Optimization Of A Natural Aspirated Hydrogen Diesel Engine

• Main Author: Mohamad Norani, Mohamad Nordin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/24672/; https://plh.utem.edu.my/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=117647

With the current level of awareness and increasing concerns surrounding climatic conditions, pollution and sustainability, hydrogen fuel has been the focus in providing clean energy for the combustion process engine by reducing emissions and improving engine performance. The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effect of hydrogen gas inside a diesel engine towards engine performance and emissions. The research process examines the hydrogen effect inside an unmodified diesel internal combustion engine, commencing with three different parameters, which are engine speed, hydraulic loading and the hydrogen supply rate. The first phase was run at the constant engine speed and hydraulic loading with a variable hydrogen rate. The second phase was executed using a fixed engine speed, but with variable hydraulic loading and variant hydrogen supply. Finally, the third phase was performed on the optimization of the hydrogen effect using the Taguchi method (L9 arrays), signal noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) between 3 controlled factors and levels. The optimal combination of hydrogen inside the system was verified based on a confirmation test. The corresponding responses are brake power and brake specific fuel consumption. Also, the emissions responses are consisting of nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were investigated via a diesel test rig, hydrogen workstation, and an MRU gas analyser. Significant performance and emission outcomes were determined at the best optimization combinations at low engine speed with 4000 kPa hydraulic loading and hydrogen flow rate of 6 l/min. By comparing with the same condition, but without the addition of hydrogen or the original diesel baseline, the brake power increased by 1.93 % and the reduction of BSFC, CO2, hydrocarbon, and CO to 29.67 %, 38.36 %, 18.21 %, 82.1 % respectively. Nevertheless, the nitrogen oxide emission increased to 552.15 ppm with the optimised condition from 280.512 ppm from the original diesel baseline.