Improved Combustion Efficiency and Reduction of Emissions of Compression Ignition Engines Using On-Board Non Thermal Plasma Generated Hydrogen/Syngas

Addition of hydrogen/syngas to a compression engine has shown to improve engine efficiency and emissions. While this has been studied in detail with diesel engines, little has been done to determine its effects on an engine operating on JP-8. There are also several inconsistencies in published reports regarding the effects of H2 injection that need to be addressed. With advancements in fuel reformation, it is possible to generate hydrogen in-situ from JP-8 for engine consumption. However, significant improvements in cost, energy efficiency and fuel consumption can also be realized in this area with the development of a state-of-the-art reformer that can produce H2/syn gas from JP-8 and renewable fuels more efficiently. Lynntech, along with West Virginia University proposes to develop an energy efficient non thermal plasma reformer to reform JP-8 to H2 and H2 rich syn gas. The reformer development will be coupled with detailed studies of the hydrogen injection benefits during the combustion of JP-8 at specified engine loadings and crank angle timing to resolve discrepancies in existing literature. Successful completion of the proposed approach will result in demonstration of improved engine efficiency and emissions that will transition this approach to be implemented across various military and commercial platforms.