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The first engine dynamometer test results are presented for a modified fuel system based on hydrogen enrichment for a V-8 I.C. engine. The engine burns mixtures of gasoline and hydrogen under ultralean conditions to yield extreme low NOx emissions with increased engine efficiency. The hydrogen is produced in a compact onboard generator from gasoline and air. The hydrogen-rich product gas is cooled and mixed with the normal combustion air in a modified carburetor. The engine then operates in the conventional manner on atomized gasoline with spark ignition, but with hydrogen-enriched air and with a high spark advance of 40-50° BTDC. The engine thus receives two charges of fuel: a charge of gaseous fuel from the hydrogen generator, and the normal gasoline charge. The results on hydrogen enrichment are compared with the 1973 V-8 baseline stock engine with emission controls, and the same engine without controls and operated at a maximum efficiency under lean conditions.

A compact onboard hydrogen generator has been developed for use with a hydrogen-enriched gasoline internal combustion engine. The unit uses gasoline and air in a partial oxidation reactor to produce a gaseous product containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, minor amounts of methane, carbon dioxide and water, and nitrogen. A study of the theoretical equilibrium product composition has indicated an optimum operating point at an air/fuel ratio of 5.15, where a hydrogen/fuel mass ratio of 0.136 can be obtained under soot-free conditions. This is based on a gasoline with an atomic hydrogen to carbon ratio of 1.92. Both thermal and catalytic reactors have been tested. The thermal unit requires a reaction temperature of 2400°F to obtain 80% of the theoretical hydrogen yield. Soot formation tends to be a problem. The catalytic reactor yields close to theoretical yields at an operating temperature of 1800°F without any soot formation. A commercial nickel catalyst is used.