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In-Depth Experimental Investigation into Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Light-Duty Engine Fuelled with Pure Hydrogen

Transitioning to zero-carbon fuels is pivotal for expediting the reduction of carbon emissions. Hydrogen demonstrates significant adaptability and emerges as a principal zero-carbon alternative fuel for carbon-based internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms. Implementing hydrogen in both spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI) engines has proven to be both economically viable and timely; nevertheless, it presents several technical challenges that must be addressed.

The study analyses the performance and emissions of a single-cylinder marine engine running on 100% hydrogen with a port fuel injection (PFI) system. This configuration enables it to operate as a hydrogen spark-ignited (H2 SI) boosted engine with minimal modifications. It features a proactive, automated shutdown system to mitigate intake backfire risks associated with hydrogen PFI systems. A comprehensive engine characterization was conducted using a lambda sweep test, measuring values from 1.5 to 4.5 with an integrated in-cylinder pressure transducer for high-resolution data. The study used an advanced Bandpass, Rectify, Integrate, Compare (BRIC) knock detection method for engine health monitoring and assessed stability through various metrics over 300 cycles.

The study findings indicate that hydrogen can function effectively in a diesel light-duty engine utilizing Port Fuel Injection (PFI) and Spark Ignition (SI) modes, achieving an impressive indicated thermal efficiency of approximately 40.3%. The engine operates with exceptional stability, reflected in a Coefficient of Variation of Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (COVimep) of less than 1.6% at a maximum lambda of 4.2. Additionally, it maintains a high combustion efficiency of 97.4%, with minimal hydrogen slip observed in the exhaust. The hydrogen fuel demonstrates nearly zero carbon emissions, with NOx levels recorded below 50 ppm at lambda 2.5 and approaching zero NOx at lambda 3.