ON-BOARD GENERATION OF HYDROGEN-RICH GASEOUS FUELS - A REVIEW

Hydrogen has a good potential as an alternative fuel for spark ignition engines. It can extend the lean flammability limit of conventional fuels in order to achieve higher thermal efficiency and lower exhaust emissions. This paper reviews the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-enriched gasoline as a fuel for SI engines and the techniques used to generate hydrogen from liquid fuels such as gasoline and methanol, on-board the vehicle. The processes of thermal decomposition, steam reforming, partial oxidation and exhaust gas reforming are evaluated. A considerable amount of both theoretical and experimental work has been done in this field. Predictive and experimental results of the various investigators are reviewed and summarized.