Study of the performance of a four cylinder hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine

Due to the depletion of fossil fuel resources arid the potential consequences of climate change due to fossil fuel use, much effort has been put into the search for alternative fuels for transportation. Although there are several potential alternative fuels which have low impact on the environment, none of these fuels have the ability to be used as the sole \fuel of the future\". One fuel which is likely to become a part of the over all solution to the transportation fuel dilemma is hydrogen. Internal combustion engines which are fuelled by gasoline are well known within society and the scientific community. Although information is available within the scientific community regarding the operation of hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines such information is relatively scarce when compared with the sheer volume of information which is available for gasoline fuelled internal combustion engines. This work covers the conversion of a standard small car to be fuelled by hydrogen. The car was modified in such a way that it could be operated on either gasoline or hydrogen at the choice of the driver. The car which was chosen was a Toyota Corolla hatchback. This thesis outlines the design process which was undertaken for conversion of the car to be fuelled by hydrogen. Integrated within the design of the converted vehicle are systems for the measurement of all major engine operation parameters. Within the scope of this project a new inlet manifold and hydrogen fuel injection and storage systems were devised. Integral to these systems is the hydrogen leak detection safety system which helps to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Also covered are the solutions found for the elimination of backfire minimisation of exhaust emissions and the maximisation of both power and efficiency. These competing factors were considered for each of the programmed operating conditions for the entire useful operating range of the vehicle's engine. Following this a comparison was made between the various competing requirements for operation on gasoline and hydrogen fuel. Significant reductions in the levels of all exhaust gas pollutants were found when the engine was operated on hydrogen. However the power output of the engine while operated on hydrogen was significantly less than that of the gasoline fuelled engine. This work is a step toward a full understanding of hydrogen-fuelled engines their performance and their associated environmental benefits."