"Finding a solution to the difficult problems of energy sufficiency,
environmental damage, and air pollution is imperative. The solution must
provide convenience for near-term market acceptance and utilize
renewable resources.
Hydrogen burns more rapidly than
hydrocarbon fuels because it is smaller and enters
combustion reactions at higher velocity, has lower
activation energy, and incurs more molecular collisions than
heavier molecules. These characteristics make it possible to use
mixtures of hydrogen with conventional hydrocarbon fuels such as
gasoline, diesel and propane to reduce emissions of unburned
hydrocarbons. Transition from fossil fuels to renewable hydrogen by use
of mixtures of hydrogen in small quantities with conventional fuels
offers significant reductions in exhaust emissions. Using hydrogen as a
combustion stimulant makes it possible for other fuels to meet future
requirements for lower exhaust emissions in California and an increasing
number of additional States.
Mixing hydrogen with
hydrocarbon fuels provides combustion stimulation by increasing the rate
of molecular-cracking processes in which large hydrocarbons are broken
into smaller fragments. Expediting production of smaller molecular
fragments is beneficial in increasing the surface-to-volume ratio and
consequent exposure to oxygen for completion of the combustion process.
Relatively small amount of hydrogen
can dramatically increase horsepower and reduce
emissions of atmospheric pollutants."