Fluidised-bed combustion of ammonia (NH3) for stationary combined heat and generation
R&D Focus Areas:
Ammonia, Industrial heat processes, Industrial feedstock processes
Lead Organisation:
The University of Western Australia
Funding:
Future Energy Exports CRC (Research Project)
Status:
Active
Start date:
July 2021
Project summary description:
The overall aim of this project is to advance the science underpinning the development of fluidised-bed combustion systems using ammonia as a fuel for combined heat and power applications. Fluidised bed reactors provide a stable thermal reservoir that should ensure reliable ammonia ignition, stable combustion and controllable heat release. The inert bed material may also inhibit ammonia oxidation by extinguishing radicals in reaction chains on the solid surface, altering the combustion chemistry and suppressing NOx formation.
Stage 1 of the project is to design and construct a laboratory-scale fluidised-bed reactor to study ammonia combustion and NOx formation mechanisms under practically relevant conditions. The fully-instrumented reactor will enable testing of different bed materials such as quartz, alumina and specific catalysts, and studies of combustion rate, heat release rate and NOx emissions. The effects of bed temperature, fuel/air ratio, bed materials and catalysts on combustion efficiency and NOx generation will be determined and optimised.
Stage 2 of the project is to develop a mathematical model of ammonia combustion incorporating hydrodynamics, reaction kinetics, heat and mass transfer, validated against the experimental measurements and findings in Stage 1. This will allow further investigation of the effect of the reaction temperature, operating pressure, feed composition, particle size and superficial velocity on the combustion rate, heat release rate and NOx emission. This understanding of the ammonia combustion reaction mechanism and kinetic rate equations is necessary for reactor design, process modelling and scaling.
Further information:
Fluidised-bed combustion of ammonia (NH3) for stationary combined heat and power generation (21.RP2.0059) – Future Energy Exports (fenex.org.au)
Reviewed: October 2024