Comparative performance of coke oven gas, hydrogen and methane in a spark ignition engine

In this study, coke oven gas (COG), a by-product of coke manufacture with a high volumetric percentage of H2 and CH4, has been identified as auxiliary support and promising energy source in stationary internal combustion engines. Engine performance (power and thermal efficiency) and emissions (NOx, CO, CO2 and unburned hydrocarbons) of COG, pure H2 and pure CH4 have been studied on a Volkswagen Polo 1.4 L port-fuel injection spark ignition engine. Experiments have been done at optimal spark advance and wide open throttle, at different speeds (2000–5000 rpm) and various air-fuel ratios (λ) between 1 and 2. The obtained data revealed that COG combines the advantages of pure H2 and pure CH4, widening the λ range of operation from 1 to 2, with very good performance and emissions results comparable to pure gases. Furthermore, it should be highlighted that this approach facilitates the recovery of an industrial waste gas.