Comparative evaluation of combustion, performance, exergy and emission characteristics in hydrogen-biodiesel dual fuel engine under RCCI mode

The present work focuses on the impact of combustion phase shifting from CDC (conventional diesel combustion) to RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) mode of operation under various premixed ratios of hydrogen on the combustion, performance and exhaust emissions of a partially modified CI (compression ignition) engine. The hydrogen premix ratios are varied from 10% to 60% with 10% increment and the engine is tested at 0.9 kW, 1.8 kW, and 2.7 kW. The experimental results have shown that the hydrogen participation up to 40% premixed ratio improves the homogeneousness and stability of the combustion, resulting in 8.19% increase in cylinder pressure and 27.81% increase in heat release rate (HRR) at 2.7 kW brake power. It is also observed that the premix phase of combustion is faster with up to 40% hydrogen participation as the 50% mass burn is found to shift towards TDC. At the same operating point, the combustion is also found to be more stable with 72% reduction in COV IMEP . The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) increases by 10.07% when operating at 2.7 kW brake power with a 40% premix ratio, compared to diesel CDC operation. The unburned hydrocarbon (UHC), carbon monoxide (CO), and PM emissions are reduced by 9.17%, 21.68%, and 9.51%, respectively, for the hydrogen premixed ratio of 40%, with a marginal increase in the oxide of nitrogen (NO X ) emissions.