High-Performance Two-Stroke Opposed-Piston Hydrogen Engine: Numerical Study on Injection Strategies, Spark Positioning and Water Injection to Mitigate Pre-Ignition

Alessandro Marini, Sebastiano Breda, Roberto Tonelli, Michele Di Sacco and Alessandro d’Adamo ()
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Alessandro Marini: Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Sebastiano Breda: Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Roberto Tonelli: Ferrari S.p.A., 41053 Maranello, Italy
Michele Di Sacco: Ferrari S.p.A., 41053 Maranello, Italy
Alessandro d’Adamo: Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-33

Abstract: In the pursuit of zero-emission mobility, hydrogen represents a promising fuel for internal combustion engines. However, its low volumetric energy density poses challenges, especially for high-performance applications where compactness and lightweight design are crucial. This study investigates the feasibility of an innovative hydrogen-fueled two-stroke opposed-piston (2S-OP) engine, targeting a specific power of 130 kW/L and an indicated thermal efficiency above 40%. A detailed 3D-CFD analysis is conducted to evaluate mixture formation, combustion behavior, abnormal combustion and water injection as a mitigation strategy. Innovative ring-shaped multi-point injection systems with several designs are tested, demonstrating the impact of injector channels’ orientation on the final mixture distribution. The combustion analysis shows that a dual-spark configuration ensures faster combustion compared to a single-spark system, with a 27.5% reduction in 10% to 90% combustion duration. Pre-ignition is identified as the main limiting factor, strongly linked to mixture stratification and high temperatures. To suppress it, water injection is proposed. A 55% evaporation efficiency of the water mass injected lowers the in-cylinder temperature and delays pre-ignition onset. Overall, the study provides key design guidelines for future high-performance hydrogen-fueled 2S-OP engines.

Keywords: hydrogen engine; opposed piston; two-stroke engine; 3D-CFD engine modeling; abnormal combustion; water injection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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