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Hydrogen
Boost Dynamometer Test Results
On February 25, 2010 a Hydrogen Boost electrolyzer
(powered by a pair of battery chargers) was installed onto a 2004 Series
60 12.7 liter Detroit Diesel Engine rated at 515 horsepower attached to a
dynamometer at the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Pictures below show the engine, dynamometer, control console,
and university staff.
 
 
Data was collected at 100hp, 200hp, 300hp, and 400hp at
both 1400 rpm and 1800 rpm. The
data collected included RPM, intake air temperature measured at the
intake manifold, Turbo Boost pressure measured after the air to air heat
exchanger, exhaust gas temperature, torque, carbon monoxide emissions, NOx emissions, carbon dioxide percent in exhaust
gases, and oxygen percent in exhaust gases, and mass of fuel used over
each two minute period (measured with digital scales by reading the mass
of the fuel tank before and after the two minute test intervals). This series of tests was repeated three
times, once with no hydrogen production, once with the electrolyzer
running at 32 amps average, and once with the electrolyzer running at 46
amps average. Data was recorded by
hand since there was no capability to collect all the data with the same
computer. No data was available
for hydrocarbon emissions because the gas analyzer used for that was
inoperative. Also the opacity of
particulate matter in the exhaust was unable to be accurately measured
because of equipment malfunction.
Below is a graph of the fuel used during each two
minute session, measured in kilograms.
Below
is a graph of the same data but expressed as a fuel flow rate in gallons
per hour.
Average reduction in
fuel flow using 32 Amps on the electrolyzer was 9.28%.
Average reduction in
fuel flow using 46 Amps on the electrolyzer was 11.3%.
Average exhaust gas
temperature increase using 32 Amps was 5.2%.
Average exhaust gas
temperature increase using 46 Amps was 7.9%.
Average reduction in
Carbon monoxide emissions using 32 Amps was 19%.
Average reduction in
Carbon monoxide emissions using 46 Amps was 10.2%.
Average reduction in NOx emissions using 32 Amps was 5.8%.
Average reduction in NOx emissions using 46 Amps was 6.5%.
No operable equipment
was available to measure unburned hydrocarbon emissions or particulate
matter emissions.
Average reduction in
total CO2 emissions is equivalent to the reduction in fuel flow stated
above.
As expected, because of
more complete burning of the fuel, the % CO2 in the exhaust increased and
the % O2 decreased with the Hydrogen Boost.
Since
power for the electrolyzer was furnished by an independent source, for comparison
of a tractor trailer engine providing power to the electrolyzer by way of
the alternator, the reduction in fuel flow would have been slightly less.
The average power to the electrolyzer throughout the tests with hydrogen
would have taken 0.73 horsepower.
The average horsepower output during the tests was 250 hp. A 0.73 horsepower addition to that
would have increase the fuel used by 0.3%. The average fuel savings of over 10.3%
would therefore be only 10.0% if the power to the electrolyzer was provided
by the alternator. This is
consistent with Hydrogen Boost’s experience with dynamometer testing and
in testing on Tractor trailer trucks using ECM reports to verify fuel
savings.
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