Abstract
A large portion of the literature about the use of hydrogen as a fuel in air-breathing reciprocating engines is devoted to the problems of auto-ignition and knock. Operation with oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen, which in principle can reduce or even eliminate the production of oxides of nitrogen, is expected to be potentially more troublesome in this respect. The paper describes an analytical approach, incorporating detailed chemical kinetics, to the combustion of H2-O2-N2 mixtures in a reciprocating engine. The role of various operating parameters was determined primarily in relation to the length of the ignition delay and the associated peak values of cylinder pressure and temperature. Also, the extent of production of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust was examined in terms of cycle parameters and the oxygen index of the charge.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.