Thermodynamic analysis of methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as alternative fuels in HCCI engines

Abstract

The present study enters in the context of reducing harmful emissions of the marine fleet by using three of the most promising alternative fuels, namely methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. These fuels are to be examined from the perspective of both the first and second laws of thermodynamics when employed in turbocharged and intercooled Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engines (HCCI) under various values of ambient temperature and equivalence ratio. Results showed that the highest engine performance values favour using ammonia as fuel, followed, in order, by hydrogen and methanol. Furthermore, most of the exergy destruction rates (65.26% ammonia to 84.02% for hydrogen) of the exergy destruction rate occurring in the engine take place in the HCCI engine.