Laminar Burning Speed Measurements of Ammonia/Natural Gas Mixtures in a Spherical Chamber at 5 atm

This study delves into the combustion characteristics of ammonia/natural gas fuel blends across an equivalence ratio (ϕ) range of 0.8 to 1.3. Blending ammonia, a carbon-free fuel, with natural gas offers a transitional pathway to lower carbon emissions while maintaining stable combustion. Experiments were conducted to analyze flame stability, ignition behavior, and emissions under varying equivalence ratios. Results indicate that premixing natural gas into ammonia greatly increases laminar flame speeds at the cost of increased CO2 and NOx byproducts. Optimal combustion performance was observed near stoichiometric conditions, where a balance between stability and emissions was achieved. The study’s primary focus is to familiarize ammonia’s potential as an alternative fuel source and to deviate from carbon-based fuels by first examining its ignition behavior with additive fuel mixing.