An experimental analysis on a Stirling-engine-driven micro power-generation system integrated with a flat-flame burner powered by dimethyl ether fuel mixed with ammonia

Wen-Lih Chen, Gaetano M.D. Currao, Chih-Yung Wu, Bing-Ying Tsai, Shang-Chih Lin and Cheng-Jun Li

Energy, 2025, vol. 314, issue C

Abstract: The benefits of employing ammonia for power generation were experimentally quantified through the development of an electric generator system. This system consisted of a flat-flame burner, a Stirling engine, an AC generator, a charge controller, batteries, and some electric appliances. The fuel employed throughout this study was a mixture of dimethyl ether and ammonia. The system performance was quantified through electric power output, thermal-to-electric efficiency of the system, and multiple emission indices, which facilitated the estimation of combustion efficiency. Under the condition of a value of ammonia concentration of 10 % and heat input of 2000 W, the system generated 31.1 W of electric power. As the ammonia concentration increased to 40 %, the CO2 emissions were decreased by approximately 42 % at the cost of a minor reduction in electric power output of 4 %. The combustion efficiency of the flat-flame burner was between 98.4 and 99.1 %, and the thermal-to-electric efficiency of the system was between 1.45 and 1.7 %. The results demonstrated that ammonia has the potential to phase out carbon-rich fuel (either fossil fuel or sustainable fuel such as dimethyl ether), thus mitigating the CO2 emission that worsens the global warming problem.

Keywords: Ammonia combustion; Dimethyl ether; Power generation; Unpressurized γ-type stirling engine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040027

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134224

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