Optical diagnostics for the analysis of hydrogen- methane blend combustion in internal combustion engines

This chapter highlights the effect of hydrogen on methane combustion process. The analysis of the effect of the addition of hydrogen on methane combustion process in a small displacement optical port fuel injection spark ignition engine fueled with pure methane and two methane-hydrogen blends at 20% v/v (20MH2) and at 40%v/v (40MH2) of hydrogen in methane was provided. A brief introduction on the state of art of the use of methane and hydrogen as fuel in internal combustion engine was given. Advanced diagnostics based on optical techniques can give relevant results to complex phenomena in internal combustion engine being non intrusive and non integral measurements. The most used optical diagnostics, such as the 2D-digital imaging as well as the UV-visible spectroscopy, for a comprehensive analysis of the combustion process with high spatial and temporal resolution were described.