Exhaust Emission: A Literature Review of Hydrogen vs. Traditional Fuel

This literature review compares hydrogen and traditional fuels in the context of engine combustion and exhaust emissions. It highlights hydrogen as a promising alternative due to its potential for low-carbon emissions, generated from renewable sources like solar and wind, and producing only water as a byproduct. The review contrasts this with traditional fuels, which, despite their widespread use and affordability, contribute significantly to CO2 emissions and reduced engine performance. It emphasizes the importance of transitioning to cleaner fuels and adopting advanced technologies to mitigate the environmental impact of fuel consumption. The review references several studies that support hydrogen's benefits, including improved engine performance and reduced emissions, particularly NOx, and increased efficiency. The conclusion emphasizes the need for global efforts to shift from CO2-emitting fuels to modern hydrogen fuel sources, balancing environmental concerns with the need for cost-effective energy solutions, particularly in developing nations.

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EXHAUST EMISSION
Student’s Name
Code + Name of Course
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Exhaust Emission
Fuel provides the energy necessary for day to day activities, from cooking to powering
engines in various industries, including the automobile. Engines perform differently depending
on such factors as the behavior of emission, type of fuel and its consumption, mechanical and
thermal loading, and noise. Most drivers use two main types of propellants: hydrogen and
traditional fuel. Fuel refers to any material that can react with other matter to release heat energy
or accomplish work. This literature review gives a comparison between hydrogen and traditional
fuel on engine combustion and exhaust emission.
Researchers view hydrogen as a suitable engine fuel for low-carbon automobiles in the
coming days. They assert that consumers can generate hydrogen from water using various power
sources, including solar, wind, and nuclear, then convert to useful energy without harmful
environmental effects (Kim, et al., 2017). Water is the only by-product, though some traces of
NOx may be produced in the combustion system (Talibi, et al., 2014). Hydrogen fuel can
substitute fossil fuels in cars, buses, and tracks. More so, this hydrogen can combine with new
technologies to reduce carbon emissions from the truck and industrial engines.
Adding hydrogen to combustion fuel reduces the burning speed and reduces the rotating
variations; therefore, it increases engine performance. At higher exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
rate, hydrogen addition decreases the cylinder-to-cylinder variations, improving engine
performance (Anand, et al., 2010). For this reason, manufacturers can widen the operable EGR
rate for a turbo gasoline direct injection engine. Moreover, the flammability range of hydrogen is
high, compared to other fuels (Talibi, et al., 2014). Therefore, hydrogen can burn in an internal
engine over a full scale of fuel-air mixtures, making it a lean fuel-air mixture. In this mixture, the
amount of fuel is lower than the established ideal quantity that a given amount of air needs for

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combustion. The use of hydrogen saves on fuel cost while increasing engine performance since
the combustion reaction is complete (Kim, et al., 2017). Additionally, the lower combustion
temperatures minimize the amount of waste emitted. The use of hydrogen fuel, therefore, saves
the environment by reducing air pollution.
Comparatively, traditional fuel is still widely used despite the increased exhaust emission
and reduced engine performance. The world acknowledges and is much okay with traditional
fuel since it’s the recognized fountain of power. Most traditional fuels are renewable and cheap
to produce. However, the greenhouse effect is adverse since these traditional fuels emit a lot of
CO2. Even though the world is changing and new technologies arise daily, the majority of the
population rely on traditional fuels, especially in the third world countries. Africa, most
certainly, has the highest number of people depending on firewood as a source of energy to cook.
Moreover, their automobile sector still relies on such traditional fuel as oil, a factor that results in
increased atmospheric CO2.
Traditional fuel still accounts for 80% of the world's power consumption as most nations
still use oil and gas to produce high-grade fuels and chemical products. They also use coal to
produce electricity and steel (Anand, et al., 2010). The transition to carbon-free fuels might take
many years, especially in developing countries (Perham, 2012). Most researchers advise these
developing nations to use traditional fuels as efficiently and cleanly as possible, while the
process of replacing with modern fuel is underway. Moreover, these nations must apply the
present oil and gas infrastructure for future energy systems.
The bottom line for fuel consumption has always been the cost. Otherwise, engine
performance and amount and type of emissions should matter a lot on what type of fuel to use.
For instance, traditional fuel is readily available and cheap to get. For this reason, many people

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would still use fossil fuels despite having more negative effects that hydrogen or hydrogen
combined fuels (Miller, 2013). The latter is more expensive; therefore, most people cannot afford
it. Only developed countries have managed to replace the traditional fuel with hydrogen-based
fuel; thereby, reducing greenhouse effects and increasing the efficiency of their engines (Perham,
2012). Developing nations, on the other hand, are still struggling to replace the traditional fuel
with hydrogen. Understandably, these nations are economically challenged and need more time
and resources to adapt to modern fuel with reduced greenhouse emissions (Feteke, 2013).
However, given the advantages of hydrogen over traditional fuel, it should be a global issue to
help switch from this CO2 emitting fuels to the new efficient power sources.
The world acknowledges new technologies and is also aware of the impacts of
greenhouse gas emissions. As a global goal, nations are trying to limit fuel consumption that
results in CO2 emissions. Moreover, advanced technology welcomes the use of high-performance
engines. We, therefore, need to face the challenge and switch to modern hydrogen fuel, thus,
achieving the two goals at once.

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References
Anand, B. P., Saravanan, C. G. & Srinivasan, C. A., 2010. Performance and Exhaust Emission of
Turpentine Oil Powered Direct Injection Diesel Engine. Renewable Energy, 35(6), pp. 1179-
1184.
Feteke, B. M., 2013. 3.05-Biomass. Climate Vulnerability, Volume 3, pp. 83-87.
Kim, J. et al., 2017. The effects of hydrogen on the combustion, performance and emissions of a
turbo gasoline direct-injection engine with exhaust gas recirculation. International Journal of
Hydrogen Energy, 42(39), pp. 25074-25087.
Miller, C. A., 2013. 3.02 - Energy Resources and Policy: Vulnerability of Energy Resources and
Resource Availability – Fossil Fuels (Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, Oil Shale). Climate Vulnerability,
Volume 3, pp. 37-51.
Perham, S., 2012. Hydrogen giving reduced carbon emissions from vehicles. International
Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 7(1), pp. 23-27.
Talibi, M., Hellier, P., Balachandran, R. & Ladommatos, N., 2014. Effect of Hydrogen-diesel
Fuel Co-combustion on Exhaust Emissions With Verification Using an In–cylinder Gas
Sampling Technique. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(27), pp. 15088-15102.