test extended the operating time to more than five minutes.