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Hydrogen-Fuelled Spark-Ignition Engines

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A5: Hydrogen Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (2 June 2022) | Viewed by 21611

Special Issue Editors

Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Interests: CFD simulation of reactive flows; CFD simulation of fuel cells; combustion simulation in internal combustion engines; chemistry modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Interests: CFD simulation; CFD simulation of fuel cells; combustion simulation in internal combustion engines; energy systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Interests: internal combustion engines; spark ignition; direct injection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The notable progress made in terms of internal combustion engines is leading the research community to a renewed interest in alternative carbon-free fuels. Among the multiple possibilities, hydrogen-fuelled spark-ignition engines are generating significant interest, mainly motivated by their attractive combustion properties, e.g., high burning velocity, absence of carbon-related emissions (CO2 and particulate matter), wide flammability limits and the possibility they offer to operate with stable lean-burn mixtures.

However, some practical and theoretical challenges for the technological establishment of hydrogen combustion remain unsolved. To address this, hydrogen blending with conventional fuels (e.g., methane) and emerging hydrogen-carrier fuels (e.g., ammonia) are promising pathways for the short-term introduction of hydrogen in existing engines, leading to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions.

This Special Issue on “Hydrogen-Fuelled Spark-Ignition Engines“ aims to assemble research information on the advancements and state-of-the-art contributions in the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-blended fuels in spark-ignition internal combustion engines. The topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Hydrogen combustion: experimental and numerical studies, with relevance to use in internal combustion engines;
  • Hydrogen-blending of conventional/innovative fuels (methane, ammonia, etc.);
  • Lean burn hydrogen combustion applications;
  • Emission and after-treatment studies from hydrogen combustion;
  • Hydrogen storage and distribution technologies;
  • Hydrogen injection: experimental and simulation studies.

Dr. Alessandro D' Adamo
Prof. Stefano Fontanesi
Prof. Giuseppe Cantore
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogen combustion
  • hydrogen emissions
  • ammonia and hydrogen combustion
  • hydrogen emissions
  • hydrogen injection

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3807 KiB  
Article
Performance Estimation of a Downsized SI Engine Running with Hydrogen
by Enzo Galloni, Davide Lanni, Gustavo Fontana, Gabriele D’Antuono and Simone Stabile
Energies 2022, 15(13), 4744; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15134744 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Hydrogen is a carbon-free fuel that can be produced in many ways starting from different sources. Its use as a fuel in internal combustion engines could be a method of significantly reducing their environmental impact. In spark-ignition (SI) engines, lean hydrogen–air mixtures can [...] Read more.
Hydrogen is a carbon-free fuel that can be produced in many ways starting from different sources. Its use as a fuel in internal combustion engines could be a method of significantly reducing their environmental impact. In spark-ignition (SI) engines, lean hydrogen–air mixtures can be burnt. When a gaseous fuel like hydrogen is port-injected in an SI engine, working with lean mixtures, supercharging becomes very useful in order not to excessively penalize the engine performance. In this work, the performance of a turbocharged PFI spark-ignition engine fueled by hydrogen has been investigated by means of 1-D numerical simulations. The analysis focused on the engine behavior both at full and partial load considering low and medium engine speeds (1500 and 3000 rpm). Equivalence ratios higher than 0.35 have been considered in order to ensure acceptable cycle-to-cycle variations. The constraints that ensure the safety of engine components have also been respected. The results of the analysis provide a guideline able to set up the load control strategy of a SI hydrogen engine based on the variation of the air to fuel ratio, boost pressure, and throttle opening. Furthermore, performance and efficiency of the hydrogen engine have been compared to those of the base gasoline engine. At 1500 and 3000 rpm, except for very low loads, the hydrogen engine load can be regulated by properly combining the equivalence ratio and the boost pressure. At 3000 rpm, the gasoline engine maximum power is not reached but, for each engine load, lean burning allows the hydrogen engine achieving much higher efficiencies than those of the gasoline engine. At full load, the maximum power output decreases from 120 kW to about 97 kW, but the engine efficiency of the hydrogen engine is higher than that of the gasoline one for each full load operating point. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen-Fuelled Spark-Ignition Engines)
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13 pages, 2043 KiB  
Article
Concepts for Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines and Their Implications on the Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment System
by Stefan Sterlepper, Marcus Fischer, Johannes Claßen, Verena Huth and Stefan Pischinger
Energies 2021, 14(23), 8166; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14238166 - 06 Dec 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6000
Abstract
Hydrogen as carbon-free fuel is a very promising candidate for climate-neutral internal combustion engine operation. In comparison to other renewable fuels, hydrogen does obviously not produce CO2 emissions. In this work, two concepts of hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICEs) are [...] Read more.
Hydrogen as carbon-free fuel is a very promising candidate for climate-neutral internal combustion engine operation. In comparison to other renewable fuels, hydrogen does obviously not produce CO2 emissions. In this work, two concepts of hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICEs) are investigated experimentally. One approach is the modification of a state-of-the-art gasoline passenger car engine using hydrogen direct injection. It targets gasoline-like specific power output by mixture enrichment down to stoichiometric operation. Another approach is to use a heavy-duty diesel engine equipped with spark ignition and hydrogen port fuel injection. Here, a diesel-like indicated efficiency is targeted through constant lean-burn operation. The measurement results show that both approaches are applicable. For the gasoline engine-based concept, stoichiometric operation requires a three-way catalyst or a three-way NOX storage catalyst as the primary exhaust gas aftertreatment system. For the diesel engine-based concept, state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts can be used to reduce the NOx emissions, provided the engine calibration ensures sufficient exhaust gas temperature levels. In conclusion, while H2-ICEs present new challenges for the development of the exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, they are capable to realize zero-impact tailpipe emission operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen-Fuelled Spark-Ignition Engines)
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Review

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26 pages, 2418 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Overview of Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines: Achievements and Future Challenges
by Zbigniew Stępień
Energies 2021, 14(20), 6504; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14206504 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 86 | Viewed by 12790
Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the latest research results in addition to an overview of the future challenges and opportunities regarding the use of hydrogen to power internal combustion engines (ICEs). The experiences and opinions of various international [...] Read more.
This paper provides a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the latest research results in addition to an overview of the future challenges and opportunities regarding the use of hydrogen to power internal combustion engines (ICEs). The experiences and opinions of various international research centers on the technical possibilities of using hydrogen as a fuel in ICE are summarized. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of hydrogen as a solution are described. Attention is drawn to the specific physical, chemical, and operational properties of hydrogen for ICEs. A critical review of hydrogen combustion concepts is provided, drawing on previous research results and experiences described in a number of research papers. Much space is devoted to discussing the challenges and opportunities associated with port and direct hydrogen injection technology. A comparison of different fuel injection and ignition strategies and the benefits of using the synergies of selected solutions are presented. Pointing to the previous experiences of various research centers, the hazards related to incorrect hydrogen combustion, such as early pre-ignition, late pre-ignition, knocking combustion, and backfire, are described. Attention is focused on the fundamental importance of air ratio optimization from the point of view of combustion quality, NOx emissions, engine efficiency, and performance. Exhaust gas scrubbing to meet future emission regulations for hydrogen powered internal combustion engines is another issue that is considered. The article also discusses the modifications required to adapt existing engines to run on hydrogen. Referring to still-unsolved problems, the reliability challenges faced by fuel injection systems, in particular, are presented. An analysis of more than 150 articles shows that hydrogen is a suitable alternative fuel for spark-ignition engines. It will significantly improve their performance and greatly reduce emissions to a fraction of their current level. However, its use also has some drawbacks, the most significant of which are its high NOx emissions and low power output, and problems in terms of the durability and reliability of hydrogen-fueled engines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen-Fuelled Spark-Ignition Engines)
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