Simulation-Based Study of NH3/H2-Dual Fueled HCCI Engine Performance: Effects of Blending Ratio, Equivalence Ratio, and Compression Ratio Using Detailed Chemical Kinetic Modeling †

Abstract

Challenges associated with the homogeneous charge combustion ignition (HCCI) concept include combustion phasing control and a narrow operating window. To address the HCCI engine developmental needs, chemical kinetic solvers have been recently included in the commercial engine simulation toolchains like GT-Suite v2024 upward. This study investigates the feasibility of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen (H2) as dual fuels in homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines, leveraging chemical kinetics modeling via GT-Suite software v2024. A validated baseline model was adapted with NH3/H2 injectors and simulated across varying blending ratios (BR), compression ratios (CR), air–fuel equivalence ratios (ER), and engine speeds. Results reveal that adding 10% H2 to NH3 significantly improves ignition. Optimal performance was observed at a CR of 20 and a lean mixture, achieving higher indicated thermal efficiency (about 40%), while keeping the intrinsic advantages of zero-carbon fuel. However, NOx emissions increased with higher ER due to elevated combustion temperatures. The study emphasizes the trade-offs between efficiency and NOx emissions under tested conditions. Finally, despite the single-zone model limitations in neglecting thermal stratification, this study shows that kinetic modeling has great potential for effectively predicting trends in HCCI, thereby demonstrating the promise of NH3/H2 blends in HCCI engines for cleaner and efficient combustion, paving the way for advanced dual-fuel combustion concepts.