Is it theoretically possible to run a normal gasoline engine on hydrogen gas?

Question

if so...why are we building all these expensive "hydrogen fuel cells"? Why cant we just use hydrogen as fuel in the cars we drive already!?! The product of the combustion of hydrogen is just water right? So the environmental benefit would be the same I believe? If so, Im going to hook up my lawnmower to some hydrogen haha

Answer 1

Yes....sorta

There was an episode of mythbuster dedicated to alternative fuels and fuel additives.

They had an car from the early 80s, which had a carbourator instead of fuel injection. They hooked a hose and nozzle up to a tank of hydrogen gas and blew the gas directly into the carbourator, and the engine ran (they didn't drive it with this rig, but it was able to idle while in park), they had to stop when some excess gas caught on fire and shot flames about 3 feet in the air.

They didn't test this with a modern fuel-injected car, though.

They reason that you have to have hydrogen fuel cells is because hydrogen is hard to find. However, by passing electircal currents through water, you can separate the water molecues into hydrogen and oxygen. This is what the fuel cells do.

Answer 2

It would seem to be 'theoretically' possible to burn hydrogen in a normal gasoline engine (with modifications to handle the hydrogen) because a carburetor or fuel injection system merely adds fuel to air (oxygen) and ignites it (with a spark). However for practical purposes, hydrogen might ignite before the spark and backfire unless pre-ignition is suppressed. However a normal gasoline engine is a 'heat engine' that depends on the expansion of hot gases (combusted fuel and air) for its power and much energy must be rejected (lost) out the tail pipe. A fuel cell may operate by a chemical reaction at a much lower temperature (although there are high-temperature fuel cells) and the fuel cell process can more efficiently extract energy from the hydrogen when combined with oxygen. That is a good thing because hydrogen (gas) is bulkier than gasoline and less portable. In fact some fuel cell systems use converters to extract pure hydrogen from other fuels. Fuel cells can be 'poisoned' by impure fuels that an ordinary engine might handle with ease.

Answer 3

well theoretically it seem possible....but mate u should know in gasoline engine we compress. the air fuel mixture.to the ratio of 1/8 ...and its a known fact that hydrogen it far more flammable that any other stuff known....so hydrogen atom will burn even before the spark plug gives the ignition spark....which in term will affect timing ratios of cams and movement of piston...and hence we will not get a smooth ride.......so the bottom line will be if an engine is to be designed for burning hydrogen...principle might be the same with some adjustment of timing gear and other mechanical stuff....and not to forget the metal in which engine is casted has to be far more strong

Answer 4

Hydrogen is the most explosive gas of all. if u get a leak good by. The motor would not be so clean as in our cars they produce NO2 that fertilizer that lightning produces. It will produce NO2 due to the high temperatures. Of coarse hydrogen would be much hotter.

Answer 5

No. A gasoline engine works on the otto engine principle. Its thermodynamic processes are different. Even diesel cant be used for a petrol engine. Fuel cells are actually battery cells and they are green. No pollution

Answer 6

Absolutely not. H2 cells produce electricity. They dont work on internal combustion.

Answer 7

Good luck. Let us know if you are still alive after your experiment.