Low NOx thermochemical conversion of ammonia

Institute of Combustion Technology for Aerospace Engineering

Low NOx thermochemical energy conversion of ammonia by means of catalytically-enhanced ammonia reforming into hydrogen and nitrogen with a subsequent FLOX-like combustion.

As part of the priority program SPP 2419 (SPP 2419 - GEPRIS), we are working in cooperation with the Institute for Machine Tools at the University of Stuttgart and the Institute of Material Science and Technology at the TU Berlin on an interdisciplinary approach for a proof-of-concept for direct thermochemical conversion of ammonia in high-power density combustion applications with minimum NOX and NH3-slip. The development is facilitated by combining three key technologies: (i) additive manufacturing that enables the design of a (ii) high yield in situ NH3reformer for subsequent combustion of H2 -enriched blends in an (iii) auto-ignition stabilized combustion process. In situ NH3 cracking to NH3-H2-N2 mixtures capitalizes on the advantageous combustion characteristics of H2 (i.e. extended lean flammability limits, strain resilience and load flexibility), offers targeted NOX minimization while circumventing the distribution related challenges of H2. The research project can be divided into three sub-areas:

  1. Additive manufacturing of a fuel and load flexible injection and micro-mixing system for gaseous fuels.
  2. Additive manufacturing of a fuel reformer for the in situ cracking of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen.
  3. Thermochemical conversion of the NH3-H2-N2 fuel mixture in auto-ignition-stabilized combustion processes (e.g. MILD, FLOX)

Additive manufacturing of a fuel and load flexible injection and micro-mixing system for gaseous fuels.

Additive manufacturing of a fuel reformer for the in situ cracking of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen.

Thermochemical conversion of the NH3-H2-N2 fuel mixture in auto-ignition-stabilized combustion processes (e.g. MILD, FLOX)

Project duration

01.10.2023 – 30.09.2026 (expected)

Additional Information / Get Involved

If you are interested in our project, have further questions, or would like to support us through student work, internships, or thesis projects, we would be delighted to hear from you via email or phone. Contact details can be found below.

Contact

This image shows Fabian Hampp

Fabian Hampp

Dr.

Junior Research Group Leader

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