Experimental studies on challenges in hydrogen heavy-duty and marine engines
Loading...
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Engineering |
Doctoral thesis (article-based)
| Defence date: 2025-08-08
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Authors
Date
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
109 + app. 89
Series
Aalto University publication series Doctoral Theses, 144/2025
Abstract
This dissertation addresses two critical challenges in developing hydrogen-powered heavy-duty and marine engines: (1) hydrogen jet dynamics and mixing and (2) hydrogen pre-ignition induced by engine lubricating oils. Experiments on hydrogen jet dynamics are conducted using high-speed z-type schlieren imaging in a constant- volume chamber under varying pressure ratios, needle lifts, nozzle geometries, injection angles, and injection durations. Results show that higher pressure ratios and increased needle lift enhance jet penetration and cross-sectional area, improving air-fuel mixing due to the greater mass of injected fuel and momentum. Nozzle geometry also significantly affects jet behavior. Single-hole nozzles produce faster penetration and multi-hole nozzles produce larger cross-sectional areas that improve air-fuel mixing. However, variations in the injection angle lead to jet-piston impingement near the periphery, resulting in uneven air-fuel mixtures, while injection duration has minimal impact on jet dynamics. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing injection parameters to improve air-fuel mixing, especially in direct-injection hydrogen engines. The dissertation also investigates pre-ignition phenomenon in hydrogen engines induced by engine lubricating oils. Using a rapid compression expansion machine (RCEM) with optical access, this study evaluates lubricating oils from different API (American Petroleum Institute) categories. These lubricants, with varying levels of calcium and magnesium detergents, are studied under a range of air-to-fuel and compression ratios. The results reveal that API Group V base oils with lower calcium content exhibit greater resistance to pre-ignition, while the role of calcium in increasing reactivity in API Group II oils is minimal. These findings highlight the critical role of engine lubricating oil composition in influencing flame propagation, pre-ignition limits, and overall combustion dynamics. By integrating experimental and computational approaches, this dissertation provides practical solutions for optimizing jet dynamics and mixing, as well as for selecting lubricating oils for hydrogen engines. These advancements support the adoption of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel for heavy-duty and marine applications.Description
Supervising professor
Larmi, Martti, Prof., Aalto University, Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, FinlandThesis advisor
Kaario, Ossi, Assoc. Prof., Aalto University, Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, FinlandKarimkashiarani, Shervin, Dr., Aalto University, Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Finland
Cheng, Qiang, Dr., Aalto University, Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Finland
Other note
Parts
-
[Publication 1]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Cheng, Qiang; Dharamsi, Aishwarya; Karimkashi, Shervin; Kuusela-Opas, Juho; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti. 2023. Visualization and comparison of methane and hydrogen jet dynamics using schlieren imaging. Fuel, Volume 331, Part 1, 125762. ISSN 0016-2361.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202209215636DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125762 View at publisher
-
[Publication 2]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Akram, Muhammad Saad; Cheng, Qiang; Karimkashi, Shervin; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti. 2024. Experimental study of hydrogen jet dynamics: Investigating free momentum and impingement phenomena. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 68, Pages 1423-1437. ISSN 0360-3199.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202405223538DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.04.296 View at publisher
-
[Publication 3]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Rabensteiner, Samuel; Cheng, Qiang; Ranta, Olli; Karimkashi, Shervin; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti. 2022. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Jet-Wall Impingement. SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-1009.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202209215651DOI: 10.4271/2022-01-1009 View at publisher
-
[Publication 4]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Rabensteiner, Samuel; Karimkashi, Shervin; Cheng, Qiang; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti; 2023. Experimental and Numerical Study of a Low-Pressure Hydrogen Jet under the Effect of Nozzle Geometry and Pressure Ratio. SAE Technical Paper 2023-01-0320.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202306304389DOI: 10.4271/2023-01-0320 View at publisher
-
[Publication 5]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Rönn, Kristian; Karimkashi, Shervin; Cheng, Qiang; Hlaing, Ponnya; Hyvönen, Jari; Vuorinen, Ville; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti. 2024. Experimental investigations of hydrogen pre-ignition phenomenon induced by two different lubricating oils in a rapid compression expansion machine. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. ISSN: 1540-7489.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202408285865DOI: 10.1016/j.proci.2024.105715 View at publisher
-
[Publication 6]: Yeganeh, Maryam; Rönn, Kristian; Karimkashi, Shervin; Cheng, Qiang; Hlaing, Ponnya; Hyvönen, Jari; Vuorinen, Ville; Kaario, Ossi; Larmi, Martti. On the hydrogen pre-ignition phenomenon induced by engine lubricating oils with different calcium contents in a rapid compression expansion machine. Applications in Energy and Combustion Science. ISSN: 2666-352X.
Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202506195064DOI: 10.1016/j.jaecs.2025.100339 View at publisher