Hydrogen addition to ethanol-fuelled engine in lean operation to improve fuel conversion efficiency and emissions

Abstract

This work applies computer simulation to investigate the combined approach of hydrogen (H2) addition with lean operation to enhance the potential of ethanol as a clean engine fuel for low-carbon transportation. To this end, this research evaluates how this operation regime impacts brake power, fuel conversion efficiency, and exhaust emissions. A dedicated software was used to perform a parametric study with varying amount of hydrogen addition and excess air ratio. The software combustion and performance parameters were calibrated against available experimental data and optimised for engine operation at the tested conditions. The results show that hydrogen addition does not produce noticeable effects on brake power and fuel conversion efficiency for lean operation with up to 20% air excess. However, for operation with 40% air excess, 6% H2 addition is necessary to keep the power at the same level of the engine baseline condition while simultaneously improving fuel conversion efficiency. Operation in the range of air excess between 10% and 30% together with hydrogen addition up to 2% can simultaneously produce noticeable improvements of fuel conversion efficiency, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, without compromising brake power and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions.