Experimental investigation of stabilization and emission characteristics of ammonia/air premixed flames in a swirl combustor

Ammonia is a possible candidate for use as a hydrogen energy carrier as well as a carbon-free fuel. In this study, flame stability and emission characteristics of swirl stabilized ammonia/air premixed flames were experimentally investigated. Results showed that ammonia/air premixed flame could be stabilized for various equivalence ratios and inlet flow velocity conditions in a swirl burner without any additives to enhance the reaction of ammonia even though the laminar burning velocity of ammonia is very slow. The lean and rich blowoff limits were found to be close to the flammability limits of the ammonia flame. In addition, emission characteristics were investigated using an FTIR gas analyzer. The NO concentration decreased and ammonia concentration increased under rich conditions. Moreover, it was found that there is an equivalence ratio in rich condition in which NO and ammonia emission are in the same order.