An Experimental Study of the Consumption of Gasoline-Hydrogen Fuel for Long-Tail Marine Engines

Abstract

Malaysia is a maritime country with a thriving fishing sector that contributes significantly to the supply of raw materials for the food industry and exports. The country’s fishermen are categorised into deep-sea fishermen and coastal fishermen. Coastal fishing activities take place within 30 km of the coast and involve the use of boats and small engines, such as long-tail engines powered by petrol or gasoline. The income of fishermen can be significantly impacted by the ratio of fuel consumption to catch. Therefore, reducing the use of gasoline during fishing operations is crucial. Researchers are exploring alternative fuel sources like hydrogen, methanol, and biodiesel to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. This study aims to develop an auxiliary system for marine long-tail engines used by coastal fishermen. A hydrogen generator system based on saline water has been designed. The produced hydrogen fuel will be used in combination with gasoline to reduce fuel costs. As part of the experiment, a test rig for a long-tail gasoline engine was developed and tested using a combination of gasoline and hydrogen fuel. The fuel consumption rate is measured by the ratio of gasoline to hydrogen, such as 25%-75%, 50%-50%, 75%-25%, and 100%-0% (pure gasoline). In this experiment, a long-tail gasoline engine test rig was developed and tested using different gasoline and hydrogen fuel proportions. The fuel ratio was measured to determine the consumption rate, and the engine was tested at speeds of 1500 rpm, 2000 rpm, 2500 rpm, 3000 rpm, and 3500 rpm. The study’s results showed that using a combination of gasoline and hydrogen fuel can serve as an alternative to reduce dependence on gasoline for long-tail marine engines.