A novel approach of in-cylinder NOx control by inner selective non-catalytic reduction effect for high-pressure direct-injection ammonia engine

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2025-02, Vol.381, p.133349, Article 133349
• Main Authors: Yang, Rui, Yue, Zongyu, Zhang, Shouzhen, Yu, Zining, Wang, Hu, Liu, Haifeng, Yao, Mingfa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Diffusion combustion; High-pressure injection; Nitrogen oxide; Selective non-catalytic reduction
• ISSN: 0016-2361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133349

•The ignition mechanism, combustion characteristics and nitrogen oxide generation features of HPDF combustion were revealed.•In HPDF mode, the generation of NOx is influenced by the coupling effect of ammonia oxidation and non-catalytic reduction.•The significant reduction effect of NOx by NHi radicals and the detailed reaction pathway of SNCR were revealed.•Ammonia post injection strategy shows the potential to achieve low NOx emissions while maintaining high thermal efficiency. As an efficient hydrogen carrier and carbon-free fuel, ammonia shows great promise in realizing zero-carbon propulsions. However, challenges such as poor ignition stability, low combustion efficiency, and fuel-NOx emissions are yet to overcome. In this paper, the high-pressure direct-injection ammonia/diesel dual-fuel combustion mode (HPDF) with post injection strategy is proposed as a solution. The study reveals that HPDF combustion mode enables in-cylinder reduction of NOx, which is attributed to the selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) reaction. The results uncover that NH2, NH, and N radicals have a significant reducing effect on NO and NO2, while N2O serves as an important byproduct of the reduction reactions. Subsequently, the generated N2O can be further reduced to N2 through the involvement of O, H, and OH radicals. Building upon these findings, an innovative ammonia post injection method for reducing NOx emissions is explored. The post injection strategy effectively reduces the NOx emissions with only a minor decrease in indicated thermal efficiency, but an over-delayed post injection could also cause significant increase in N2O and unburned NH3 emissions. A post injection proportion of 20%-30% with appropriate post injection timing is found to achieve desired emission reduction. Overall, the HPDF combustion mode is a promising solution for ammonia engine, due to the high thermal efficiency and low nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as the ability to further reduce the NOx emissions through ammonia post injection strategy.