Conversion of a newly patented pre-chamber spark ignition engine to run on hydrogen: state of the art of H2 engines and preliminary investigation

Sistemi di propulsione innovativi per autovettureThe recent growing attention to cleaner and more sustainable sources of power has led to an always higher importance of hydrogen in the automotive field. In this work, the main and more interesting properties of hydrogen are analyzed, together with the current technologies used to produce, store, and distribute it and the issues linked to them. An overview of the policies and incentives adopted by the European Commission to promote its use is also present. In particular, the path the European states should follow to reach the Union’s goals is described. The attention of the work is directed to hydrogen internal combustion engines; hence the functioning, the strengths, and the weaknesses of both direct and indirect injection hydrogen ICEs are investigated. The second part is focused on the pre-chamber combustion system recently developed by Italtecnica. In this first phase, said engine is undergoing tests to verify its functioning with gasoline and its compliance with the current, and the upcoming, emission standard. Italtecnica’s aim is to convert this engine to operate with hydrogen in the near future. Hence, after a deep analysis of this innovative combustion system, an analysis of the current emission regulation, together with its issues, and of what will most likely be the Euro 7 was made.