Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics
Methanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel, provides an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when synthesized through carbon dioxide hydrogenation integrated with carbon capture technology. The incorporation of hydrogen into methanol-fueled engines enhances combustion efficiency,...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/959 |
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| author | Yingting Zhang Yu Ding Xiaohui Ren La Xiang |
| author_facet | Yingting Zhang Yu Ding Xiaohui Ren La Xiang |
| author_sort | Yingting Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Methanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel, provides an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when synthesized through carbon dioxide hydrogenation integrated with carbon capture technology. The incorporation of hydrogen into methanol-fueled engines enhances combustion efficiency, mitigating challenges such as pronounced cycle-to-cycle variations and cold-start difficulties. A simulation framework was developed using Python 3.13 and the Cantera 3.1.0 library to model the combustion system of a four-stroke spark-ignited (SI) methanol–hydrogen engine. This framework integrates a fractal turbulent combustion model with chemical reaction kinetics, complemented by early flame development and near-wall combustion models to address limitations during the initial and terminal combustion phases. The model was validated by using experimental data measured from a spark-ignited methanol engine. The effects of varying Hydrogen Energy Rates (HER) on engine power performance, combustion characteristics, and emissions (like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide) were subsequently analyzed under different operating loads, whilst the knock limit boundaries were established for different operational conditions. Findings demonstrate that increasing HER improves the engine power output and thermal efficiency, shortens the combustion duration, and reduces the formaldehyde and carbon monoxide emissions. Nevertheless, under high-load conditions, higher HER increases the knocking tendency, which constrains the maximum permissible HER decreasing from approximately 40% at 15% load to 20% at 100% load. The model has been developed into a Python library and will be open-sourced on Github. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07df4bc40e3c4714bc8b4c35b8b23c85 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-07df4bc40e3c4714bc8b4c35b8b23c852025-08-20T03:14:39ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-05-0113595910.3390/jmse13050959Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction KineticsYingting Zhang0Yu Ding1Xiaohui Ren2La Xiang3College of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaHenan Diesel Engine Industry Co., Ltd., Luoyang 471039, ChinaCollege of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, ChinaMethanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel, provides an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when synthesized through carbon dioxide hydrogenation integrated with carbon capture technology. The incorporation of hydrogen into methanol-fueled engines enhances combustion efficiency, mitigating challenges such as pronounced cycle-to-cycle variations and cold-start difficulties. A simulation framework was developed using Python 3.13 and the Cantera 3.1.0 library to model the combustion system of a four-stroke spark-ignited (SI) methanol–hydrogen engine. This framework integrates a fractal turbulent combustion model with chemical reaction kinetics, complemented by early flame development and near-wall combustion models to address limitations during the initial and terminal combustion phases. The model was validated by using experimental data measured from a spark-ignited methanol engine. The effects of varying Hydrogen Energy Rates (HER) on engine power performance, combustion characteristics, and emissions (like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide) were subsequently analyzed under different operating loads, whilst the knock limit boundaries were established for different operational conditions. Findings demonstrate that increasing HER improves the engine power output and thermal efficiency, shortens the combustion duration, and reduces the formaldehyde and carbon monoxide emissions. Nevertheless, under high-load conditions, higher HER increases the knocking tendency, which constrains the maximum permissible HER decreasing from approximately 40% at 15% load to 20% at 100% load. The model has been developed into a Python library and will be open-sourced on Github.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/959methanolhydrogenSI enginequasi-dimensional modelchemical reaction kinetic |
| spellingShingle | Yingting Zhang Yu Ding Xiaohui Ren La Xiang Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics Journal of Marine Science and Engineering methanol hydrogen SI engine quasi-dimensional model chemical reaction kinetic |
| title | Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics |
| title_full | Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics |
| title_fullStr | Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics |
| title_short | Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics |
| title_sort | performance study of spark ignited methanol hydrogen engine by using a fractal turbulent combustion model coupled with chemical reaction kinetics |
| topic | methanol hydrogen SI engine quasi-dimensional model chemical reaction kinetic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/959 |
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