Measures for high specific power output on a HD H2-ICE: A numerical and experimental analysis

Authors

A. Boberic - TME, RWTH Aachen University, L. Virnich, K. Deppenkemper - FEV Europe GmbH, F. Dörnenburg, A. Grom, R. Morgenstern - Tenneco

Summary

Hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (ICEs) can be a suitable alternative pro-pulsion system for commercial vehicles. The high technological level of internal combustion engines in combination with the carbon-free fuel can enable a significant reduction in fleet greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. However, premixed hydrogen combustion systems pose several challenges regarding the maximal achievable load. The use of hydrogen in an internal combustion engine is not only limited by knocking, but is also prone to uncontrolled combustion phenomena such as pre-ignition, which can potentially damage the engine. A development goal for engines with pre-mixed hydrogen combustion must therefore be the avoidance of undesirable ignition sources such as hotspots.

In this work, various measures to reduce hotpots in the combustion chamber are analyzed. Finite element analysis was used to evaluate the surface temperatures of the combustion chamber walls. The influence of these components on the initiation of ab-normal combustion was then investigated experimentally on a heavy-duty single-cylinder engine with regard to the maximum achievable power.

The results show that improved cooling and thus a reduction of the surface temperatures of the investigated components in the combustion chamber is achievable. The experimental investigations with different operating strategies confirmed a lower pre-ignition tendency and that an increase in the power density of the engine is possible.