On the 17th of March, a scientific seminar was held at the Faculty of Transport Engineering at VILNIUS TECH, where the topic "Hydrogen Use in Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines" was presented. The seminar speakers, Associate Professor Dr. Saugirdas Pukalskas, Head of the Department of Automotive Engineering, and Professor Dr. Alfredas Rimkus, shared the latest scientific research to better understand the potential of hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

The seminar featured the R&D project "Use of Green Hydrogen in the Transport Sector," implemented under the project "Implementation of Mission-Oriented Science and Innovation Programs" No. 02-002-P-0001, under the theme "Smart and Climate-Neutral Lithuania." The goal of the project is to create a hydrogen supply system for conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector and contribute to mitigating climate change.

The project, carried out in collaboration with JSC „SG Dujos Auto“, started in September, 2023 and will continue until April, 2026. During this time, a hydrogen supply system will be developed and tested, allowing part of the conventional fuels (gasoline or diesel) to be replaced by green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources.

Project Goals and Results

One of the main goals of the project is to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector, where emissions make up a significant portion of all greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the project include:
• Six scientific articles on the possibilities of hydrogen use in the transport sector;
• A hydrogen supply system prototype and model, developed in collaboration with SG Dujos Auto;
• A research report summarizing the research and results obtained.

In addition, the project activities include the simulation of combustion processes for mixtures of hydrogen and conventional fuels, as well as driving modes of vehicles, the development of the hydrogen supply system, experimental engine tests, engine durability studies, and system improvements and adaptation for use in vehicles.

Climate Change Challenges and Hydrogen Potential

Project implementers emphasize that one of the most pressing global issues today is climate change, particularly due to CO2 emissions, the main source of which is the transport sector. To contribute to the reduction of these emissions, the project will test a hydrogen supply system that will allow the replacement of part of traditional fuels (gasoline or diesel) with green hydrogen. This technology could not only reduce emissions but also help achieve a more sustainable and low-pollution future for the transport sector.

The project plans to acquire unique hydrogen production and engine testing equipment that will allow the study of hydrogen usage possibilities in spark ignition internal combustion engines. Additionally, various tests will be conducted with different hydrogen and conventional fuel or biofuel ratios to find the most efficient ways to integrate these fuels into vehicles.

Insights of the Scientists

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saugirdas Pukalskas, speaking about hydrogen use in the transport sector, emphasized the technological challenges associated with integrating hydrogen into existing internal combustion engines. He presented his research on various methods for using hydrogen and other alternative fuels, as well as discussed possible engineering solutions that could ensure the smooth application of these technologies in vehicles.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Alfredas Rimkus presented research and its results, analyzing the effects of hydrogen on the performance of spark ignition internal combustion engines. Initial experimental tests were conducted at VILNIUS TECH laboratories, and based on them, an article on hydrogen's impact on vehicle energy and environmental characteristics was published in the journal Applied Sciences. In the study, dual fuels (gasoline and hydrogen) were used. In the first part of the research, tests were conducted by injecting 5% hydrogen into the engine's intake manifold, and energy and environmental performance "maps" were created for different operating modes. In the second part, a numerical simulation of the vehicle’s "WLTC" driving cycle was conducted, which showed an increase in energy efficiency and a reduction in emissions of pollutants such as CO and CH. However, it was noted that nitrogen oxide emissions increased due to more intense hydrogen combustion. As experimental tests continued, significantly increasing the hydrogen concentration in the internal combustion engine fuels highlighted more of hydrogen’s positive properties and challenges. Based on already known technologies and new solutions, hydrogen usage research is ongoing, and in the near future, plans are to test a vehicle on the road that would have a significant portion of its fuel made up of hydrogen.

Scientific Research and Innovation

The research results presented by the seminar speakers, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saugirdas Pukalskas and Prof. Dr. Alfredas Rimkus, confirm the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source capable of contributing to CO2 emission reduction. Professor Dr. A. Rimkus presented research on the efficiency of hydrogen use in internal combustion engines, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. S. Pukalskas discussed various technological solutions that would help integrate hydrogen into modern vehicles.

The seminar participants actively engaged in discussions about hydrogen’s potential as an alternative fuel and its role in achieving a climate-neutral transport sector.