Development of a Simulation Code for Hydrogen Fuelled SI Engines

Abstract

Hydrogen is an attractive alternative energy carrier, which could make harmful emissions, global warming and the insecurity concerning oil supply a thing of the past. Hydrogen internal combustion engines can be introduced relatively easily, from a technological as well as from an economic point of view. This paper discusses the development of a model for the combustion of hydrogen in spark ignition engines, which has lead to a simulation program that can assist the optimization of these engines. The importance of a laminar burning velocity correlation taking stretch and instability effects into account is shown. The effects are particularly strong for the highly diffusive hydrogen molecule. In this paper, a laminar burning velocity correlation published previously by two of the authors is combined with a number of turbulent burning velocity models in a quasi-dimensional two-zone combustion model framework. After calibration of the combustion model for a reference condition, simulation results are compared with experimental cylinder pressure data recorded on a single cylinder hydrogen engine. Correspondence between simulation and measurement is shown for varying equivalence ratio, ignition timing and compression ratio. All models performed well for varying ignition timings and compression ratios; the real test proved to be the ability of the models to predict the effects of a varying equivalence ratio, this lead to a clear distinction in the models.

Performance and Emission Characteristic Analysis of a Gasoline Engine Utilizing Different Types of Alternative Fuels: A Comprehensive Review

“…Alternative fuels, like ethanol, natural gas, propane, and acetylene, are substituting for fossil fuels. There are many experimental works on the functioning of automobiles with these alternative fuels, and therefore, few publications are made to compare effects of these fuels together. − The majority of previous literature show a comparison between two or three fuels . In comparison of a hydrogen/gasoline engine, Verhelst et al concluded that the BTE of a hydrogen engine surpasses than that of a gasoline engine.…”

Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of hydrogen engines using a turbulent flame speed closure combustion model

“…Laminar burning velocities are compiled into a correlation that may be used as an input for turbulent combustion models employing an analytical expression adopted from Verhelst 20 in the form of…”

“…With respect to the wide range of equivalence ratios present in hydrogen DI engines, an experimental laminar flame speed correlation presented by Verhelst 20 is extended to the rich regime. The original correlation reproduces measurements of the ‘Leeds’ combustion bomb covering fuel-to-air equivalence ratios of ϕ ≤ 1 (λ ≥ 1).…”

“…The extended Leeds database predicts higher values of burning velocities than the reaction mechanism correlation due to the accelerating effect of flame front instabilities, which are not allowed for in the experiments of Verhelst. 20…”

Effects of Spark Advance, A/F Ratio and Valve Timing on Emission and Performance Characteristics of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine

“…In Verhelst's literature [7] quasi-dimensional model was preferred to multi-dimensional one because of a reasonable accuracy and fast computation on PC system. And they developed a complete cycle simulation code for SI engine and they looked thoroughly at the turbulent combustion in hydrogen fuelled engine.…”