Experimental Analysis of a Multi cylinder Spark Ignition Engine Fueled with Hydrogen Fuel

Abstract

Sprawling use of automotive on one side and limited resources of crude oil with fluctuation in its price on other combined with alarming trend of environmental pollution and its control norms have created interest among researchers to look up alternative fuels for automobile use. Universally gaseous fuels are favorable substitute fuels due to their superior combustion properties and least emissions and also for ecofriendly in nature. Hydrogen as a fuel tops among them. Hydrogen’s combustion properties like high energy content, wide range of flammability and low ignition energy with almost least toxic emissions are favorable to use it in an IC engine as an alternative fuel. The present investigation describes combustion, performance and emission analysis of a four cylinder, four strokes spark ignited engine at different load, speed and different spark timings (2, 5 and 8 bTDC) using neat hydrogen. To achieve the objectives the engine was modified with ECU assisted hydrogen gas injector system keeping gasoline fuel line unchanged. Tests were carried out by using grade–III (99.985% pure) compressed hydrogen gas which is regulated by two stage pressure regulator. The exhaustive experiments were conducted and the result reveals that there was improvement in cylinder pressure, net heat release rate, and brake thermal efficiency for neat hydrogen operation. In contrast to them brake power was reduced. The CO, HC emissions were minimized while NOx were elevated when compared to gasoline. Among three spark timings, 8 bTDC spark timing results found to be favorable compared with other two spark timings. Further tests were carried out for optimized spark and full load condition for neat hydrogen with turbocharging and water-methanol injection. Results revealed improvement of 4.48%, 5.34% in brake thermal efficiency, 6.05%, 1.22% in volumetric efficiency and 5.1%, 8.73% in NOx emissions compared with previous hydrogen operation.