Experimental investigation of the effect of ammonia substitution ratio on an ammonia-diesel dual-fuel engine performance

This research experimentally examines an ammonia-diesel dual fuel system, not widely covered in existing literature but acknowledged as an effective approach to reduce engine carbon footprints in alignment with global decarbonization trends, focusing on enhancing understanding of performance, combustion, and emission characteristics vital for designing and optimizing these engines for commercialization. The results indicate that in an ammonia-air mixture atmosphere, diesel undergoes a prolonged ignition process, enhancing the role of premixed combustion. Increasing ammonia substitution at constant speed and load reduces the weight of mixing-controlled combustion, leading to larger areas in the chamber where diesel flames cannot reach. Ammonia oxidation mainly occurs near the diesel flame, as overly lean ammonia-air mixtures fail to sustain stable flame propagation. This results in considerable unburned ammonia emissions, particularly in regions beyond diesel flame reach and engine crevices, adversely affecting combustion efficiency and diminishing the thermal efficiency advantages of such operation. Furthermore, while ammonia combustion contributes to fuel-borne nitrogen oxides (NOx) formation, the overall NOx emissions from ammonia-diesel engines are reduced due to lower combustion temperatures and the deNOx properties of amino groups. However, the partial oxidation of ammonia during the late expansion stroke generates significant levels of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, in the emissions, counteracting the intended reduction of carbon dioxide. These experimental findings highlight the necessity of focusing on both improving in-cylinder combustion quality and developing effective aftertreatment systems for NH3 and N2O capture, as crucial steps towards enhancing the environmental performance and market viability of ammonia-diesel dual fuel engines.