Influence of Hydrogen on the Performance and Emissions Characteristics of a Spark Ignition Ammonia Direct Injection Engine

Because ammonia is easier to store and transport over long distances than hydrogen, it is a promising research direction as a potential carrier for hydrogen. However, its low ignition and combustion rates pose challenges for running conventional ignition engines solely on ammonia fuel over the entire operational range. In this study, we attempted to identify a stable engine combustion zone using a high-pressure direct injection of ammonia fuel into a 2.5 L spark ignition engine and examined the potential for extending the operational range by adding hydrogen. As it is difficult to secure combustion stability in a low-temperature atmosphere, the experiment was conducted in a sufficiently-warmed atmosphere (90 ± 2.5 ◦C), and the combustion, emission, and efficiency results under each operating condition were experimentally compared. At 1500 rpm, the addition of 10% hydrogen resulted in a notable 20.26% surge in the maximum torque, reaching 263.5 Nm, in contrast with the case where only ammonia fuel was used. Furthermore, combustion stability was ensured at a torque of 140 Nm by reducing the fuel and air flow rates.