Enhancing the NO2/NOx ratio in compression ignition engines by hydrogen and reformate combustion,for improved aftertreatment performance

Enhanced NO₂ production (without raising total NOx) in a diesel engine combustion chamber can improve the performance of several catalytic aftertreatment systems. Thus this can facilitate a further reduction in key regulated emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. The oxidation of NO to NO₂ is an important intermediate step involved in all current aftertreatment systems that are designed for NOx and PM catalytic removal. The performance of both NOx control systems and catalysed particulate filters depend highly on the NO₂ concentration. In this work we have examined the influence of using hydrogen (H₂) and simulated reformate (H₂, CO and EGR gases) as a supplement to diesel fuel on NO₂ production. In actual engine applications a reformer will be integrated within the engine EGR system. This will not only provide the engine with recirculated exhaust gas (i.e. EGR), but will enrich it with H₂ and CO.     

Effect of addition of hydrogen and exhaust gas recirculation on characteristics of hydrogen gasoline engine

The effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on combustion and emissions under different hydrogen ratios were studied based on an engine with a gasoline intake port injection and hydrogen direct injection. The peak cylinder pressure increases by 9.8% in the presence of a small amount of hydrogen. The heat release from combustion is more concentrated, and the engine torque can increase by 11% with a small amount of hydrogen addition. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions can be reduced by EGR dilution. Hydrogen addition offsets the blocking effect of EGR on combustion partially, therefore, hydrogen addition permits a higher original engine EGR rate, and yields a larger throttle opening, which improves the mechanical efficiency and decreases NOx emissions by 54.8% compared with the original engine. The effects of EGR on carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions are not obvious and CO and HC emissions can be reduced sharply with hydrogen addition. CO, HC, and NOx emissions can be controlled at a lower level, engine output torque can be increased, and fuel consumption can be reduced significantly with the co-control of hydrogen addition and EGR in a hydrogen gasoline engine.     

Separate and combined effects of hydrogen and nitrogen additions on diesel engine combustion

Shortage of non-renewable energies, increase in fossil fuel prices and stricter emissions regulations due to high NOx and soot emissions emitted from combustion of heavy diesel fuels by compression ignition engines, has led consumers to use renewable, cleaner and cheap fuels. An investigation has been computationally carried out to explore the influences of hydrogen and nitrogen addition on engine performance such as indicated power and indicated specific energy consumption and amounts of pollutant emissions like NOx, soot, and CO in an HSDI (High-Speed Direct Injection) diesel engine. Optimized sub-models, such as turbulence model, spray model, combustion model and emissions models have selected for the main CFD code. Meanwhile, HF (Homogeneity Factor) has been employed for analysing in-cylinder air-fuel mixing quality under various addition conditions. After validations with experimental data of diesel combustion with a single addition of 4% hydrogen and combined addition of 6% hydrogen + 6% nitrogen, investigations have conducted for modeling mixing and combustion processes with additions of hydrogen and nitrogen by ranges of 2–8% (v/v). Results showed that a single addition of H₂ increased NOx and decreased CO and soot and improved ISEC and IP. In the case of nitrogen addition, NOx decreased, both CO and soot emission increased and ISEC and IP considerably ruined compared with NDC operation. Based on the results obtained for simultaneous addition of N₂ (8% of v/v) and H₂ (8% of v/v), NOx and soot emissions decreased by 11.5% and 42.5% respectively, and ISEC and IP improved 25.7% and 13%, respectively. But amount of CO emissions had an increase of 52% should be paid necessary attention as a main disadvantage.     

Performance enhancement of ammonia-fueled engine by using dissociation catalyst for hydrogen generation

The effect of combustion of hydrogen generated by an ammonia dissociation catalyst on engine performance and exhaust emissions in a spark-ignition engine using ammonia-gasoline was investigated. An ammonia dissociation catalyst coated with 2% ruthenium on 3.175-mm alumina pellets were used in order to analyze the effect of the catalyst as an ammonia cracker to decompose ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. Results show that combustion of hydrogen generated by an ammonia dissociation catalyst resulted in improved engine performance and reduced exhaust emissions. The conversion rate of ammonia into hydrogen was affected by the flow rate of ammonia, and the catalyst was very effective at low to medium flow rates, resulting in significantly increased engine power and decreased fuel consumption. With the use of the catalyst, emissions of CO, HC, NH₃ and NOx were reduced considerably. Overall, it was demonstrated the ammonia dissociation catalyst can enable ammonia to be used as a hydrogen carrier for use in internal combustion engines effectively.     

氢混天然气燃气轮机加湿低氮燃烧性能研究

为了解贫预混燃烧室天然气掺氢加湿燃烧时的性能变化和容许加湿范围,解决氢混燃气轮机NO_x排放超标问题,以某燃气轮机燃烧室为研究对象,数值研究了掺氢比和加湿比对燃烧性能及污染物排放特性的影响。结果表明：燃料无加湿条件下,燃烧室出口CO和CO₂排放值随着掺氢比的增加而减小,较高燃烧温度将导致热力型NO_x排放值增加,掺氢比达到0.2以上时,NO_x排放已超出环保限值;燃料加湿条件下,随着加湿程度增加,燃气出口平均流速及水蒸气组分含量均增加,燃烧筒内全局温度、CO₂和NO_x排放值均降低,CO排放值先降低后增加;掺氢天然气加湿可实现低氮燃烧,考虑到低掺氢工况燃气轮机功率输出效能和高掺氢工况燃烧性能恶化问题,水蒸气加湿量不宜过多,当掺氢比为0.3时,推荐燃料加湿比为0.463。     

Engine combustion and emission fuelled with natural gas: A review

Natural gas (NG) is one of the most important and successful alternative fuels for vehicles. Engine combustion and emission fuelled with natural gas have been reviewed by NG/gasoline bi-fuel engine, pure NG engine, NG/diesel dual fuel engine and HCNG engine. Compared to using gasoline, bi-fuel engine using NG exhibits higher thermal efficiency; produces lower HC, CO and PM emissions and higher NOx emission. The bi-fuel mode can not fully exert the advantages of NG. Optimization of structure design for engine chamber, injection parameters including injection timing, injection pressure and multi injection, and lean burn provides a technological route to achieve high efficiency, low emissions and balance between HC and NOx. Compared to diesel, NG/diesel dual fuel engine exhibits longer ignition delay; has lower thermal efficiency at low and partial loads and higher at medium and high loads; emits higher HC and CO emissions and lower PM and NOx emissions. The addition of hydrogen can further improve the thermal efficiency and decrease the HC, CO and PM emissions of NG engine, while significantly increase the NOx emission. In each mode, methane is the major composition of THC emission and it has great warming potential. Methane emission can be decreased by hydrogen addition and after-treatment technology.     

Extension of the lean limit through hydrogen enrichment of a LFG-fueled spark-ignition engine and emissions reduction

In this experimental investigation the affect of hydrogen addition to a landfill gas-fueled naturally-aspirated spark-ignition engine was explored. Hydrogen concentrations of 0%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by volume were added to simulated landfill gas (60% CH₄ and 40% CO₂). Efficiency, coefficient of variance of indicated mean effective pressure, and CO emissions were measured from near stoichiometric mixtures up to the lean operating limit. Engine-out NOx emissions were compared to predicted future best available control technology targets for NOx emissions in landfill gas-to-energy projects. From this study, it was determined that with 40% hydrogen by volume untreated exhaust NOx emissions can meet the 0.22 g/kWh NOx target while retaining 95% of baseline power and low CO emissions.     

Progress on the studies about NOx emission in PFI-H2ICE

Owing to its brilliant combustion performance and cleanest combustion products, hydrogen has been widely considered as one best alternative fuel for internal combustion engines. However, in the cylinder of hydrogen internal combustion engines, high combustion temperature and oxygen enrichment make NOx is still one but the only combustion pollutant. Therefore, it is particularly important to control NOx emission for hydrogen fuelled engines. Since PFI-H₂ICE (port-fuel-injection hydrogen internal combustion engine) is the normal type of hydrogen fuelled engines, the present article will focus on the studies about NOx emission in PFI-H₂ICE researches. First, the present article reviews the mechanism of NOx generation in PFI-H₂ICE; upon chemical kinetics, the generation of NOx will be summarized and discussed into three major paths which including thermal NO path, NNH–NO path and N₂O–NO path. Then, the researches on the control methods of NOx for PFI-H₂ICE in recent years will be systematically reviewed, the influencing factors to reduce NOx emission will be summarized in some aspects which including combustion component control strategy, injection control strategy, ignition control strategy and engine compression ratio control strategy. To the PFI-H₂ICE operated at lean fuel conditions (like equivalence ratio is less than 0.5) or rich fuel conditions (like equivalence ratio is higher than 1), the technologies and the strategies of EGR (exhaust gas re-circulation) will be reviewed and discussed. It is hoped this literature review would enable researchers to systematically understand the progress of NOx emissions research in PFI-H₂ICE and explore further research directions.     

催化燃烧对均质压燃发动机排放影响的数值模拟

通过耦合DETCHEM软件包及CHEMKIN软件包中的SENKIN模块,对活塞顶涂有催化剂的均质压燃(HCCI)发动机的燃烧过程进行了数值计算,建立了多区模型.利用此模型分析了催化燃烧对HCCI发动机缸内温度、热释放速率以及未燃碳氢化合物(UHC)、氮氧化合物(NOx)、一氧化碳(CO)排放的影响,结果表明催化燃烧能降低UHC、CO的排放,但NOx的排放会有所升高.对不同催化剂及混合催化剂对HCCI发动机缸内温度、热释放速率以及UHC、NOx、CO排放的影响进行了探索,结果表明,和金属铂相比,以铑作催化剂时UHC的排放降低,但NOx、CO排放会有所升高;采用500/0Pt-500/0Rh的混合催化剂时,UHC、NOx的排放介于1000/0Pt与1000/0Rh之间,但CO的排放却比采用1000/0Pt与1000/0Rh时都要低.     

Research on combustion and emission characteristics of a hydrous ethanol/hydrogen combined injection spark ignition engine under lean-burn conditions

Ethanol, as one of the carbon-neutral fuels for spark ignition (SI) engine, has been widely used. Dehydration and purification of ethanol during production process will lead to high energy consumption. If hydrous ethanol can be directly applied to the engine, the cost of use will be greatly reduced. Due to the high latent heat of vaporization of ethanol and water, it is necessary to consider the performance of atomization, evaporation and combustion stability when hydrous ethanol is used in engine. As a zero-carbon fuel, hydrogen has excellent characteristics such as low ignition energy, fast flame propagation speed and wide combustion limit. The combination of hydrous ethanol and hydrogen can reduce the use cost and ensure better combustion performance. Therefore, this study explores the performance of hydrous ethanol/hydrogen in SI combined injection engine. The hydrous ethanol is injected into the intake port and the hydrogen is directly injected into the cylinder during the compression stroke. In this study, we firstly analyze the optimal water blending ratio (ω) of hydrous ethanol, which including 0, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%. The experimental results show that the hydrous ethanol with 9% water ratio has the best performance without hydrogen addition. Based on the 9% water ratio, the effects of hydrogen blending ratio (0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) on the combustion and emission under different excess air ratio (λ) (1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4). Hydrogen addition can increase the degree of constant volume combustion, so that the maximum cylinder pressure and temperature increase with the increase of the hydrogen blending ratio (HBR). When λ = 1.3 and HBR = 20%, the maximum in-cylinder pressure can be increased by 108.64% compared to pure hydrous ethanol. Hydrogen effectively increases the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and reduces the coefficient of variation of IMEP (COV_IMEP). Adding hydrogen can reduce CO and HC emissions, while NO_x emissions will increase. When λ = 1.2 and HBR increasing from 0 to 20%, the NOx emissions increase by 106.75%, but it is still less than the NOx emissions of pure hydrous ethanol at λ = 1. On the whole, hydrogen direct injection can improve the combustion performance of hydrous ethanol and achieve stable combustion under lean-burn conditions.     

Performance and emission characteristics of CIE using hydrogen,biodiesel, and massive EGR

Hydrogen is considered as an excellent energy carrier and can be used in diesel engines that operate in dual fuel mode. Many studies have shown that biodiesel, which is sustainable, clean, and safe, a good alternative to fossil fuel. However, tests have confirmed that using biodiesel or hydrogen as a fuel or added fuel in compression ignition engines increases NOx concentrations. Cooled or hot exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) effectively controls the NOx outflows of diesel engines. However, this technique is restricted by high particulate matter PM emissions and the low thermal efficiency of diesel engines.In this study, gaseous hydrogen was added to the intake manifold of a diesel engine that uses biodiesel fuel as pilot fuel. The investigation was conducted under heavy-EGR conditions. An EGR system was modified to achieve the highest possible control on the EGR ratio and temperature. Hot EGR was recirculated directly from the engine exhaust to the intake manifold. A heat exchanger was utilized to maintain the temperature of the cooled EGR at 25 °C.The supplied hydrogen increased NOx concentrations in the exhaust gas emissions and high EGR rates reduced the brake thermal efficiency. The reduction in NOx emissions depended on the added hydrogen and the EGR ratios when compared with pure diesel combustion. Adding hydrogen to significant amounts of recycled exhaust gas reduced the CO, PM, and unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions significantly. Results showed that using hydrogen and biodiesel increases engine noise, which is reduced by adding high levels of EGR.     

Near-zero emissions with high thermal efficiency realized by optimizing jet plume location relative to combustion chamber wall,jet geometry and injection timing in a direct-injection hydrogen engine

Thermal efficiency was substantially improved and NOx emissions were reduced to a level at a single-digit ppm with PCC combustion by optimizing such characteristics as the direction, number and diameter of the injected jet and controlling the injection timing and also by combining with combustion of lean mixture. Output power declined by lean mixture was recovered by supercharging in keeping NOx emissions remained at the same level, while thermal efficiency was improved furthermore by slightly re-optimizing jet conditions. As a result, hydrogen engine which does not emit any CO2 and particulate matter in principle is worth to be called near-zero emission engines in both name and reality.     

甲醇缸内直喷热氛围燃烧的试验研究

在单缸直喷式柴油机上进行了二甲醚(dimethyl ether,DME)气道喷射和甲醇缸内直喷的甲醇热氛围燃烧试验研究．结果表明,该燃烧方式呈现分布式放热规律,燃烧过程可分为DME低温放热、高温放热和甲醇扩散燃烧 3个阶段．随负荷的增加,实现稳定燃烧的最小DME比例减小．随DME比例减小,DME高温放热和甲醇燃烧滞后．在稳定燃烧的情况下,随DME比例的增大,燃烧效率和热效率降低,HC和NOx排放呈上升趋势,而CO排放先升高后降低．综合考虑,采用最小比例DME有利于提高其热效率、降低排放．此时热效率、HC排放与原柴油机相当, NOx降低约50％,但CO排放相对原柴油机有较大幅度的增加．     

Investigation of hydrogen addition to methanol-gasoline blends in an SI engine

In this study, effects of hydrogen-addition on the performance and emission characteristics of Methanol-Gasoline blends in a spark ignition (SI) engine were investigated. Experiments were conducted with a four-cylinder and four stroke spark ignition engine. Performance tests were performed via measuring brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption, cylinder pressure and exhaust emissions (CO, CO₂, HC, NOx). These performance metrics were analyzed under three engine load conditions (no load, 50% and 100%) with a constant speed of 2000 rpm. Methanol was added to the gasoline up to 15% by volume (5%, 10% and 15%). Besides, hydrogen was added to methanol-gasoline mixtures up to 15% by volume (3%, 6%, 9% and 15%). Results of this study showed that methanol addition increases BSFC by 26% and decreases thermal efficiency by 10.5% compared to the gasoline. By adding hydrogen to the methanol - gasoline mixtures, the BSFC decreased by 4% and the thermal efficiency increased by 2% compared to the gasoline. Hydrogen addition to methanol – gasoline mixtures reduces exhaust emissions by about 16%, 75% and 15% of the mean average values of HC, CO and CO2 emissions, respectively. Lastly, ?t was concluded that hydrogen addition improves combustion process; CO and HC emissions reduce as a result of the leaning effect caused by the methanol addition; and CO2 and NOx emission increases because of the improved combustion.     

Effect of hydrogen on butanol–biodiesel blends in compression ignition engines

Research suggests that there is a dramatic reduction in CO and particulate matter (PM) emissions when butanol is blended with biodiesel derived from rapeseed oil (RME), but a small increase in THC emissions. The addition of hydrogen as a combustion enhancer can be used to counteract the increase in THC emissions seen with the butanol fuel blends and further reduce CO and PM emissions. The emission benefits with hydrogen addition were shown to be further improved for RME-butanol fuel blends. The penalty for using hydrogen is an increase in NO_x emissions due to the increase in NO₂ formation during combustion, but this is expected to have significant benefits in the function of aftertreatment systems. In this study, it is shown that the increase in engine-out NO_x emissions can be effectively controlled through exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) without an excessive PM penalty thanks to the low PM concentration in the EGR (with an impeding PM recirculation penalty).     

Exploring the potentials of lean-burn hydrogen SI engine compared to methane operation

The global rush for decarbonization and the more restrictive emission regulations are pushing the research for cleaner powertrains to the transport sector. In this sense, this work contributes with an experimental investigation of the performance and emissions of a single-cylinder SI engine operating under lean-burn hydrogen combustion. Its performance, combustion parameters, exhaust emissions, and indicated efficiency for a wide range of mixture dilutions are then compared to methane under similar engine load conditions. Hydrogen achieved stable combustion up to lambda 3.4, presenting zero CO emission and very low HC emission for all tested operating conditions. Hydrogen operation also presented zero NOx emissions for conditions leaner than lambda 2.2 and 3.0 at 2000 and 3000 rpm, respectively, however, the NOx emissions increase as the mixture is enriched. The high in-cylinder pressure rise rate limited the operation at mixtures richer than lambda 1.3 at 2000 rpm. When compared to methane, the hydrogen allows de-throttle the engine to burn lean mixtures maintaining a proper flame speed, resulting in lower pumping losses, lower pollutants emissions for most of the conditions tested, and higher indicated efficiency, making hydrogen a promising fuel to replace conventional fuels on cleaner SI engines.     

Computational analysis of an HCCI engine fuelled with hydrogen/hydrogen peroxide blends

In the current work, Chemkin Pro's HCCI numerical model is used in order to explore the feasibility of using hydrogen in a dual fuel concept where hydrogen peroxide acts as ignition promoter. The analysis focuses on the engine performance characteristics, the combustion phasing and NOx emissions. It is shown that the use of hydrogen/hydrogen peroxide at extremely fuel lean conditions (φ_eff = 0.1 ? 0.4) results in significantly better performance characteristics (up to 60% increase of IMEP and 80% decrease of NOx) compared to the case of a preheated hydrogen/air mixture that aims to simulate the use of a glow plug. It is also shown that the addition of H₂O₂ up to 10% (per fuel volume) increases significantly the IMEP, power, torque, thermal efficiency (reaching values more than 60%) while also decreasing remarkably NOx emissions which will not require any exhaust after-treatment, for all engine speeds. The results presented herein are novel and promising, yet further research is required to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technology.     

基于GT-Power的LPG燃气组分对发动机排放影响的研究

通过建立单缸点火式LPG发动机在GT-Power中仿真,来研究LPG组分及其比例对发动机排放的影响.仿真实验表明,LPG组分对污染物的排放有重要的影响.随着丁烷比例的增加,CO和HC的排放增加,而NO_x减少;其中,CO、HC排放最少的是Fuel 1#,NO_x的排放最低的是Fuel 3#;考虑到综合排放性能和动力性的同时,丙烷与丁烷比例为7:3时最佳.     

预喷策略对双燃料发动机燃烧和排放特性的影响

通过一台6缸直喷、高压共轨柴油机改装成的柴油引燃天然气发动机.试验研究预喷正时和预喷油量对燃烧参数和性能参数的影响,结果表明:相对单次喷射,较晚的预喷正时(30°CA BTDC)能提高发动机有效热效率(BTE),降低HC、CO排放,但NOx排放恶化,而较早的预喷正时(60°CA BTDC)能够在提高发动机BTE的同时,降低HC、CO排放,并且NOx排放基本保持不变;当预喷正时为60°CA BTDC,预喷油量适当增多(3~5 mg/cyc)能进一步提高发动机BTE,降低HC、CO和NOx排放;预喷油量进一步增加(6~7 mg/cyc),NOx排放恶化,并且由于着火相位波动导致燃烧稳定性变差.改善双燃料发动机燃烧和排放特性一方面要增加预喷柴油在可燃混合气中的分布,增大柴油与可燃混合气混合的时间,改善混合气的活性,进而提高燃烧速率;另一方面要强化主喷柴油喷射对着火相位的控制,防止着火相位不一致而恶化燃烧稳定性.     

Experimental analysis of the effects of hydrogen addition on methane combustion

This paper presents gas emissions from turbulent chemical flow inside a model combustor, for different blending ratios of hydrogen–methane composite fuels. Gas emissions such as CO and O₂ from the combustion reaction were obtained using a gas analyzer. NOx emissions were measured with a NOx analyzer. The previously obtained flame temperature distributions were also presented. As the amount of hydrogen in the mixture increases, more hydrogen is involved in the combustion reaction, and more heat is released, and the higher temperature levels are resulted. The results have shown that the combustion efficiency increases and CO emission decreases when the hydrogen content is increased in blending fuel. It is also shown that the hydrogen–methane blending fuels are efficiently used without any important modification in the natural gas burner. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.