SwRI Project: |
03-1613 |
Client: |
Confidential |
Duration: |
42 Months |
This multi-faceted project evaluated advanced concepts that have demonstrated theoretical significant potential for improvement in natural gas engine efficiency or emissions reduction. This project brief describes a task involving the introduction of hydrogen
gas into a natural gas fueled engine.
The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) approach was to meter a small pilot quantity of hydrogen fuel into the combustion chamber with the normal natural gas fuel. Because of the wide flammability limit and high flame speed of hydrogen, the mixture should have a wide tolerance for variations in
fuel mixtures and equivalence ratios. This wide tolerance would allow the engine to be operated at leaner equivalence ratios where lower emissions levels and higher thermal efficiency are expected.
Data were obtained to determine the effect on lean-misfire limit and exhaust emissions from introducing hydrogen gas into a natural gas fueled engine. Test results indicated that very small amounts of hydrogen are required to extend the lean-misfire limit of a
homogeneous charge engine. This leaner operation permitted with small amounts of hydrogen produced significant reductions in both NOX and hydrocarbon emissions compared to same engine without hydrogen fumigation. Fuel economy or thermal efficiency
were not affected.
For more information about advanced gas prime mover concepts capabilities at SwRI or how you
can contract with SwRI, please contact
Mark
Tussing
at
mtussing@swri.org or (210) 522-2628.
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