Hydrogen engine-specific properties

Hydrogen is seen as one of the important energy vectors of the next century. Hydrogen as an energy carrier, provides the potential for a sustainable development particularly in the transportation sector. A hydrogen fueled engine has the potential for substantially cleaner emissions than other internal combustion engines. Other benefits arise from the wide flammability limits and the high flame propagation speed, both allowing better efficiency. The Laboratory of Transporttechnology (University of Ghent) converted a GM/Crusader V8 SI engine for hydrogen use, to be built in a city bus. A sequential timed multipoint injection system was implemented. Attention is directed towards special characteristics related to the use of hydrogen as a fuel in IC engines: ignition properties (smaller spark plug gap), injection pressure (dependent on the means of storage: compressed gas or liquid), quality of the lubricating oil (due to higher blow-by volumes, a substantial amount of hydrogen is present in the crankcase), oxygen sensors (very lean operating conditions). The advantages and disadvantages of a power regulation by changing the air to fuel ratio (as for diesel engines), as compared to throttle regulation (SI engines) are judged.