The usage of hydrogen as a fuel in internal combustion engines and effects on the performance

Renewable energy can be described as the energy "that could exist in the next day withinthe own evolution of nature". The impacts of the waste gases caused by burning of fossil fuelstoday force governments and scientists to search alternative energy sources. Particularly inlarge cities, the pollutant emissions caused by motor vehicles pollute all atmosphere andcause a gradually increasing threat so-called "greenhouse effect".The energy crisis suffered due to ceasing fossil fuel resources also lead us to usealternative sources of energy. For that purpose, various researches and experiments werecarried out in laboratory environment, and the alternative fuels to gasoline have beendeveloped. Use of hydrogen, a renewable fuel, for the roadway vehicles as a source of energygains importance. In using the hydrogen as a fuel, significant advantages are availabledepending on its physical and chemical properties. Making use of the wide firing limits ofhydrogen - air mixtures, operating the engine at poor mixture ratios provide high heatefficiency and reducing particularly the nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions to the required level.On the other part, there is no CO, CO2, HC or soot emissions in the hydrogen engines. Yetwith a high manufacturing cost, it can be produced from water by means of electrolysis andhas an unlimited source.The difficulties faced in using the internal combustion engines are storing on the vehicle,early combustion and back firing of the suction manifold, leaks or taking the necessary safetymeasures. But environmental requirements and the fossil fuels which are about to cease allforce us to replace such fuels with hydrogen as soon as possible. Because of that, thesedifficulties should be overcome using theoretical and experimental methods, while on theother hand, hydrogen production costs should be reduced and related studies should beaccelerated.Keywords: Hydrogen energy, Alternative fuels, Hydrogen engine.