Study on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion in argon circulated closed cycle hydrogen engine

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2022-11, Vol.47 (90), p.38427-38431
• Main Authors: Usui, Takumi, Shudo, Toshio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argon circulation; Chemical kinetics; Closed cycle hydrogen engine; HCCI
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.016

It is important to improve thermal efficiency and to reduce harmful exhaust gas emissions in internal combustion engines. A closed cycle engine system that uses a monatomic molecular gas as the working fluid can be expected to have high thermal efficiency due to the high specific heat ratio of the gas. Several studies have been reported on closed cycle engines with conventional spark ignition or compression ignition. This research newly proposes an argon circulated closed cycle homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine system fueled with hydrogen. In this engine system, effects of in-cylinder gas initial temperature and residual water in recirculated gas on combustion characteristics were investigated. The results show that the system with argon circulation has the wider range of operable conditions and the higher thermal efficiency compared to the case with air as the working fluid. •An argon circulated closed cycle homogeneous charge compression ignition engine fueled with hydrogen was proposed.•The HCCI combustion of hydrogen is possible by the argon circulation under a wide range of operating conditions in this study.•The third body effects of argon and residual water in the intake mixture have some effects to delay the combustion.