Technical Analysis of the Use of Dual Fuel HSD-Hydrogen Fuel in the UTD-20 Ranpur Bvp-2 Diesel Engine Using Ansys Forte Numerical Analysis

Ardianta Sabtu, Oktober 03, 2026
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FORMOSA NEWS

Dual-Fuel Hydrogen Simulation Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Emissions for UTD-20 Military Engines

A new numerical simulation study reveals that applying high-speed diesel (HSD) and hydrogen dual-fuel technology to the UTD-20 military diesel engine successfully improves thermal efficiency to 48.59 percent while significantly reducing exhaust emissions. The research was conducted by Iyan Sofiyan, Pompy Pratisna, and Bambang Sudarmanta from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indonesian Naval Technology College (STTAL) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Published in the Indonesian Journal of Contemporary Multidisciplinary Research (MODERN) in September 2026, this study represents a strategic effort to address energy efficiency, military equipment operational capabilities, and carbon emission reductions for the BVP-2 armored vehicle used by the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

Background and Relevance of the Research

The UTD-20 engine is a heavy-duty engine designed to deliver high power and reliability for the BVP-2 combat vehicle. Complete reliance on fossil fuels like high-speed diesel poses ongoing challenges regarding fuel consumption, high operational costs, and harmful combustion emissions. Hydrogen is considered an ideal supplemental fuel due to its high lower heating value ($120\text{ MJ/kg}$), rapid flame speed, and complete absence of carbon atoms. Under the dual-fuel approach, HSD serves as the pilot ignition fuel while hydrogen is injected through the intake manifold to replace a portion of the diesel energy fraction. This study fills a critical gap in literature concerning transient combustion behavior in military engines when up to 50 percent hydrogen energy fractions are substituted across varied engine speeds and injection timing settings.

Research Methodology

The researchers employed a three-dimensional numerical simulation based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the ANSYS Forte 2025 R1 software package. The simulation focused on the in-cylinder closed-cycle phase, spanning from inlet valve closing to exhaust valve opening. To reduce computational costs without compromising accuracy, the team utilized a $51.43^\circ$ sector mesh domain reflecting the symmetrical configuration of a 7-hole injector. The computational model integrated transient chemical kinetics for n-heptane (as a surrogate for diesel) and hydrogen, the RNG k-$\epsilon$ turbulence model, the KH-RT spray breakup model, and emission mechanisms for NOx (Zeldovich) and soot (Hiroyasu-Nagle). Test variations included hydrogen substitution fractions (0%, 10%, 30%, and 50%), Start of Injection (SOI) timings ($-27^\circ\text{CA}$ BTDC and $-13^\circ\text{CA}$ BTDC), and engine rotational speeds (1,600 rpm, 2,000 rpm, and 2,600 rpm).

Key Findings

The results demonstrate that injection timing and hydrogen substitution ratios dictate combustion stability and engine performance:

  • Early Injection Strategy (SOI $-27^\circ\text{CA}$ BTDC) Provides Maximum Stability: Advancing injection timing allows sufficient time for a homogeneous fuel-air mixture to form before top dead center (TDC), maintaining a stable heat release rate and keeping maximum cylinder pressure ($P_{\text{max}}$) within safe operational limits.
  • Increased Indicated Thermal Efficiency (ITE): Under the SOI $-27^\circ\text{CA}$ strategy, substituting hydrogen up to 50 percent consistently improves indicated thermal efficiency. A $50\%\text{ HSD} + 50\%\text{ H}_2$ combination at 2,000 rpm achieved the highest ITE at 48.59 percent and the lowest indicated specific fuel consumption (ISFC) at $157.54\text{ g/kWh}$.
  • Substantial Emission Reductions: Utilizing a 50 percent hydrogen fraction at SOI $-27^\circ\text{CA}$ suppressed the NOx emission index to $2.50\text{ g/kg}_{\text{fuel}}$ at 2,000 rpm and markedly decreased soot formation due to the carbon-free nature of hydrogen.
  • Misfire Risks with Retarded Injection (SOI $-13^\circ\text{CA}$ BTDC): Delaying injection timing with a 50 percent hydrogen fraction at high speeds (2,600 rpm) caused combustion failure (misfire/extinction), causing $P_{\text{max}}$ to drop to 3.21 MPa and reducing ITE to just 1.93 percent.

Implications and Real-World Impact

The study provides valuable technical references for defense developers and maintenance engineers modernizing heavy-duty diesel engines. Adopting HSD-hydrogen dual-fuel operations enhances fuel economy in armored vehicles while advancing clean energy goals in military operations. The SOI $-27^\circ\text{CA}$ injection strategy successfully breaks the traditional trade-off between NOx and soot, enabling cleaner emissions without sacrificing engine power.

Highlighting the importance of injection timing and combustion phase optimization, the researchers emphasized the role of proper parameter selection. Iyan Sofiyan, Pompy Pratisna, and Bambang Sudarmanta from the Indonesian Naval Technology College (STTAL) noted, "Among the tested injection strategies, the early Start of Injection (SOI) at $-27^\circ\text{CA}$ BTDC yielded the most stable combustion characteristics across all operating conditions, where increasing the hydrogen energy fraction up to 50 percent shifted the heat release process closer to Top Dead Center, thereby enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing fuel consumption".

Author Profiles:

  1. Iyan Sofiyan, S.T. – Researcher and undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at the Indonesian Naval Technology College (STTAL), Surabaya, specializing in thermofluid simulations and combat vehicle fuel systems.
  2. Pompy Pratisna, M.T. – Lecturer and researcher at the Indonesian Naval Technology College (STTAL), Surabaya, with expertise in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis and high-power engine energy conversion.
  3. Dr. Bambang Sudarmanta, M.T. – Senior academic and researcher in Mechanical Engineering at the Indonesian Naval Technology College (STTAL), Surabaya, focusing on alternative fuels, combustion kinetics, and internal combustion engine engineering.

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