Hydrogen engine-specific properties

Hydrogen is seen as one of the important energy vectors of the next century . Hydrogen as an energy carrier, provides the potential for a sustainable d evelopment particularly in the transportation sector. A hydrogen fueled eng ine has the potential for substantially cleaner emissions than other intern al combustion engines. Other benefits arise from the wide flammability limi ts and the high flame propagation speed, both allowing better efficiency. T he Laboratory of Transporttechnology (University of Gent) converted a GM/Cr usader V8 SI engine for hydrogen use, to be built in a city bus. A sequenti al timed multipoint injection system was implemented. Attention is directed towards special characteristics related to the use of hydrogen as a fuel i n IC engines: ignition properties (smaller spark plug gap), injection press ure (dependent on the means of storage: compressed gas or liquid), quality of the lubricating oil (due to higher blow-by volumes, a substantial amount of hydrogen is present in the crankcase), oxygen sensors (very lean operat ing conditions). The advantages and disadvantages of a power regulation by changing the air to fuel ratio (as for diesel engines), as compared to thro ttle regulation (SI engines) are judged. (C) 2001 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.