Concepts for Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines and Their Implications on the Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment System

Stefan Sterlepper, Marcus Fischer, Johannes Claßen, Verena Huth and Stefan Pischinger
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Stefan Sterlepper: Thermodynamics of Energy Conversion Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Marcus Fischer: Thermodynamics of Energy Conversion Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Johannes Claßen: Thermodynamics of Energy Conversion Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Verena Huth: FEV Europe GmbH, 52078 Aachen, Germany
Stefan Pischinger: Thermodynamics of Energy Conversion Systems, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Hydrogen as carbon-free fuel is a very promising candidate for climate-neutral internal combustion engine operation. In comparison to other renewable fuels, hydrogen does obviously not produce CO 2 emissions. In this work, two concepts of hydrogen internal combustion engines (H 2 -ICEs) are investigated experimentally. One approach is the modification of a state-of-the-art gasoline passenger car engine using hydrogen direct injection. It targets gasoline-like specific power output by mixture enrichment down to stoichiometric operation. Another approach is to use a heavy-duty diesel engine equipped with spark ignition and hydrogen port fuel injection. Here, a diesel-like indicated efficiency is targeted through constant lean-burn operation. The measurement results show that both approaches are applicable. For the gasoline engine-based concept, stoichiometric operation requires a three-way catalyst or a three-way NO X storage catalyst as the primary exhaust gas aftertreatment system. For the diesel engine-based concept, state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts can be used to reduce the NOx emissions, provided the engine calibration ensures sufficient exhaust gas temperature levels. In conclusion, while H 2 -ICEs present new challenges for the development of the exhaust gas aftertreatment systems, they are capable to realize zero-impact tailpipe emission operation.

Keywords: hydrogen; internal combustion engine; emissions; NOx; exhaust gas aftertreatment; DeNO X; gaseous direct injection; port fuel injection; passenger cars; heavy duty vehicles (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: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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