Combined cooling, heat and power for commercial buildings: Optimization for hydrogen-methane blend fuels

Summary: In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, utilities are considering adding hydrogen to their distribution grids, which can improve the power output and efficiency of stationary power generation engines. Research has shown positive results for hydrogen and natural gas mixtures in controlled vehicle applications. This study investigates the effects of adding hydrogen to natural gas for a commercial stationary power generation engine and found that increasing fueling rate and optimizing spark timing can mitigate power output loss and reduce emissions. Understanding fuel change effects in existing systems can inform the utilization of hydrogen and natural gas mixtures without major engine modifications.