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Hydrogen and n-butanol are superior alternative fuels for SI engines, which show high potential in improving the combustion and emission characteristics of internal combustion engines. However, both still have disadvantages when applied individually. N-butanol fuel has poor evaporative atomization properties and high latent heat of vaporization. Burning n-butanol fuel alone can lead to incomplete combustion and lower temperature in the cylinder. Hydrogen is not easily stored and transported, and the engine is prone to backfire or detonation only using hydrogen. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of hydrogen direct injection strategies on the combustion and emission characteristics of n-butanol/hydrogen dual-fuel engines based on n-butanol port injection/split hydrogen direct injection mode and the synergistic optimization of their characteristics. The energy of hydrogen is 20% of the total energy of the fuel in the cylinder. The experimental results show that a balance between dynamics and emission characteristics can be found using split hydrogen direct injection. Compared with the second hydrogen injection proportion (IP2) = 0, the split hydrogen direct injection can promote the formation of a stable flame kernel, shorten the flame development period and rapid combustion period, and reduce the cyclic variation. When the IP2 is 25%, 50% and 75%, the engine torque increases by 0.14%, 1.50% and 3.00% and the maximum in-cylinder pressure increases by 1.9%, 2.3% and 0.6% respectively. Compared with IP2 = 100%, HC emissions are reduced by 7.8%, 15.4% and 24.7% and NOx emissions are reduced by 16.4%, 13.8% and 7.9% respectively, when the IP2 is 25%, 50% and 75%. As second hydrogen injection timing (IT2) is advanced, CA0-10 and CA10-90 show a decreasing and then increasing trend. The maximum in-cylinder pressure rises and falls, and the engine torque gradually decreases. The CO emissions show a trend of decreasing and remaining constant. However, the trends of HC emissions and NOx emissions with IT2 are not consistent at different IP2. Considering the engine's dynamics and emission characteristics, the first hydrogen injection proportion (IP1) = 25% plus first hydrogen injection timing (IT1) = 240°CA BTDC combined with IP2 = 75% plus IT2 = 105°CA BTDC is the superior split hydrogen direct injection strategy. [Display omitted] • The injection mode is n-butanol port injection plus split hydrogen direct injection. • The increased percentage of second hydrogen injection increases the torque. • Split hydrogen injection owns a shorter combustion process than a single injection. • Split hydrogen injection yields lower HC emissions than single hydrogen injection. • Reducing the ratio of second hydrogen injection can reduce NOx emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is considered to be a suitable supplementary fuel for Spark Ignition (SI) engines. The energy and exergy analysis of engines is important to provide theoretical fundaments for the improvement of energy and exergy efficiency. However, few studies on the energy and exergy balance of the engine working under Hydrogen Direct Injection (HDI) plus Gasoline Port Injection (GPI) mode under lean-burn conditions are reported. In this paper, the effects of two different modes on the energy and exergy balance of a SI engine working under lean-burn conditions are presented. Two different modes (GPI + GDI and GPI + HDI), five gasoline and hydrogen direct injection fractions (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%), and five excess air ratios (1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) are studied. The results show that the cooling water takes the 39.40% of the fuel energy on average under GPI + GDI mode under lean-burn conditions, and the value is 40.70% for GPI + HDI mode. The exergy destruction occupies the 56.12% of the fuel exergy on average under GPI + GDI mode under lean-burn conditions, and the value is 54.89% for GPI + HDI mode. The brake thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency of the engine can be improved by 0.29% and 0.31% at the excess air ratio of 1.1 under GPI + GDI mode on average, and the average values are 0.56% and 0.71% for GPI + HDI mode. • The brake thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency are highest at λ of 1.1. • The cooling water takes most of the heat but its exergy is the lowest. • With hydrogen addition, the exergy destruction decreases obviously. • HDI improves the brake thermal energy efficiency and exergy efficiency. • Hydrogen engines have potentials to be more efficient by exhaust energy recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical study on effects of hydrogen direct injection on hydrogen mixture distribution, combustion and emissions was presented for a gasoline/hydrogen SI engine. Under lean burn conditions, five different direct hydrogen injection timings were applied at low speeds and low loads on SI engines with direct hydrogen injection (HDI) and gasoline port injection. The results were showed as following: firstly, with the increase of hydrogen direct injection timing, the hydrogen concentration near the sparking plug first increases and then decreases, reaching the highest when hydrogen direct injection timing is 120°CA BTDC: Secondly, hydrogen can speed up the combustion rate. The main factor affecting the combustion rate and efficiency is the hydrogen concentration near the sparking plug: Thirdly, in comparing with gasoline, the NO X emissions with hydrogen addition increase by an average of 115%. For different hydrogen direct injection timings, the NO X emissions of 120°CA BTDC is the highest, which is 29.9% higher than the 75°CA BTDC. The hydrogen addition make the NO X emissions increase in two ways. On the one hand, the average temperature with hydrogen addition is higher. On the other hand, the temperature with hydrogen addition is not homogeneous, which makes the peak of temperature much higher. In a word, the main factor of NO X emissions is the size of high temperature zone in the cylinder: Finally, because the combustion is more complete, in comparing with gasoline, hydrogen addition can reduce the CO and HC emissions by 32.2% and 80.4% respectively. Since a more homogeneous hydrogen mixture distribution can influence a lager zone in the cylinder and reduce the wall quenching distance, these emissions decrease with the increase of hydrogen direct injection timing. The CO and HC emissions of 135°CA BTDC decrease by 41.5% and 71.4%, respectively, compared to 75°CA BTDC. • Hydrogen mixture distribution affects a lot on combustion and emissions. • Hydrogen direct injection timing can control the hydrogen mixture distribution. • There is a best hydrogen direct injection timing for a gasoline/hydrogen SI engine. • The hydrogen concentration near the sparking plug influences the combustion a lot. • It deeply analyzes that how hydrogen addition makes NO X emissions increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study on effects of homogeneous or stratified hydrogen on combustion and emissions was presented for a gasoline/hydrogen SI engine. Three kinds of injection modes (gasoline, gasoline plus homogeneous hydrogen and gasoline plus stratified hydrogen) and five excess air ratios were applied at low speed and low load on a dual fuel SI engine with hydrogen direct injection (HDI) and gasoline port injection. The results showed that, with the increase of excess air ratio, the brake thermal efficiency increases firstly then decreases and reaches the highest when the excess air ratio is 1.1. In comparison with pure gasoline, hydrogen addition can make the ignition stable and speed up combustion rate to improve the brake thermal efficiency especially under lean burn condition. Furthermore, it can reduce the CO and HC emissions because of more complete combustion, but produce more NO X emissions due to the higher combustion temperature. Since, in the gasoline plus stratified hydrogen mode, the hydrogen concentration near the sparking plug is denser than that of homogeneous hydrogen, the ignition is more stable and faster, which further speed up the combustion rate and improve the brake thermal efficiency. In the gasoline plus stratified hydrogen mode, the brake thermal efficiency increases by 0.55%, the flame development duration decreases by 1.0°CA, rapid combustion duration decreases by 1.3°CA and the coefficient of variation (COV) decreases by 9.8% on average than that of homogeneous hydrogen. However, in the gasoline plus stratified hydrogen mode, due to the denser hydrogen concentration near the sparking plug and leaner hydrogen concentration near the wall, the combustion temperature and the wall quenching distance increase, which make the NO X and HC emissions increase by 14.3% and 12.8% on average than that of homogeneous hydrogen. • Stratified hydrogen can make the ignition more stable and faster. • Stratified hydrogen can further speed up the combustion rate of engine. • Stratified hydrogen can achieve higher brake thermal efficiency. • The advantages of stratified hydrogen are more obviously under lean burn condition. • Homogeneous hydrogen can reduce the HC and NO X emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has shown potential for improving the combustion and emission characteristics of the spark ignition (SI) dual-fuel engine. To reduce the additional NO x emissions caused by hydrogen direct injection, in this research, the cooperative control of the addition of hydrogen with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in the hydrogen/gasoline combined injection engine was investigated. The results indicate that both the addition of hydrogen and the use of EGR can increase the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). As the α H2 value increases from 0% to 25%, the maximum BMEP increases by 9%, 12.70%, 16.50%, 11.30%, and 8.20%, respectively, compared with the value without EGR at λ = 1.2. The CA0-10 tends to increase with increases in the EGR rate. However, the effect of EGR in increasing the CA0-10 can be offset by the addition of 15% hydrogen at λ = 1.2. Measurements of the coefficient of variation of the indicated mean effective pressure (COV IMEP) indicate that the addition of hydrogen can effectively extend the EGR limit. Regarding gaseous emissions, NO x emissions, after the introduction of EGR and the addition of hydrogen, are lower than those of pure gasoline without EGR. An 18% EGR rate yields a significant reduction in NO x , reaching maximum decreases of about 82.7%, 77.8%, and 60% compared to values without EGR at λ = 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4, respectively. As the EGR rate increases, the hydrocarbon (HC) emissions continuously increase, whereas a blend of 5% hydrogen can significantly reduce the HC emissions at high EGR rates at λ = 1.4. Finally, according to combustion and emissions, the coupling of a 25% addition of hydrogen with 30% EGR at λ = 1.2, and the coupling of a 20% addition of hydrogen with an 18% EGR rate at λ = 1.4 yield the best results. • The addition of H 2 and use of EGR can increase the brake mean effective pressure. • The effect of EGR on increasing CA0-10 can be offset by 15% addition of H 2 at λ = 1.2. • The addition of H 2 can effectively reduce the COV IMEP and extend the EGR limit. • The combination of EGR and H 2 addition generates lower NO x than those of gasoline. • The addition of 20% H 2 with 18% EGR rate provides the best condition at λ = 1.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new kind of injection mode, split hydrogen direct injection, was presented for a dual fuel SI engine. Six different first injection proportions (IP1) and five different second injection timings were applied at the condition of excess air ratio of 1, first injection timing of 300°CA BTDC, low speed, low load conditions and the Minimum spark advance for Best Torque (MBT) on a dual fuel SI engine with hydrogen direct injection (HDI) plus port fuel injection (PFI). The result showed that, split hydrogen direct injection can achieve a higher brake thermal efficiency and lower emissions compared with single HDI. In comparison with single HDI, the split hydrogen direct injection can form a controlled stratified condition of hydrogen which could make the combustion more complete and faster. By adding an early spray to form a more homogeneous mixture, the split hydrogen direct injection not only can help to form a flame kernel to make the combustion stable, but also can speed up the combustion rate through the whole combustion process, which can improve the brake thermal efficiency. By split hydrogen direct injection, the torque reaches the highest when the first injection proportion is 33%, which improves by 1.13% on average than that of single HDI. With the delay of second injection timing, the torque increases first and then decreases. With the increase of first injection proportion, the best second injection timing is advanced. Furthermore, by forming a more homogeneous mixture, the split hydrogen direct injection can reduce the quenching distance to reduce the HC emission and reduce the maximum temperature to reduce the NO X. The split hydrogen direct injection can reduce the HC emission by 35.8%, the NO X emissions by 7.3% than that of single HDI. • Split hydrogen direct injection achieves various stratified conditions of hydrogen. • Split hydrogen direct injection can make the combustion more complete and faster. • Split hydrogen direct injection can improve the brake thermal efficiency. • There is an optimal second injection timing for every first injection proportion. • Split hydrogen direct injection can reduce HC emission and NO X emissions obviously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]