Simulation and experimental study of the NOx reduction by unburned H₂ in TWC for a hydrogen engine

The unburned H₂ can be used to reduce NO emission in conventional TWC (three-way catalyst) for a hydrogen internal combustion engine when it works at equivalence ratio marginally higher than the stoichiometric ratio. To explore the effects and feasibility of this reaction, a Perfectly Stirred Reactor simulation model of TWC has been built with simplified mechanisms. Experiments on a 2.3 L turbocharged hydrogen engine are used to verify the conclusion. It shows that rising initial temperature accelerates the reduction of NO and the maximum reaction rate occurs at 400 °C temperature. The conversion efficiency of NO remains approximately 0 when temperatures below 300 °C. The efficiency reaches a peak value of approximately 98% with 400 °C and declines gradually. The unburned H₂ to NO mixing ratio greater than 1.5 in TWC guarantees 100% NO conversion efficiency. The experiments indicate that the NOx concentration decreases from 2056 ppm to 41 ppm at the stoichiometric ratio after the treatment of TWC and NOx reaches 0 ppm with a rich ratio. Results also demonstrate that the suitable reaction temperatures for TWC locate in the range of 400 °C–500 °C. Therefore, if the temperature and the mixing ratio are appropriate, it can achieve zero emissions with NOx reduction by unburned H₂ in conventional TWC for a hydrogen engine.