A Review of the Use of Hydrogen in Compression Ignition Engines with Dual-Fuel Technology and Techniques for Reducing NOx Emissions

Abstract

The use of compression ignition engines (CIEs) is associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore necessary to research sustainable solutions and reduce the negative environmental impact of these engines. A widely studied alternative is the use of H2 in dual-fuel mode. This review has been developed to include the most recent studies on the subject to collect and compare their main conclusions on performance and emissions. Moreover, this study includes most relevant emission control strategies that have not been extensively analyzed in other reviews on the subject. The main conclusion drawn from the literature is the negative effect of the addition of H2 on NOx. This is due to the increase in temperature during combustion, which increases NOx formation, as the thermal mechanism predominates. Therefore, to reduce these emissions, three strategies have been studied, namely exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), water injection (WI), and compression ratio (CR) reduction. The effect of these techniques on NOx reduction, together with their effect on other analyzed performance parameters, have been deeply analyzed. The studies reviewed in this work indicate that hydrogen is an alternative fuel for CIEs when used in conjunction with techniques that have proven to be effective in reducing NOx.

Spray Characterization of Direct Hydrogen Injection as a Green Fuel with Lower Emissions

“…This is achieved by blending fuels in different proportions with the aim of improving the combustion properties and reducing emissions [9,10]. One notable application of hydrogen that has gained considerable traction is its use as a fuel in compression ignition engines [11]. In these engines, the reduction in NO x emissions is often the primary objective due to the excess air with which they operate and the formation of soot.…”