超希薄水素エンジンの低公害性と熱効率向上の可能性検討

抄録

A feasibility study on lean-burn hydrogen fueled engines with high thermal efficiency and low emission has been carried out to demonstrate the application to hybrid electric vehicles by reviewing two papers [1,2]. The following conclusions have been obtained. (1) High thermal efficiency and emissions as low as EZEV (Equivalent Zero Emission Vehicle) level can be atained by lean-burn hydrogen fueled engines with reasonable acceleration and hill climbing performance. (2) A simulation study has shown that a range of 508 km as long as for a conventional gasoline car can be also obtained by series hybrid electric vehicle with the hydrogen fueled engine on board while using only 5kg liquid hydrogen equivalent to about 19 liters gasoline. The engine,at the same time,ca n overcome the emission level of EZEV. (3) Even if the engine system is a conventional reciprocating lean-bum hydrogen fueled engine,it gives NOx emission as low as 1/7.5 of EZEV level of NOx. The range is as short as 330 km but acceptable. (4) Lean-burn hydrogen fueled engines also give basically the same benefits as a fuel cell,with well-known technology that can be applied immediately.