Abstract
Keywords:
hydrogen, internal combustion engines, exhaust gas recirculation, lean burn, experiments
Abstract
The Department of Flow, Heat and Combustion Mechanics at Ghent University has been working on the development and optimization of hydrogen fuelled IC engines for more than a decade. The focus is on both experimental and simulation work. Several engines equipped with multi-point sequential injection and engine management systems have been tested and evaluated. This paper presents experimental results on a low speed single cylinder engine. Tests are carried out using stoichiometric hydrogen-air mixtures with the addition of EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation). Compared with the lean burn measurements, the NOx emissions decrease significantly, with acceptable power outputs. Another advantage of stoichiometric operation with EGR is that a standard three way catalyst (TWC) can be used to decrease the NOx emissions, with a high conversion efficiency. With super- or turbocharging the same power output as for gasoline engines can be obtained. The EGR tests are compared with the tests under lean conditions (without EGR) for power output, indicated efficiency and NOx emissions.