Combustion optimization in a hydrogen-enhanced lean burn SI engine

Abstract

Lean operation of spark ignition (SI) automotive engines offers attractive performance incentives. Lowered combustion temperatures inhibit NO[sub]x pollutant formation while reduced manifold throttling minimizes pumping losses, leading to higher efficiency. These benefits are offset by the reduced combustion speed of lean mixtures, which can lead to high cycle-to-cycle variation and unacceptable engine behavior characteristics. Hydrogen-enhancement can suppress the undesirable consequences of lean operation by accelerating the combustion process, thereby extending the "lean limit." Hydrogen can be produced onboard the vehicle with a plasmatron fuel reformer device. Combustion optimization experiments focused on three key areas: the ignition system, charge motion in the inlet ports, and mixture preparation. The ignition system tests compared a standard inductive coil scheme against high-energy discharge systems. Charge motion experiments focused on the impact of turbulence patterns generated by conventional restrictor plates as well as novel inlet flow modification cones. The turbulent motion of each configuration was characterized using swirl and tumble flow benches. Mixture preparation tests compared a standard single-hole pintle injector against a fine atomizing 12-hole injector. Lastly, a further series of trials was also run to investigate the impact of high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) dilution rates on combustion stability. Results indicate that optimizations of the combustion system in conjunction with hydrogen-enhancement can extend the lean limit of operation by roughly 25% compared against the baseline configuration. Nearly half of this improvement may be attributed to improvements in the combustion system.

(cont.) An inductive ignition system in conjunction with a high tumble-motion inlet configuration leads to the highest levels of combustion performance. Furthermore, hydrogen enhancement affects a nearly constant absolute improvement in the lean misfire limit regardless of baseline combustion behavior. Conversely, the amount of improvement in the point of peak engine NIMEP output is inversely related to the level of baseline performance.