A Review of Current Advances in Ammonia Combustion from the Fundamentals to Applications in Internal Combustion Engines
Fei Ma,
Lingyan Guo,
Zhijie Li,
Xiaoxiao Zeng,
Zhencao Zheng,
Wei Li (liwei09@weichai.com),
Feiyang Zhao (fyzhao@sdu.edu.cn) and
Wenbin Yu
Additional contact information
Fei Ma: State Key Laboratory of Engine and Powertrain System, Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China
Lingyan Guo: State Key Laboratory of Engine and Powertrain System, Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China
Zhijie Li: State Key Laboratory of Engine and Powertrain System, Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China
Xiaoxiao Zeng: State Key Laboratory of Engine and Powertrain System, Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China
Zhencao Zheng: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
Wei Li: State Key Laboratory of Engine and Powertrain System, Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang 261061, China
Feiyang Zhao: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
Wenbin Yu: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-20
Abstract:
The energy transition from hydrocarbon-based energy sources to renewable and carbon-free energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen is facing increasing demands. The decarbonization of global transportation could come true via applying carbon-free fuel such as ammonia, especially for internal combustion engines (ICEs). Although ammonia has advantages of high hydrogen content, high octane number and safety in storage, it is uninflammable with low laminar burning velocity, thus limiting its direct usage in ICEs. The purpose of this review paper is to provide previous studies and current research on the current technical advances emerging in assisted combustion of ammonia. The limitation of ammonia utilization in ICEs, such as large minimum ignition energy, lower flame speed and more NO x emission with unburned NH 3 , could be solved by oxygen-enriched combustion, ammonia–hydrogen mixed combustion and plasma-assisted combustion (PAC). In dual-fuel or oxygen-enriched NH 3 combustion, accelerated flame propagation speeds are driven by abundant radicals such as H and OH; however, NOx emission should be paid special attention. Furthermore, dissociating NH 3 in situ hydrogen by non-noble metal catalysts or plasma has the potential to replace dual-fuel systems. PAC is able to change classical ignition and extinction S-curves to monotonic stretching, which makes low-temperature ignition possible while leading moderate NO x emissions. In this review, the underlying fundamental mechanism under these technologies are introduced in detail, providing new insight into overcoming the bottleneck of applying ammonia in ICEs. Finally, the feasibility of ammonia processing as an ICE power source for transport and usage highlights it as an appealing choice for the link between carbon-free energy and power demand.
Keywords: ammonia; internal combustion engines; combustion; emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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