A Numerical Prediction of Stabilized Turbulent Partially Premixed Flames using Ammonia/Hydrogen Mixture

Abstract

The objective of this work is to computationally assess the performance of a carbon free ammonia-hydrogen mixture when burnt in a gas turbine like combustor. Recently, utilizing ammonia as an alternative carbon-free fuel for future power, industry applications and achieving clean energy attracted enormous interest. Pure ammonia oxidation is facing many challenges such as high NOx emissions, high ignition energy, slow reactivity and lower laminar flame speeds. Therefore, the use of ammonia/hydrogen mixture provides flame stability and increasing flame speed. In this manuscript a numerical study for a new swirl stabilized combustor for oxidizing ammonia/hydrogen mixture. Numerical two dimensional model simulations of a turbulent flame on Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) including a realizable k-ɛ turbulent scheme with the aid of chemistry mechanism were performed under various conditions. Partially premixed combustion model with flame-let concept was selected and radiation effects are also considered. Validation for the predicted results showed a reasonable agreement when validated with the experimental data. The results discuss the influence of changing inlet pressure and equivalence ratio on the stability and the characteristics of unburnt NH3 and NO emissions. Results show that for constant operating conditions such as constant equivalence ratio of 0.8 that increasing hydrogen content resulted in increasing NO emission. Also, for constant ammonia/hydrogen concentrations, NO emissions increases with equivalence ratio then reduced at rich conditions and NH3 emissions are generally low. Equivalence ratio lower than 1.2 will be preferable to reduce the amount of unburnt NH3 formation.