Effects of Hydrogen in Low-calorific Gases on Fuel Consumption and Emissions in a Diesel Engine

For one practical approach to utilizing hydrogen fuel, the efficient usage of low- calorific gases with small portion of hydrogen is demonstrated in diesel engines used for power generation. These gases originally produced in various chemical processes such as gasification of solid wastes or biomass. Effects of amount and composition of low-calorific gases with hydrogen on diesel-engine performance and emissions were experimentally investigated by adding hydrogen- nitrogen mixtures into intake gas of a direct-injection diesel engine. The results indicate that optimal usage of low-calorific gases reduces NOx and Smoke emissions with remarkable saving in diesel fuel consumption.