Abstract
Ammonia is recognized as one of the most effective hydrogen carriers and as an excellent candidate for supporting the decarbonization of the energy sector. Nevertheless, its combustion characteristics make it hard to be used in standard combustion processes. For example, its low reactivity, that leads to a very low laminar flame speed, does not allow to easily stabilize processes based neither on deflagrative nor diffusive flame structure. At the same time, it yields to the formation of a relevant amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx), not acceptable for their environmental impact. On this basis, it is striking to break the mold and consider processes that go beyond the stabilization mechanisms of standard combustion processes, thus avoiding the main issues related to ammonia combustion. From this point of view, one of the most promising conversion technologies of ammonia is Moderate or Intense Level of Dilution (MILD) combustion, already proven to be really fuel flexible. In this chapter, the main characteristic of ammonia combustion in MILD condition will be explored based on the knowledge available in the literature. Firstly, kinetics of ammonia will be discussed in relation to this combustion regime, highlighting reaction subsets active in the temperature range characteristic of MILD combustion. In this context, it will be also discussed the crucial role of ammonia in third-body efficiency reactions. Moreover, possible burner configurations for MILD combustion of ammonia and its impact on stability range and NOx emissions will be discussed, showing the fundamental role of such a combustion regime in the energy transition.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ageno M, Della Rocca A, Fantuzzi M, Senarega M (2011) Tenova FlexyTech ® regenerative flameless burners. Millennium Steel 2011:115–122
Alturaifi SA, Mathieu O, Petersen EL (2022) An experimental and modeling study of ammonia pyrolysis. Combust Flame 235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111694
Ariemma GB, Bozza P, de Joannon M, Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Ragucci R (2021a) Alcohols as energy carriers in MILD combustion. Energy Fuels. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c03862
Ariemma GB, Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Bozza P, de Joannon M, Ragucci R (2021b) Influence of water addition on MILD ammonia combustion performances and emissions. Proc Combust Inst 38(4):5147–5154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.06.143
Ariemma GB, Sorrentino G, Sabia P, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2023) MILD Combustion of Methanol, Ethanol and 1-Butanol binary blends with Ammonia. Proc Combust Inst 39(4):4509–4517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2022.08.032
Ben M, Mu B, Alzueta MU, Go A De (2021) Study of the oxidation of ammonia in a flow reactor. Experiments and kinetic modeling simulation 300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120979
Cai T, Zhao D, Gutmark E (2023) Overview of fundamental kinetic mechanisms and emission mitigation in ammonia combustion. Chem Eng J 458(November 2022):141391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.141391
Cavaliere A, De Joannon M (2004) Mild combustion. Progr Energy Combust Sci 329–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2004.02.003
Chavarrio Cañas JE, Monge-Palacios M, Zhang X, Sarathy SM (2022) Probing the gas-phase oxidation of ammonia: addressing uncertainties with theoretical calculations. Combust Flame 235:111708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111708
Cobos CJ, Glarborg P, Marshall P, Troe J (2022) Re-evaluation of rate constants for the reaction N2H4 (+ M) ⇄ NH2 + NH2 (+ M). Combust Flame 4:112374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112374
Dagaut P, Glarborg P, Alzueta MU (2008) The oxidation of hydrogen cyanide and related chemistry 34:1–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2007.02.004
Dally BB, Riesmeier E, Peters N (2004) Effect of fuel mixture on moderate and intense low oxygen dilution combustion. Combust Flame 137(4):418–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2004.02.011
Derudi M, Rota R (2019) 110th anniversary: MILD combustion of liquid hydrocarbon-alcohol blends. Ind Eng Chem Res 58(32):15061–15068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b02374
de Joannon M, Sorrentino G, Cavaliere A (2012) MILD combustion in diffusion-controlled regimes of hot diluted fuel. Combust Flame 159(5):1832–1839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2012.01.013
De Joannon M, Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Bozza P, Ragucci R (2017) Small size burner combustion stabilization by means of strong cyclonic recirculation. Proc Combust Inst 36(3):3361–3369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2016.06.070
De Joannon M, Sabia P, Skevis G (2018) Introduction of the special issue on SMARTCATs COST action. Energy Fuels (American Chemical Society), 10051. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b03379
Dove JE, Nip WS (1979) A shock-tube study of ammonia pyrolysis. Can J Chem 57(6):689–701. https://doi.org/10.1139/v79-112
European Council, C. of E. U. No Title. FITFOR55. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/fit-for-55-the-eu-plan-for-a-green-transition/#what
Glarborg P, Dam-Johansen KIM, Miller JA, Kee RJ, Coltrin ME (1994) Modeling the thermal DENO, process in flow reactors. Surface effects and nitrous oxide formation. Int J Chem Kinet 26:421–436
Glarborg P, Miller JA, Ruscic B, Klippenstein SJ (2018) Modeling nitrogen chemistry in combustion. Prog Energy Combust Sci 67:31–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2018.01.002
Glarborg P, Hashemi H, Cheskis S, Jasper AW (2021). In: Glarborg P, Hashemi H, Cheskis S, Jasper AW (eds), 2. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c11011
Glarborg P, Hashemi H, Marshall P (2022) Challenges in kinetic modeling of ammonia pyrolysis. Fuel Commun 10(October 2021):100049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfueco.2022.100049
Hu F, Li P, Zhang T, Wang F, Cheng P, Liu Y, Shi G, Liu Z (2022) MILD combustion of co-firing biomass and pulverized coal fuel blend for heterogeneous fuel NO and PM2.5 emission reduction. Fuel Process Technol 230(February):107222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107222
Javoy S, Lafosse F, Chaumeix N, Dupre G, Paillard C, Me R (2009) Hydrogen–nitrous oxide delay times: shock tube experimental study and kinetic modelling 32:359–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2008.06.171
Li J, Huang H, Kobayashi N, He Z, Nagai Y (2014) Study on using hydrogen and ammonia as fuels: combustion characteristics and NOx formation. NOx 1214–1223. https://doi.org/10.1002/er
Macchi steam & power generation. https://www.macchiboiler.it/ricerca-e-sviluppo/applicazioni-speciali-e-prodotti-di-combustione-in-fase-di-sviluppo/, last visit 16 march 2024
Mahendra Reddy V, Kumar S (2013) Development of high intensity low emission combustor for achieving flameless combustion of liquid fuels. Propul Power Res 2(2):139–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jppr.2013.04.006
Manna MV, Sabia P, de Joannon M (2020) Oxidation and pyrolysis of ammonia mixtures in model reactors. Fuel 264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116768
Manna MV, Sabia P, Shrestha KP, Seidel L, Ragucci R, Mauss F, de Joannon M (2022a) NH3NO interaction at low-temperatures: an experimental and modeling study. Proc Combust Inst 000:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2022.09.027
Manna MV, Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Viola T, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2022b) New insight into NH3–H2 mutual inhibiting effects and dynamic regimes at low-intermediate temperatures. Combust Flame 243:111957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111957
Marshall P, Rawling G, Glarbor P (2021) New reactions of diazene and related species for modelling combustion of amine fuels. Mol Phys e1979674. https://doi.org/10.1080/00268976.2021.1979674
Mathieu O, Petersen EL (2008) Experimental and modeling study on the high-temperature oxidation of ammonia and related NOx chemistry 1–33
Mathieu O, Petersen EL (2015) Experimental and modeling study on the high-temperature oxidation of ammonia and related NOx chemistry. Combust Flame 162(3):554–570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2014.08.022
Mi J, Li P, Wang F, Cheong KP, Wang G (2021) Review on MiLD combustion of gaseous fuel: its definition, ignition, evolution, and emissions. Energy Fuels (American Chemical Society) 7572–7607. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c00511
Miller JA, Glarborg P (1999) Modeling the thermal De-NOx process: closing in on a final solution, NOx
Miller JA, Bowman C (1989) Mechanism and modeling of nitrogen chemistry in combustion. Prog Energy Combust Sci 15:287–338
Minamoto Y, Swaminathan N (2015) Subgrid scale modelling for MILD combustion. Proc Combust Inst 35(3):3529–3536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2014.07.025
Nakamura H, Hasegawa S, Tezuka T (2017) Kinetic modeling of ammonia/air weak flames in a micro flow reactor with a controlled temperature profile. Combust Flame 185:16–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.06.021
Okafor EC, Naito Y, Colson S, Ichikawa A, Kudo T, Hayakawa A, Kobayashi H (2019) Measurement and modelling of the laminar burning velocity of methane-ammonia-air flames at high pressures using a Re Duce d reaction mechanism 204:162–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.03.008
Oldenhof E, Tummers MJ, van Veen EH, Roekaerts DJEM (2010) Ignition Kernel formation and lift-off behaviour of jet-in-hot-co-flow flames. Combust Flame 157(6):1167–1178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2010.01.002
Otomo J, Koshi M, Mitsumori T, Iwasaki H (2017) ScienceDirect chemical kinetic modeling of ammonia oxidation with improved reaction mechanism for ammonia/air and ammonia/hydrogen/air combustion. Int J Hydrogen Energy 43(5):3004–3014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.12.066
Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Bozza P, Ceriello G, Ragucci R, De Joannon M (2019) Fuel and thermal load flexibility of a MILD burner. Proc Combust Inst 37(4):4547–4554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2018.09.003
Sabia P, Manna MV, Cavaliere A, De Joannon M (2020a) Ammonia oxidation features in a jet stirred flow reactor. The role of NH2 chemistry 276(May). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118054
Sabia P, Manna MV, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2020b) Mutual inhibition effect of hydrogen and ammonia in oxidation processes and the role of ammonia as “strong” collider in third-molecular reactions. Int J Hydrogen Energy 45(56):32113–32127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.218
Sabia P, Sorrentino G, Ariemma GB, Manna MV, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2021) MILD combustion and biofuels: a minireview. Energy Fuels 35(24):19901–19919. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c02973
Saha M, Bassam D (2022) Solid fuels flameless combustion. In: Hosseini SE (ed) Fundamentals of low emission flameless combustion and its applications. Academic Press, pp 505–552
Sharma S, Singh P, Gupta A, Chowdhury A, Khandelwal B, Kumar, S (2020) Distributed combustion mode in a can-type gas turbine combustor—A numerical and experimental study. Appl Energy 277(April):115573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115573
Sharma S, Kumar S (2022) Historical background of novel flameless combustion. In: Hosseini SE (ed) Fundamentals of low emission flameless combustion and its applications. Academic Press, pp 45–79
Shrestha KP, Seidel L, Zeuch T, Mauss F, Shrestha KP, Seidel L, Zeuch T, Mauss F, Kinetic D (2020) Detailed kinetic mechanism for the oxidation of ammonia including the formation and reduction of nitrogen oxides to cite this version: HAL Id: Hal-02629067
Song Y, Hashemi H, Munkholt J, Zou C, Marshall P, Glarborg P, No HÀ, Hno À (2016) Ammonia oxidation at high pressure and intermediate temperatures. Fuel 181:358–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2016.04.100
Sorrentino G, Sabia P, de Joannon M, Bozza P, Ragucci R (2018) Influence of preheating and thermal power on cyclonic burner characteristics under mild combustion. Fuel 233:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.06.049
Sorrentino G, Sabia P, Bozza P, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2019) Low-NOx conversion of pure ammonia in a cyclonic burner under locally diluted and preheated conditions. Appl Energy 254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113676
Sorrentino G, Cavaliere A, Sabia P, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2020) Diffusion ignition processes in MILD combustion: a mini-review. Front Mech Eng 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmech.2020.00010
Sorrentino G, Sabia P, Ariemma GB, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2021) Reactive structures of ammonia MILD combustion in diffusion ignition processes. Front Energy Res 9(October):1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2021.649141
Sorrentino G, Ariemma GB, Manna M, Cavaliere A, Sabia P, de Joannon M, Ragucci R (2022a) Aerodynamics issues and configurations in MILD reactors. In: Hosseini SE (ed) Fundamentals of low emission flameless combustion and its applications. Academic Press, pp 149–180
Sorrentino G, Ariemma GB, Ragucci R, De Joannon M, Sabia P, Valera-Medina A (2022b) Ammonia/methane combustion: stability enhancement and NOx emissions. Energy (Submitted)
Stagni A, Cavallotti C, Arunthanayothin S, Song Y, Herbinet O, Battin-Leclerc F, Faravelli T (2020a) An experimental, theoretical and kinetic-modeling study of the gas-phase oxidation of ammonia. React Chem Eng 5(4):696–711. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9re00429g
Stagni A, Cavallotti C, Arunthanayothin S, Song Y, Herbinet O, Battin-leclerc F, Faravelli T (2020b) Reaction chemistry & engineering study of the gas-phase oxidation of Ammonia, NOx, 696–711. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9re00429g
Taylor P (2007) Combustion science and technology kinetic modeling of the thermal decomposition of ammonia kinetic modeling of the thermal decomposition of ammonia (2013):37–41
Valera-Medina A, Amer-Hatem F, Azad AK, Dedoussi IC, De Joannon M, Fernandes RX, Glarborg P, Hashemi H, He X, Mashruk S, McGowan J, Mounaim-Rouselle C, Ortiz-Prado A, Ortiz-Valera A, Rossetti I, Shu B, Yehia M, **ao H, Costa M (2021) Review on ammonia as a potential fuel: from synthesis to economics. Energy Fuels 35(9):6964–7029. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c03685
Vance FH, de Goey LPH, van Oijen JA (2022) Development of a flashback correlation for burner-stabilized hydrogen-air premixed flames. Combust Flame 243:112045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112045
Virginia M, Sabia P, Ragucci R, de Joannon M (2021) Ammonia oxidation regimes and transitional behaviors in a jet stirred flow reactor 228(x):388–400
Virginia M, Sabia P, Shrestha KP, Seidel L, Ragucci R, Mauss F, de Joannon M (2022) NH3–NO Interaction at low-temperatures: an experimental and modeling study. Proc Combust Inst 000:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2022.09.027
Wang Z, Han X, He Y, Zhu R, Zhu Y, Zhou Z, Cen K (2021) Experimental and kinetic study on the laminar burning velocities of NH3 mixing with CH3 OH and C2 H5 OH in premixed flames. Combust Flame 229:111392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.02.038
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sabia, P., Sorrentino, G., Manna, V., Ariemma, G.B., de Joannon, M., Ragucci, R. (2024). MILD Combustion of Ammonia, from Kinetics to Applications. In: Kumar, S., Agarwal, A.K., Khandelwal, B., Singh, P. (eds) Ammonia and Hydrogen for Green Energy Transition. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0507-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0507-8_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-97-0506-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-97-0507-8
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)