A novel strategy for hydrous-ethanol utilization: Demonstration of a spark-ignition engine fueled with hydrogen-rich fuel from an onboard ethanol/steam reformer

作者：Li Gesheng^*; Zhang Zunhua; You Fubing; Pan Zhixiang; Zhang Xintang; Dong Jian; Gao Xiaohong

来源：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38(14): 5936-5948.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.03.008

• Spark ignition engine
• Hydrous ethanol
• Steam reforming
• Onboard reformer
• Engine performance
• Emission

In this paper, an onboard reformer and a dual-fuel (hydrous-ethanol and gasoline) supply system were designed to examine experimentally the reforming performance of hydrous-ethanol for an on-line, operating engine, and a series of optimization and comparison experiments were conducted. The results show that HE75 (75% hydrous-ethanol, i.e., ethanol with 25% water volume content) conversion first increases and later decreases with the temperature and reaches its peak at a temperature of approximately 675 K. The effects of the flow rate and temperature on the product distribution are minimal. Compared to the prototype gasoline-fueled engine, the average decreases of the equivalent specific fuel consumption, NOx emissions, CO emission and total hydrocarbon emissions for the optimized engine fueled with hydrogen-rich reformates are 6%, 70%, 50% and 80%, respectively. This preliminary experiment suggests that the utilization of hydrous, rather than anhydrous, ethanol in a spark ignition engine by the onboard steam reforming of ethanol may represent a sustainable alternative energy source.

• 出版日期2013-5-10