The effect of HRG gas addition on diesel engine combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions

Abstract Extensive studies have been dedicated in the last decade to the possibility to use hydrogen in the dual-fuel mode to improve combustion characteristics and emissions of a diesel engine. The results of these studies, using pure hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas produced through water electrolysis, are notably different. The present investigation was conducted on a tractor diesel engine running with small amounts of the gas—provided by a water electrolyzer—aspirated in the air stream inducted in the cylinder. The engine was operated at light and medium loads and various speeds. It was found that the addition of HRG gas has a slight negative impact, up to 2%, on the engine brake thermal efficiency. Smoke is significantly reduced, up to 30%, with HRG enrichment, while NO x concentrations vary in both senses, up to 14%, depending on the engine operation mode. A relative small amount of HRG gas can be used with favorable effects on emissions and with a small penalty in thermal efficiency.