Plasma assisted NH3 combustion and NOx reduction technologies: principles, challenges and prospective

Radwana, A. M. and Paul, M. C. (2024) Plasma assisted NH3 combustion and NOx reduction technologies: principles, challenges and prospective. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 52(A), pp. 819-833. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.10.087)

Abstract

Combustion is the cornerstone for generating energy in various sectors and applications. The predominance of hydrocarbons combustion causes several environmental and human health issues. The ever-increasing demand for decarbonization of combustion technologies in order to reduce or eliminate undesirable emissions has created a major challenge, putting tremendous pressure on the international research community to develop alternative fuels. Ammonia has recently been explored as a promising carbon-free fuel and a great alternative to hydrocarbon fuels to achieve zero-carbon emissions. However, despite its advantages over hydrogen, ammonia combustion has some drawbacks including low burning velocity, flame stability, and high NOx emissions. This review begins with energy and environmental issues before moving on to hydrogen and ammonia as promising potential solutions, their advantages and drawbacks, and ammonia combustion kinetics. It summarises the principles of chemical kinetics of both ammonia combustion and NOx reduction coupled with the chemistry, kinetic mechanisms and impact of plasma on ammonia combustion. The effects of plasma on ammonia combustion and NOx reduction are also discussed, with a comparison of NOx reduction mechanisms and plasma approach. Finally, the review discusses the perspectives and challenges of using plasma in ammonia combustion.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The first author would like to thank the Egyptian Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector for funding his PhD research study at the University of Glasgow.
• Keywords: Ammonia combustion, plasma mechanism, NOx reduction, chemical kinetics.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Paul, Professor Manosh
• Authors: Radwana, A. M., and Paul, M. C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• ISSN (Online): 1879-3487
• Published Online: 27 October 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 52(A):819-833
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence