Optimizing hydrogen spark-ignition engine performance and pollutants by combining VVT and EGR strategies through numerical simulation

Hydrogen combustion engines are considered one of the leading solutions for decarbonizing road transport, mainly due to the possibility of adapting current engines for hydrogen operation with minor changes. This research extensively analyzes the effect of combined EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) and VVT (variable valve timing) strategies on the performance and emissions of a commercial turbocharged SI engine fueled with hydrogen. To this end, a 1D model of the said engine, widely validated for gasoline operation, was adapted to simulate the engine's behavior with hydrogen. This adaptation involved hardware changes and the implementation of a predictive hydrogen combustion submodel, previously calibrated using experimental data from a single-cylinder engine of similar geometry. Firstly, 400 hydrogen engine simulations without EGR were conducted to optimize the VVT system for fuel efficiency over a wide operating range. A detailed explanation of the causality of varying valve overlap on pumping losses, in-cylinder gas composition, and combustion is provided from these simulations. Then, a series of EGR sweeps were simulated to study its impact on performance and NOx at various degrees of load; concluding that diluting with EGR, rather than air, leads to reduced NOx emissions in exchange for slightly increased fuel consumption. • Adaptation of a Euro 6 turbocharged DI SI engine for hydrogen operation • Deep analysis of the VVT and EGR impact on thermal efficiency and emissions • EGR dilution is more effective in reducing NO X but penalizes fuel consumption • EGR leads to a low-end torque increase of 5–16% at iso-NO X conditions