Methods of on-board Hydrogen Generation in an IC Engine

Abstract

Hydrogen is considered to be the cleanest fuel for IC engines and also has a much higher calorific value than the other commonly used fossil fuels. The major problems inhibiting the commercialisation of hydrogen as a fuel is its extremely high cost of storage, production, and transport. The production of hydrogen on-board in an IC engine with simultaneous usage could solve most of the above-mentioned problems. In this paper we discuss the different methods commercially used for the production of hydrogen and the feasibility of them being used on-board on a vehicle propelled by an IC engine. The production of hydrogen using an alkali-based electrolyser with the electrical power produced from the energy extracted from the exhaust of the engine is considered as the most feasible option. Raney-Nickel is chosen as the most feasible electrocatalyst.