EMISSIONS AND TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A MULTICYLINDER PISTON

GT5 GreenCell Technologies: EMISSIONS AND TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A MULTICYLINDER PISTON ENGINE RUNNING ON GASOLINE AND A HYDROGEN-GASOLINE MIXTURE

Johz F. Cassidy Lewis Research Center. Chehnd, Ohio 44135 An experimental program using a multicylinder reciprocating engine was performed to extend the efficient lean operating range of gasoline by adding hydrogen. Both bottled hydrogen and hydrogen produced by a research methanol steam reformer were used. These results were compared with results for all gasoline. A high-compression-ratio, 7. 4-liter (472-in. 3) d i s placement production engine was used. Apparent flame speed was-used to describe the differences in emissions and performance. Therefore, engine emissions and performance, including apparent flame speed and energy lost to the cooling system and the exhaust gas, were measured over a range of equivalence ratios for each fuel. The results were used to explain the advantages of adding hydrogen to gasoline as a method of extending the lean operating range. The minimum-energy-consumption equivalence ratio was extended to leaner conditions by adding hydrogen, although the minimum energy consumption did not change. All emission levels decreased at the leaner conditions. Also, adding hydrogen significantly increased flame speed over all equivalence ratios. Engine performance and emissions with hydrogen from the methanol reformer were about the same as those with bottled hydrogen.

GT5 GreenCell Technologies, Canada - An experimental program using a multicylinder reciprocating engine was performed to extend the efficient lean operating range of gasoline by adding hydrogen. Both bottled hydrogen and hydrogen produced by a research methanol steam reformer were used. These results were compared with results for all gasoline. A high-compressionratio, 7.4-liter (472-in. 3) displacement production engine was used. Apparent flame speed was used to describe the differences in emissions and performance. Therefore, engine emissions and performance, including apparent flame speed and energy loss to the cooling system and the exhaust gas, were measured over a range of equivalence ratios for each fuel.

The results were used to explain the advantages of adding hydrogen to gasoline as a method of extending the lean operating range. The minimum-energy-consumption equivalence ratio was extended to leaner conditions by adding hydrogen, although the minimum energy consumption did not change. All emission levels decreased at the leaner conditions. Also, hydrogen addition significantly increased flame speed over all equivalence ratios. Engine performance and emissions with hydrogen from the methanol reformer were about the same as those with bottled hydrogen.

GT5 GreenCell Technologies, Canada - INTRODUCTION . Increasing the efficiency of reciprocating engines has constantly been pursued since Otto-cycle engines were first used as vehicle powerplants. The important effects of fuel consumption on factors such as vehicle range, operating cost, and vehicle structures have always been important design considerations. During the past decade, the impact of environmental factors and a national interest in energy conservation have accentuated the need to produce clean and efficient engines. Many concepts for im

proving efficiency and meeting emissions standards have been tested and reported in the A review of the literature dealing with the problems of lean-mixture-ratio operation shows that a fuel with a low lean flammability limit and a high flame speed might yield low exhaust emissions at ultralean conditions. Hydrogen was identified in reference 5 as having those properties and has been the subject of much investigation. Using a small quantity, on a weight basis, of hydrogen as a supplement to gasoline was chosen as a way to extend lean engine operation. Onboard generation of hydrogen was selected as a feasible way to use hydrogen in a mobile application. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory I conducted a similar program (refs. 6 and 7) in which hydrogen generated by the partial oxidation of gasoline was used as a fuel supplement for lean engine operation. Various  commercial processes to generate hydrogen were analyzed for their applicability. The catalytic steam reformation of methyl alcohol (methanol) using engine exhaust heat was selected as being the most efficient process to generate hydrogen that was also compact enough to be carried on a vehicle. One disadvantage is that it would require a second fuel and a second fuel system.

A research system to generate hydrogen by methanol reformation was built and installed on a multicylinder engine in an existing engine test setup. An independent and parallel program on catalyst evaluation was performed but is not part of this report. An engine test program was conducted using gasoline and additions of gaseous hydrogen and reformed methanol to evaluate the effects of hydrogen-gasoline fuel mixtures on exhaust emissions, extension of lean engine operating limits, and fuel flammability limits and combustion flame speed.

GT5 GreenCell Technologies, Canada - This report presents a brief description of the breadboard methanol reformation system and the results of fuel and engine testing. The data were taken in the U. S. customary system of units and converted to SI units for this report.

GreenCell Technology is a Canadian company dedicated to designing and bringing to market, technology-based products in the alternative energy market. The current product is called the HydroCell, an on-board on-demand hydrogen generator engineered specifically for Diesel Transport Trucks.