Experimental Study of a Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engine Using Hydrogen at High-Altitude Conditions

One of the key factors of the current energy transition is the use of hydrogen (H2) as fuel in energy transformation technologies. This fuel has the advantage of being produced from the most primary forms of energy and has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In recent years, hydrogen or hydrogen-rich mixtures in internal combustion engines (ICEs) have gained popularity, with numerous reports documenting their use in spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI) engines. Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines have the potential for substantial reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, and the use of hydrogen along with this kind of combustion could substantially reduce CO2 emissions. However, there have been few reports using hydrogen in HCCI engines, with most studies limited to evaluating technical feasibility, combustion characteristics, engine performance, and emissions in laboratory settings at sea level. This paper presents a study of HCCI combustion using hydrogen in a stationary air-cooled Lombardini 25 LD 425-2 modified diesel engine located at 1495 m above sea level. An experimental phase was conducted to determine the intake temperature requirements and equivalence ratios for stable HCCI combustion. These results were compared with previous research carried out at sea level. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first report on the combustion and operational limits for an HCCI engine fueled with hydrogen under the mentioned specific conditions. Equivalence ratios between 0.21 and 0.28 and intake temperatures between 188 °C and 235 °C effectively achieved the HCCI combustion. These temperature values were, on average, 100 °C higher than those reported in previous studies. The maximum value for the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPn) was 1.75 bar, and the maximum thermal efficiency (ITEn) was 34.5%. The achieved results are important for the design and implementation of HCCI engines running solely on hydrogen in developing countries located at high altitudes above sea level.