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Experimental Assessment on the Coupling Effect of Mixing Length and Methane-Ammonia Blends on Flame Stability and Emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Marwan Abdullah

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Thibault F. Guiberti

    (Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
    Mechanical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia)

  • Radi A. Alsulami

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Lean premixed combustion mode has become attractive for utilization in industrial gas turbines due to its ability to meet strict emissions regulations without compromising engine efficiency. In this combustion mode, the mixing process is the key player that affect the flame structure and stability, as well as the generated emissions. Many studies have investigated the aspects that influence premixed flames, including the effects of turbulence, combustor geometry, and level of partial premixing, while mostly using conventional natural gas fuel represented by methane. Recently, ammonia, a sustainable energy source, has been considered in gas turbines due to its carbon-free fuel producing no CO 2 . Utilizing 100% ammonia or a blend of methane and ammonia alters the combustion performance of a premixed flame due to the variation associated with the physical and chemical properties of ammonia. Thus, investigating the coupling between blend ratios and mixing length of methane-ammonia on flame stability and emissions is an essential step toward implementing ammonia in industrial gas turbines. In this study, the influence of various methane-ammonia blends, from 0 (pure methane) to X NH3 = 75%, and mixing lengths on the flame performance were studied. The mixing length was altered by delaying the injection (i.e., partially premixing) of the ammonia while using a fixed injection location for the reference methane-air mixture. This was done by using three fuel ports located at three different heights upstream of the combustion chamber. The results showed that the flame stability is negatively influenced by increasing (decreasing) ammonia fraction (mixing length ratio) and is more sensitive to the ammonia fraction than to the mixing length. At a constant equivalence ratio, the CO and NOx performances improved positively by increasing the ammonia volume fractions (especially at X NH3 = 75% compared to X NH3 = 25% and 50%) and the mixing length.

Suggested Citation

  • Marwan Abdullah & Thibault F. Guiberti & Radi A. Alsulami, 2023. "Experimental Assessment on the Coupling Effect of Mixing Length and Methane-Ammonia Blends on Flame Stability and Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:7:p:2955-:d:1105784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Namsu Kim & Minjung Lee & Juwon Park & Jeongje Park & Taesong Lee, 2022. "A Comparative Study of NO x Emission Characteristics in a Fuel Staging and Air Staging Combustor Fueled with Partially Cracked Ammonia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Taamallah, S. & Vogiatzaki, K. & Alzahrani, F.M. & Mokheimer, E.M.A. & Habib, M.A. & Ghoniem, A.F., 2015. "Fuel flexibility, stability and emissions in premixed hydrogen-rich gas turbine combustion: Technology, fundamentals, and numerical simulations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1020-1047.
    3. Valera-Medina, Agustin & Marsh, Richard & Runyon, Jon & Pugh, Daniel & Beasley, Paul & Hughes, Timothy & Bowen, Phil, 2017. "Ammonia–methane combustion in tangential swirl burners for gas turbine power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1362-1371.
    4. Marco Osvaldo Vigueras-Zúñiga & Maria Elena Tejeda-del-Cueto & Syed Mashruk & Marina Kovaleva & Cesar Leonardo Ordóñez-Romero & Agustin Valera-Medina, 2021. "Methane/Ammonia Radical Formation during High Temperature Reactions in Swirl Burners," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-13, October.
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