Application of Exhaust Gas Fuel Reforming in Diesel Engines Towards the Improvement Urban Air Qualities

Abstract

The full potential of hydrogen for internal combustion engines is considered as an alternative fuel because hydrogen can be improved the engine performance and enhanced aftertreatment activities. This study is an investigation of the hydrogen production via partial oxidation reforming process (POx). This type of partial oxidation reforming process involves an on-board generation of hydrogen containing the gas by direct catalyst interaction of palm oil biodiesel (B7) fuel with the engine exhaust gas. The reformate (i.e. H2-rich gas) will be produced and introduced continuously into the engine as reformate exhaust gas recirculation (REGR) which it can be enhanced engine performance with low exhaust gas emission. The aim of this work is the design of a fuel reforming system with simulated the real exhaust gas in order to examine the effect of oxygen concentration, hydrocarbon concentration (B7) and space velocity (SV) (i.e. 13,000 and 16,000 h-1) on reforming catalyst. The result found that the reforming catalyst can produce up to 11% hydrogen production that significant benefit can be derived from the use of onboard hydrogen production in terms of engine performance, aftertreatment system performance and environmental emissions. In additions, the on-board hydrogen production targets optimization are required to enhance the engine performance and aftertreatment activities in reducing diesel exhaust gas emissions.