Theoretical aspects of the use of hydrogen in the diesel engine

Abstract The promotion of fuels with low carbon content is the solution to reduce pollutant emissions in all areas of transport in a relatively short time. In this context, hydrogen is privileged, being a viable alternative fuel for internal combustion engines in all fields of transport, having the advantage of preserving the basic structure of the engine. The main obstacles to the large-scale expansion of the use of hydrogen as a fuel in internal combustion engines in transport are determined by the cost of production, storage on board the vehicle and the distribution network, large investments being required. The concept of using hydrogen as an alternative fuel to the diesel engine is relatively recent, the concerns of specialists being more intense in the last two decades. The improvement of the energy and pollution performance of the diesel engine when operating in a dual system, with diesel and hydrogen, is determined by the improvement of the combustion process due to the good combustion properties of hydrogen. The paper presents theoretical modeling results regarding the influence of hydrogen on the combustion pressure, the pressure rise rate, the heat release rate, the indicated efficiency and the nitrogen oxides emission level.