Abstract
This paper describes the performance and emissions of a hydrogen-fueled, spark-ignited engine. An electronic control device, designed to provide the engine with a timed injection of the fuel, is shown to give high mean effective pressures and high efficiencies. The paper describes an experiment with traces of hydrocarbons added to the hydrogen in an attempt to explain any additional phenomena that may be taking place during the combustion, such as ″prompt NO″ which is known to occur in hydrocarbon flames only. As it turns out, such additions have a negligible effect on the NO//x formation in the region investigated. The extended Zeldovich mechanism is believed to adequately characterize nitric oxide formation in engine combustion processes in the case of hydrogen as well as hydrocarbons in the lean region. The region investigated in this work may well prove to be the most important one in the combustion of H//2-air mixtures. For stationary power plants or ground transport, lean operation would provide good fuel economy and low nitric oxide emissions, and is therefore likely to be adopted if the safety aspects of hydrogen are resolved.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
State | Published - 1978 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Unknown conference - Duration: Feb 27 1978 → Mar 3 1978 |
Conference
Conference | Unknown conference |
---|---|
Period | 2/27/78 → 3/3/78 |