Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference · 1976 · 16 citations · 0 references
EngineeringAutomotive EngineeringChemical EngineeringCombustionInternal Combustion EnginesReaction EngineeringCatalytic Reaction EngineeringCombustion FundamentalsCombustion In EnginesCombustion ProcessesCombustion Reaction EngineeringFuel ChemistryCatalytic Surface ReactionsHydrogen CombustionHydrogen FuelHydrogen GenerationHydrogen Internal Combustion EnginesOxidationPartial OxidationSteam Reforming
Problems concerning the use of hydrogen as a fuel for motor vehicles are related to the storage of the hydrogen onboard a vehicle. The feasibility is investigated to use an approach based on onboard hydrogen generation as a means to avoid these storage difficulties. Two major chemical processes can be used to produce hydrogen from liquid hydrocarbons and methanol. In steam reforming, the fuel reacts with water on a catalytic surface to produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In partial oxidation, the fuel reacts with air, either on a catalytic surface or in a flame front, to yield a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. There are many trade-offs in onboard hydrogen generation, both in the choice of fuels as well as in the choice of a chemical process. Attention is given to these alternatives, the results of some experimental work in this area, and the combustion of various hydrogen-rich gases in an internal combustion engine.