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Ammonia marine engine design for enhanced efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Author

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  • Xinyi Zhou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    National University of Singapore)

  • Tie Li

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Run Chen

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Yijie Wei

    (National Engineering Research Center of Special Equipment and Power System for Ship and Marine Engineering)

  • Xinran Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ning Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Shiyan Li

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Min Kuang

    (Ningbo University)

  • Wenming Yang

    (National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Pilot-diesel-ignition ammonia combustion engines have attracted widespread attentions from the maritime sector, but there are still bottleneck problems such as high unburned NH3 and N2O emissions as well as low thermal efficiency that need to be solved before further applications. In this study, a concept termed as in-cylinder reforming gas recirculation is initiated to simultaneously improve the thermal efficiency and reduce the unburned NH3, NOx, N2O and greenhouse gas emissions of pilot-diesel-ignition ammonia combustion engine. For this concept, one cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine operates rich of stoichiometric and the excess ammonia in the cylinder is partially decomposed into hydrogen, then the exhaust of this dedicated reforming cylinder is recirculated into the other cylinders and therefore the advantages of hydrogen-enriched combustion and exhaust gas recirculation can be combined. The results show that at 3% diesel energetic ratio and 1000 rpm, the engine can increase the indicated thermal efficiency by 15.8% and reduce the unburned NH3 by 89.3%, N2O by 91.2% compared to the base/traditional ammonia engine without the proposed method. At the same time, it is able to reduce carbon footprint by 97.0% and greenhouse gases by 94.0% compared to the traditional pure diesel mode.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyi Zhou & Tie Li & Run Chen & Yijie Wei & Xinran Wang & Ning Wang & Shiyan Li & Min Kuang & Wenming Yang, 2024. "Ammonia marine engine design for enhanced efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46452-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46452-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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