A Study of Knocking Characteristics in a Hydrogen SI Engine under High Compression Ratio

This study investigated the knocking characteristics of a hydrogen spark ignition engine for the purpose of increasing efficiency and expanding the operating range. In recent years, research focused on carbon neutrality has been vigorously conducted, and hydrogen has attracted attention as a next-generation fuel for internal combustion engines (ICEs). The combustion characteristics of hydrogen are vastly from those of existing gasoline. It is essential to have a sufficient understanding of the combustion characteristics of hydrogen in order to develop next-generation ICEs designed to operate on hydrogen fuel. There are especially many aspects of the knocking mechanisms of hydrogen that are unclear. Consequently, those characteristics and mechanisms must be clarified for the purpose of expanding the operating range of hydrogen engines and enhancing their efficiency. In this study, experiments were conducted using a single-cylinder hydrogen engine that was operated at a high compression ratio of 17:1. High-intensity knocking was observed while operating the engine under various ignition timings and equivalence ratios. The knocking intensity and knocking mode characteristics were examined based on the observed knocking data.