Public Thesis Defense of Sara SPANO - IMMC
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Oxy-fuel combustion of methane and methane-hydrogen blends in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine by Sara SPANO -
Friday, 26 September 2025 at 4:15 p.m. - Room BARB91 - Place Sainte-Barbe - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
As the world transitions to low-carbon energy systems, renewable electricity must be complemented by flexible storage and reconversion options. Power-to-fuel (P2F) technologies generate hydrogen, methane, methanol, and ammonia, which can be stored and later reconverted in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units. HCCI engines are promising for this application due to high efficiency, low pollutant emissions, and fuel flexibility, but they suffer from low power density and combustion control issues.
The thesis explores whether oxygen enrichment (made available as a by-product of electrolysis) and hydrogen blending can overcome these limitations.
To this end, 0-D simulations were conducted to design the experimental campaign, followed by two dedicated experimental studies. The validity of available numerical tools was also assessed, and ignition delay times were measured in a Rapid Compression Machine to provide further validation.
The thesis demonstrates that oxygen enrichment, rather than hydrogen blending, is the dominant factor in enhancing methane-based HCCI combustion, enabling lower intake temperatures, higher power density, and stable operation, while also revealing nonlinear interactions between O₂ and H₂ and highlighting the limitations of existing kinetic models under oxygen-enriched conditions.
Jury members
- Prof. Hervé Jeanmart (UCLouvain) (Supervisor)
- Prof. Francesco Contino (UCLouvain) (Supervisor)
- Prof. Renaud Ronsse (UCLouvain) (Chairperson)
- Prof. Véronique Dias (UCLouvain) (Secretary)
- Prof. Fabrice Foucher (Université d'Orléans)
- Prof. Sebastian Verhelst (UGent)
- Prof. Axel Coussement (ULB)
- Prof. Stefania Esposito (University of Bath)