Abstract
Hydrogen is probably "the" fuel for the future or at least it is seen as one of the most important energy vectors of the next century. Hydrogen, as a renewable energy fuel, provides the potential for sustainable development particularly in the transportation sector. Hydrogen-driven vehicles reduce both local as well as global emissions.
There are several hydrogen demonstration projects in Europe and the European industry has realised hydrogen vehicle prototypes for passenger cars, van type vehicles as well as city buses.
Hydrogen Systems n.v. and the Laboratory of Transporttechnology (University of Gent) have a long experience in the research on hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines. In 1994 the first Belgium hydrogen fuelled city bus "Greenbus" was presented to the European Commission.
In this paper the development of a GM V-8 engine for the use of hydrogen fuel is described. The adaptations necessary for the hydrogen fuel supply are given. A basic fuel supply system with gas carburettor is designed and implemented that provides the engine with hydrogen, natural gas or hydrogen/natural gas mixtures in variable proportion. But the final goal is the installation of reliable multi-point sequential gas injectors. Results are given from the preliminary experimental injection tests.
One of the main problems with hydrogen use is the occurrence of backfire. In the laboratory a detailed study has been made on the backfire mechanism for other and also for this engine. Results on the backfire behaviour (runaway preignition) are given.
The backfire problem can be completely solved when using hythane as a fuel (a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen). Interesting results are obtained running this GM engine with hythane blends.