Parker Hannifin has announced its involvement in the Integrated Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle (iHAPC) project, a collaborative research initiative to advance cleaner and more energy-efficient engine technologies.
Led by the University of Vaasa and supported by Wärtsilä under the WISE (Wide and Intelligent Sustainable Energy) program, the project will develop and test a prototype engine that uses hydrogen and argon to achieve a significant efficiency boost.
The initiative unites Finnish research institutions, technical experts, and industry partners, including Wärtsilä Finland Oy, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, University of Oulu, Vahterus Oy, Vaisala Oyj, and TotalEnergies.
Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Finland Oy, located in Urjala, plays a key role by designing an advanced filtration system to ensure the closed-loop reuse of argon.
Argon, a key component of the hydrogen-argon power cycle, is recaptured after combustion, and Parker’s system removes residual water and other contaminants, ensuring clean argon for reuse.
The iHAPC project which kicked off in January 2025 replaces conventional air intake with a mix of argon and oxygen during combustion. Argon’s superior heat capacity ratio enables the engine to produce the same power output with significantly less fuel, potentially increasing combustion engine efficiency up to 20%.
In this closed-loop process, hydrogen, oxygen, and argon are the inputs, producing only water and recycled argon as byproducts. Most water is removed via a condenser built by Vahterus Oy, while Parker’s filtration technology eliminates any remaining moisture and impurities.
Balancing engines are critical for stabilizing power supply alongside intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar. Today’s most efficient engines run on gas but are ready to transition to sustainable fuels such as hydrogen. By 2030, sustainable fuel production is expected to reach 38 million tonnes—exceeding current demand by one-third and accelerating the shift towards renewable energy systems.