A comparative study of NOx mitigating techniques EGR and spark delay on combustion and NOx emission of ammonia/hydrogen and hydrogen fuelled SI engine

IC engines, the backbone of the transportation sector is facing energy insecurity and stringent environmental norms motivating researchers to look for alternate ways of revival. In pursuit hydrogen and its careers are seen as promising option. Aiming the same comparative-study is performed on NH3/H2 (7:3) and hydrogen under varying ignition (from −24°CA to −12°CA) and EGR rates (till 25%). Results indicate improved combustion for NH3/H2 for a small range of ignition than hydrogen, ∂P/∂θ and ∂Q/∂θ is improved before TDC and deteriorates after it. Cycle-by-cycle variations increase for a longer ignition range for NH3/H2, but NOx drops more rapidly. At −24°CA, NH3/H2 has observed a minimal gap in peak pressure, CoV and performance from hydrogen. Though a small EGR helps reduce NOx, cycle-by-cycle variations and CA90 reduce due to improved combustion for NH3/H2. ∂P/∂θ and ∂Q/∂θ improve for the same range too. However, hydrogen suffers adverse effects due to EGR that intensify with increasing EGR-rate. At higher EGR, unstable combustion and heterogeneity prevail, resulting in increased cycle-by-cycle variations and a rapid drop in peak pressure. The prolonged combustion witnesses a massive decline in NOx for both fuels; however, the gap between NH3/H2 and hydrogen entities reduces. NH3/H2 shows better efficiency than hydrogen for an efficient NOx control. However, higher fuel NOx maintains a significant difference for NH3/H2 than hydrogen. The study limits quantitative analysis of it and also NH3 emissions, which is another primary concern. •NH3/H2 observes a nearly similar performance of H2 at 24°CA ignition.•Pmax is same for both fuels at optimized ignition despite slow burning of NH3/H2.•NH3/H2 has higher NOx than H2, largely due to fuel NOx, but thermal NOx is less.•At higher EGR, NH3/H2 performs better, has less cyclic variations than H2.•NOx dips to 20% for H2 but NH3/H2 due to fuel NOx faces 43% drop only.