The Anonymous Widower

Unlocking Efficiency With Cryogenic Cooling Of GaN Traction Inverters

The title of this post, is the same as this insight on the Ricardo web site.

This is the introduction.

As the mobility sector accelerates toward zero-carbon propulsion, hydrogen fuel cell systems (HFCS) are emerging as a cornerstone technology for aviation, marine, and long-haul road transport. Among the most promising innovations in this space is the use of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) not only as a fuel source but also as a cryogenic coolant for electric powertrains. This dual-purpose approach offers transformative potential in system efficiency, packaging, and weight reduction—especially when paired with Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors.

It is a very simple concept, but it appears to give worthwhile efficiency gains.

This was the article’s conclusion.

Ricardo’s cryogenic GaN inverter concept represents a bold leap toward ultra-efficient, lightweight, and integrated hydrogen propulsion systems. While challenges remain in materials, packaging, and reliability, the experimental results are compelling. With efficiencies nearing 99.8% and mass reductions over 50%, cryogenic cooling could redefine the future of electric mobility.

As the hydrogen economy matures, innovations like this will be pivotal in delivering clean, scalable, and high-performance solutions across all mobility sectors.

I very much suggest, that you take the time to read the whole insight.

Using The Concept In a Liquid Hydrogen Carrier

This Wikipedia entry describes the design and operation of an ocean-going liquid hydrogen carrier.

This is a paragraph.

Similar to an LNG carrier the boil off gas can be used for propulsion of the ship.

Ricardo’s concept would appear to be advantageous in the design of liquid hydrogen carriers and I would expect, it could also be applied to the design of LNG carriers.

I would not be surprised to see liquid hydrogen and LNG carriers were the first application of Ricardo’s concept.

This Wikipedia entry describes the Suiso Frontier, which is the world’s only liquid hydrogen carrier.

I believe that Ricardo’s concept could lead to the construction of a more of these ships. Will they mean that liquid hydrogen carriers will deliver hydrogen from sunny climes to places like Europe, Japan, Korea and Canada.

The concept would also enable efficient small liquid hydrogen carriers, that could deliver hydrogen on routes like the North of Scotland to Germany.

Using The Concept In A Railway Locomotive

I could see freight locomotives being designed as a large liquid hydrogen tank with appropriately-sized fuel cells and added electrical gubbins.

  • They would be self-powered and would not require any electrification.
  • They would be much quieter than current diesels.
  • They could pull the heaviest freight trains, between Europe and Asia.
  • They could even pull passenger trains, if an electrical hotel supply were to be arranged.
  • They could be designed with very long ranges.

But above all they would be zero-carbon.

Note that I’ve written about long freight routes before.

I believe that a long-distance liquid-hydrogen locomotive, that was based on the Ricardo concept, would be ideal for some of these routes.

A Specialised Hydrogen Delivery Train

In April 2022, I wrote The TruckTrain, where this is a simple description of the concept.

The Basic Design Concept

The leaflet on their web site describes the concept.

This visualisation at the bottom of the leaflet shows four TruckTrains forming a train carrying twelve intermodal containers, each of which I suspect are 20 feet long.

I believe that the TruckTrain concept could be converted into a hydrogen delivery train.

  • It would be an appropriate length.
  • It would be powered by the on-board hydrogen.
  • The hydrogen would be stored as liquid hydrogen.

It would be able to go most places on the UK rail network.

Conclusion

Ricardo’s concept could revolutionise the use of hydrogen.

 

October 8, 2025 Posted by | Design, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have We Enough LNG Carriers To Distribute The Natural Gas We Need?

I recently, asked this question of myself, as liquefied natural gas (LNG), now seems to be being moved all over the world.

Note, that the we in the title of this post, is a global we!

I stated by reading the Wikipedia entry for LNG Carrier.

This paragraph outlines the history of LNG carriers.

The first LNG carrier Methane Pioneer (5,034 DWT), classed by Bureau Veritas, left the Calcasieu River on the Louisiana Gulf coast on 25 January 1959. Carrying the world’s first ocean cargo of LNG, it sailed to the UK where the cargo was delivered. Subsequent expansion of that trade has brought on a large expansion of the fleet to today where giant LNG ships carrying up to 266,000 m3 (9,400,000 cu ft) are sailing worldwide.

The Methane Pioneer carried only 27,000 m3 of LNG.

Things have come a long way since the Methane Pioneer.

This is said in the Wikipedia entry for LNG Carrier.

According to SIGTTO data, in 2019 there were 154 LNG carriers on order, and 584 operating LNG carriers.

I don’t think capacity is a problem.

The Wikipedia entry also talks in detail about Cargo Handling and a Typical Cargo Cycle.

It is a very worthwhile read.

August 12, 2022 Posted by | Energy | , , | Leave a comment