Ammonia Combustion for Zero-Carbon Energy

Global efforts to move away from carbon-intensive fossil fuels have sparked interest in clean, zero-carbon energy carriers.

Ammonia (NH₃) is one such carbon-free alternative that may play a key role in the shipping and aviation industries, as it has a similar energy density to many fossil fuels and is easily liquified for storage. However, the chemistry that governs NH₃ combustion is relatively poorly understood, making it difficult to maximize the performance of energy systems that rely on NH₃. In the Hanson Research Group, we apply our expertise in optical diagnostics and shock tube methods to study NH₃ combustion with the goal of providing high-quality measurements of global properties (ignition delay time and laminar flame speed), key species time-histories (e.g., NH₃, NO, NH₂, NH, OH), and reaction rates for the development of improved chemical kinetic models. Such improved models will be crucial for the design of advanced NH₃-based engines and will further the greater goal of a clean energy transition.

Measurements of NO (solid lines), a key emissions species formed during NH3 combustion, conducted in a Hanson Research Group shock tube using a highly sensitive ultraviolet (UV) laser absorption diagnostic [1]. Results are compared against a recent chemical kinetic model (dashed lines), illustrating the need for model improvement.

To learn more, check out some of our publications:

[1] Clees, S., Rault, T.M., Figueroa-Labastida, M., Barnes, S.C., Ferris, A.M., Hanson, R.K., “A shock tube and laser absorption study of NH₃ oxidation,” 13^th U.S. National Combustion Meeting (2023)

[2] Figueroa-Labastida, M., Zheng, L., Ferris, A.M., Hanson, R.K., “High-temperature ammonia flame speed measurements behind reflected shock waves,” 13^th U.S. National Combustion Meeting (2023)