Abstract
Using blends of natural gas (NG) and hydrogen as an alternative to gasoline in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) has the potential of a major reduction in CO2 and other harmful emissions, besides giving insight into the use of gaseous biofuels, rich in methane and hydrogen, and offering a transition scenario towards a hydrogen economy. To investigate the consequences of using blends, the performance of a 240cc stationary ICE and a Yamaha Majesty YP125FI scooter, converted to run on a large variety of blends of hydrogen and NG, have been investigated at HAN University, Netherlands. The effect of the air-to-fuel ratio and the composition of the blend on the performance and the emissions have been studied. This paper gives insight into those effects. Main conclusions: With only minor modifications a large variety of blends can be used. By adding H2 to NG: CO2, CO, and HC emissions are reduced; NOx emission is increased; high l is possible, which can eliminate high NOx ; power and efficiency drop approximately 10%.
Keywords: Engine Combustion, Performance, Alternative Fuel, Natural Gas, Hydrogen, Blends, Emissions, Hythane, Methane