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CFD-Assisted Design of an NH 3 /H 2 Combustion Chamber Based on the Rich–Quench–Lean Concept

Author

Listed:
  • Gonçalo Pacheco

    (IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • José Chaves

    (IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Miguel Mendes

    (IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Pedro Coelho

    (IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

Ammonia (NH 3 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ) are considered promising fuels for the power sector’s decarbonization. Their combustion is capable of producing energy with zero direct CO 2 emissions, and ammonia can act as a stable energy H 2 carrier. This study numerically investigates the design and implementation of staged combustion of a mixture of NH 3 /H 2 by means of CFD simulations. The investigation employed the single-phase flow RANS governing equations and the eddy dissipation concept (EDC) combustion model, with the incorporation of a detailed kinetic mechanism. The combustion chamber operates under the RQL (rich–quench–lean) combustion regime. The first stage operates under rich conditions, firing mixtures of ammonia in air, enriched by hydrogen (H 2 ) to enhance combustion properties in a swirl and bluff-body stabilized burner. The secondary stage injects additional air and hydrogen to mitigate unburnt ammonia and NO x emissions. Simulations of the first stage were performed for a thermal input ranging from 4 kW to 8 kW and flames with an equivalence ratio of 1.2. In the second stage, additional hydrogen is injected with a thermal input of either 1 kW or 2 KW, and air is added to adjust the global equivalence ratio to 0.6.

Suggested Citation

  • Gonçalo Pacheco & José Chaves & Miguel Mendes & Pedro Coelho, 2025. "CFD-Assisted Design of an NH 3 /H 2 Combustion Chamber Based on the Rich–Quench–Lean Concept," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2919-:d:1670445
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sandip Mazumder & Somesh P. Roy, 2023. "Modeling Thermal Radiation in Combustion Environments: Progress and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-40, May.
    2. Deger Saygin & Herib Blanco & Francisco Boshell & Joseph Cordonnier & Kevin Rouwenhorst & Priyank Lathwal & Dolf Gielen, 2023. "Ammonia Production from Clean Hydrogen and the Implications for Global Natural Gas Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-28, January.
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