Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Windsor
$103,392.00
Hydrogen sensors and continuous hydrogen analyzer for H2-enhanced combustion
FY 2008-09
Summary
Hydrogen gas has been proven to enhance the efficiency of the internal combustion engines and reduce emissions. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is effective to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) from Diesel engines because it lowers the flame temperature and the oxygen concentration of the working fluid in the combustion chamber. However, as NOx reduces, particulate matter (PM) increases, resulting from the lowered oxygen concentration. When EGR further increases, the engine operation reaches zones with higher instabilities, increased PM emissions and even power losses. A variety of ways to implement EGR including EGR stream treatment and EGR-fuel reforming are under investigation in Zheng's research group at the University of Windsor. In an EGR reformer, a small amount of diesel fuel is reformulated to generate hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in a partial oxidation reactor. The H2 and CO produced can enhance the premixed combustion or to better enable the exhaust aftertreatment systems. A novel central fuel strategy within a flow reversal embedment has been proposed, implemented, and reported by Zheng's group to improve the H2 yield. Biodiesel in EGR reformer has been reported to generate significantly more H2 than petroleum Diesel. A catalytic rich combustor incorporated into the EGR loop has been set up in Zheng's lab to generate gaseous fuels on demand. The transient H2 concentration along the fuel-reforming pathways, at the intake port, and inside the combustion chamber will be analyzed with a Diesel/Biodiesel engine. The proposed real-time H2 analyzer systems will help to identify the high-H2 yield conditions during the fuel reforming, thereby to facilitate the control on the reformed-fuel scheduling and quantity in the combustor. The H2 addition will help to change the burning characteristics and therefore steer the in-cylinder emission control strategies. The proposed real-time hydrogen analyzer can continuously monitor H2 concentration from 0-100% in presence of multiple gases such as O2, H2S, H2O, CO/CO2, and hydrocarbons.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
375109-2009
Name nom
Zheng, Ming
Department département
Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering
Organization id
37
Institution établissement
University of Windsor
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2009
Award amount
103392
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1054
Committee name en
Mechanical Engineering - B
Committee name fr
Génie mécanique - B
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
2100
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie mécanique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Hydrogen sensors and continuous hydrogen analyzer for H2-enhanced combustion
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Hydrogen gas has been proven to enhance the efficiency of the internal combustion engines and reduce emissions. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is effective to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) from Diesel engines because it lowers the flame temperature and the oxygen concentration of the working fluid in the combustion chamber. However, as NOx reduces, particulate matter (PM) increases, resulting from the lowered oxygen concentration. When EGR further increases, the engine operation reaches zones with higher instabilities, increased PM emissions and even power losses. A variety of ways to implement EGR including EGR stream treatment and EGR-fuel reforming are under investigation in Zheng's research group at the University of Windsor. In an EGR reformer, a small amount of diesel fuel is reformulated to generate hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in a partial oxidation reactor. The H2 and CO produced can enhance the premixed combustion or to better enable the exhaust aftertreatment systems. A novel central fuel strategy within a flow reversal embedment has been proposed, implemented, and reported by Zheng's group to improve the H2 yield. Biodiesel in EGR reformer has been reported to generate significantly more H2 than petroleum Diesel. A catalytic rich combustor incorporated into the EGR loop has been set up in Zheng's lab to generate gaseous fuels on demand. The transient H2 concentration along the fuel-reforming pathways, at the intake port, and inside the combustion chamber will be analyzed with a Diesel/Biodiesel engine. The proposed real-time H2 analyzer systems will help to identify the high-H2 yield conditions during the fuel reforming, thereby to facilitate the control on the reformed-fuel scheduling and quantity in the combustor. The H2 addition will help to change the burning characteristics and therefore steer the in-cylinder emission control strategies. The proposed real-time hydrogen analyzer can continuously monitor H2 concentration from 0-100% in presence of multiple gases such as O2, H2S, H2O, CO/CO2, and hydrocarbons.
