Study on the effect of wet scrubbing technique on emissions in a dual fuel engine operating with diesel and hydrogen

Reducing emissions from internal combustion (IC) engines is a crucial goal, encompassing nitrogen oxide (NO), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke. To enhance both performance and emissions, contemporary IC engines have turned to alternative gases such as hydrogen (H₂) and exhaust after-treatment systems. A promising method to effectively decrease exhaust emissions entails the application of the scrubber technique as an exhaust gas after-treatment. This study's objective is to explore two avenues for curtailing exhaust emissions. The first involves substituting traditional fuels in IC engines with hydrogen gas (H₂) at a flow rate of 6 LPM. The second entails integrating a liquid chemical solution into the scrubber technique. Notably, the utilization of KMnO₄ solutions exhibits an appreciable reduction in NO and CO emissions compared to solutions containing NaOH. The experimental process included two aspects: investigating hydrogen fuel (H₂) as an alternative fuel for IC engines and incorporating a scrubber technique using both KMnO₄ and NaOH solutions. These experiments were conducted using a single-cylinder engine with a power output of 5.2 kW, cooled by water. The engine underwent tests under various load conditions, spanning from minimal to maximal loads. The findings revealed that employing KMnO₄ solutions within the scrubber technique led to reductions of 25% and 40% in NO and CO emissions, respectively, in contrast to the utilization of NaOH solutions. Similarly, introduction hydrogen gas also has a significant effect on emission reduction.