Comparitive Study of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Performance for Port Fuel Injected and Direct Injected Technology Routes using 1D Simulation

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) has the promise of zero carbon solution for the mobility industry. The key beneficiary would be the medium and heavy-duty segment of transportation which are likely to adapt the battery electric or fuel cell electric solution in longer term. This particular segment of engines need high low end torque, peak torque and rated power which cannot be compromised. Additionally, a competitive thermal efficiency w.r.t diesel engines would be advantageous. Direct Injection (DI) of hydrogen gives higher specific power and thermal efficiency as compared to Port Fuel Injection (PFI). This study focuses on the performance characteristics of these technology routes to aid in the HICE development process. Current work involves the use of 1-D thermodynamic simulation using GT-SUITE for modeling the performance of HICE. Both predictive and non-predictive methodologies of modeling the combustion were employed. Initially, the model validation of the PFI engine model was carried out with the HICE baseline experimental data for a heavy-duty commercial truck engine. Subsequently, a DI engine model was created and with similar combustion modeling methodology, the performance assessment was carried out. The study presents all aspects of full throttle performance of both the PFI and DI technology routes for HICE. The simulation results show that DI methodology is advantageous as it gives a minimum of 3 to 5% increased torque as compared to PFI route with the same turbocharging system. Using a DI methodology helps to enhance the volumetric efficiency of the engine unlike PFI where the hydrogen gas displaces air in the intake system. DI strategy is also less susceptible to knocking combustion. Various combustion behavior insights namely, the combustion duration, mass burned fraction, peak combustion pressures and temperatures are also obtained as a part of the study.</div></div>