Impacts of HHO gas utilisation on the operating parameters in internal combustion engines

Abstract

Social pressure is forcing manufacturers to make huge investments in development in order to reduce the harmful emissions of passenger cars. However, there are also cheaper solutions that promise to reduce pollutants with minimal investment. One way is to enrich the fuel/air mixture with HHO gas (oxyhydrogen with a 2 : 1 ratio of hydrogen and oxygen). HHO gas is produced by the electrolysis of water using the vehicle's electrical system. This study investigated the impact of an HHO generator on the operating parameters of an internal combustion engine. The testing took place on two levels. The first was a laboratory test with an spark ignition (SI) engine connected to a dynamometer where complete load characteristics were measured and the function of the engine in various steady-state modes was monitored. The second was a laboratory test of a compression ignition (CI) engine vehicle in a chassis dynamometer where the engine behaviour was observed during simulated driving. During the measurements, it was clearly demonstrated that there is a serious change in the fuel/air mixture. The HHO gas mixture caused engine control instability. The control unit was not able to sufficiently regulate the engine parameters. During the test on chassis dynamometer, the steady-state regimes did not last long enough for this instability to occur.