Fundamental Study on Ammonia Low-NOx Combustion Using Two-Stage Combustion by Parallel Air Jets

Ammonia, which has advantages over hydrogen in terms of storage and transportation, is increasingly expected to become a carbon-free fuel. However, the reduction of fuel NOx emitted from ammonia combustion is an unavoidable challenge. There is the report that two-stage combustion with parallel independent jets could achieve Low-NOx combustion under ammonia/methane co-firing conditions. In order to further improve NOx reduction, we experimentally evaluated the effects of secondary air nozzle parameters, such as nozzle diameter and nozzle locations, on combustion characteristics in two-stage combustion of ammonia/natural gas co-firing using parallel independent jets. As a result of the experiments under various secondary air nozzle conditions, it was found that under the conditions where NOx was significantly reduced, the peak temperature in the furnace was observed at 300–500 mm in the axial direction from the burner, and then the temperature decreased toward the downstream of the furnace. We assumed that this temperature distribution reflected the mixing conditions of the fuel and secondary air and estimated the combustion conditions in the furnace. It was confirmed that the two-stage combustion was effective in reducing NOx by forming a fuel rich region near the downstream of the burner, and the lean combustion of the unburned portion of the first stage combustion with secondary air. We confirmed that the low NOx effects could be achieved by two-stage combustion using independent jets from the same wall under appropriate combustion and air nozzle conditions.

Economy and emission characteristics of the optimal dilution strategy in lean combustion based on GDI gasoline engine equipped with prechamber

EGR and excess-air dilution have been investigated in a 1.5 L four cylinders gasoline direct injection (GDI) turbocharged engine equipped with prechamber. The influences of the two different dilution technologies on the engine performance are explored. The results show that at 2400 rpm and 12 bar, EGR dilution can adopt more aggressive ignition advanced angle to achieve optimal combustion phasing. However, excess-air dilution has greater fuel economy than that of EGR dilution owing to larger in-cylinder polytropic exponent. As for prechamber, when dilution ratio is greater than 37.1%, the combustion phase is advanced, resulting in fuel economy improving. Meanwhile, only when the dilution ratio is under 36.2%, the HC emissions of excess-air dilution are lower than the original engine. With the increase of dilution ratio, the CO emissions decrease continuously. The NOX emissions of both dilution technologies are 11% of those of the original engine. Excess-air dilution has better fuel economy and very low CO emissions. EGR dilution can effectively reduce NOX emissions, but increase HC emissions. Compared with spark plug ignition, the pre chamber ignition has lower HC, CO emissions, and higher NO emissions. At part load, the pre-chamber ignition reduces NOX emissions to 49 ppm.