Mixing Hydrogen with Biofuel: A Cleaner Engine Solution

Engines are getting a green makeover. Scientists have been testing different fuel mixes to make engines cleaner and more efficient. They tried six fuels: regular diesel, a biofuel called Citronella, and four blends that mix hydrogen with biofuel. The star of the show was the H40 blend, which had 40% hydrogen. It beat diesel in efficiency and cut down on harmful emissions like hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. But wait, there's more! They also tried a special version of H40 called H40E. It had a bit of something called reformed exhaust gas recirculation (R-EGR). This mix lowered one type of pollution called NOx even more. However, it also increased other pollutants like hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. So, it's a trade-off. The tests showed that adding hydrogen to biofuel makes the engine burn fuel more evenly. This leads to better pressure inside the engine and more heat release, which is good for performance. The results were checked using a special diagram called a Sankey diagram. It confirmed that the energy from the fuel was being used more effectively. So, what does this mean? It means that mixing hydrogen with biofuel could be a big step towards cleaner engines. It's not perfect yet, but it's a promising start. The goal is to move away from dirty fossil fuels, and this research is part of that journey.