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On the effects of adding syngas to an ammonia-MILD combustion regime—a computational study of the reaction zone structure

On the effects of adding syngas to an ammonia-MILD combustion regime—a computational study of the reaction zone structure
On the effects of adding syngas to an ammonia-MILD combustion regime—a computational study of the reaction zone structure
This study examines the reaction zone structure of syngas/NH3/CH4 blends in moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) conditions to determine the effects of variations in NH3 and syngas mole fractions upon the stability of the reacting system and NOx emission. A series of axisymmetric turbulent combustion simulations are performed using OpenFOAM and selected reaction mechanisms and, a modified version of the eddy dissipation concept. An increasing amount of syngas is added to the reacting mixtures of NH3/CH4 in MILD conditions. It is observed that a reduction in the NH3 mole fraction increases the OH radical concentration, which implies a reduction in the ignition delay. Further, for a given NH3 mole fraction, an increase in the syngas content of the fuel blend along with a reduction in CH4 leads to a rise in the process maximum temperature near the entrance zone. This reduces the flow temperature gradient, decreases the CH2O mass fraction, and boosts the stability of MILD combustion. Additionally, adding syngas to ammonia for MILD combustion decreases the reaction zone weakening, which is a major problem in MILD combustion of ammonia. In particular, blending syngas with NH3 and reducing the amount of CH4 in the fuel blend increases flame speed and heat generation. When syngas is added to ammonia MILD combustion, NOx and NxO decrease, and more complete combustion is achieved.
0360-3199
226-240
Mousavi, S. Mahmood
36644d98-fa3b-4094-a241-fa0a249332b0
Lee, Bok Jik
2980995f-3300-438d-a425-4263e070ee50
Kim, Jinyoung
c2c2a8e1-9f12-410f-b080-0b4854b297d0
Sotoudeh, Freshteh
89be079e-eddf-4db7-be67-24f5cf09fd28
Chun, Byoungjoo
99fdd0e9-a5f4-46c2-8437-26609b0e4b81
Jun, Daeyoung
e73820a5-432b-43ee-aa87-f3dc1b766e11
Karimi, Nader
620646d6-27c9-4e1e-948f-f23e4a1e773a
Esfahani, Javad Abolfazli
63f10743-3e53-476e-8266-58d9d68b96c2
Mousavi, S. Mahmood
36644d98-fa3b-4094-a241-fa0a249332b0
Lee, Bok Jik
2980995f-3300-438d-a425-4263e070ee50
Kim, Jinyoung
c2c2a8e1-9f12-410f-b080-0b4854b297d0
Sotoudeh, Freshteh
89be079e-eddf-4db7-be67-24f5cf09fd28
Chun, Byoungjoo
99fdd0e9-a5f4-46c2-8437-26609b0e4b81
Jun, Daeyoung
e73820a5-432b-43ee-aa87-f3dc1b766e11
Karimi, Nader
620646d6-27c9-4e1e-948f-f23e4a1e773a
Esfahani, Javad Abolfazli
63f10743-3e53-476e-8266-58d9d68b96c2

Mousavi, S. Mahmood, Lee, Bok Jik, Kim, Jinyoung, Sotoudeh, Freshteh, Chun, Byoungjoo, Jun, Daeyoung, Karimi, Nader and Esfahani, Javad Abolfazli (2023) On the effects of adding syngas to an ammonia-MILD combustion regime—a computational study of the reaction zone structure. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 52 (Part A), 226-240. (doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.03.441).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study examines the reaction zone structure of syngas/NH3/CH4 blends in moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) conditions to determine the effects of variations in NH3 and syngas mole fractions upon the stability of the reacting system and NOx emission. A series of axisymmetric turbulent combustion simulations are performed using OpenFOAM and selected reaction mechanisms and, a modified version of the eddy dissipation concept. An increasing amount of syngas is added to the reacting mixtures of NH3/CH4 in MILD conditions. It is observed that a reduction in the NH3 mole fraction increases the OH radical concentration, which implies a reduction in the ignition delay. Further, for a given NH3 mole fraction, an increase in the syngas content of the fuel blend along with a reduction in CH4 leads to a rise in the process maximum temperature near the entrance zone. This reduces the flow temperature gradient, decreases the CH2O mass fraction, and boosts the stability of MILD combustion. Additionally, adding syngas to ammonia for MILD combustion decreases the reaction zone weakening, which is a major problem in MILD combustion of ammonia. In particular, blending syngas with NH3 and reducing the amount of CH4 in the fuel blend increases flame speed and heat generation. When syngas is added to ammonia MILD combustion, NOx and NxO decrease, and more complete combustion is achieved.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 28 March 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 April 2023
Published date: 16 December 2023

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 509359
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509359
ISSN: 0360-3199
PURE UUID: c900685d-59b5-4caf-84c9-b5e15d95bb5b
ORCID for Nader Karimi: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4559-6245

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Date deposited: 19 Feb 2026 17:43
Last modified: 20 Feb 2026 03:13

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Contributors

Author: S. Mahmood Mousavi
Author: Bok Jik Lee
Author: Jinyoung Kim
Author: Freshteh Sotoudeh
Author: Byoungjoo Chun
Author: Daeyoung Jun
Author: Nader Karimi ORCID iD
Author: Javad Abolfazli Esfahani

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