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Description
Considerable challenges in facing up the climate crisis is the transition to CO2 free energy supply. For heavy-duty vehicles within the transportation, construction and agricultural sectors, the need for high power output combined with adequate range cannot yet be provided by electrification. For these applications, fossil fuels must be replaced with sustainable, renewable and carbon free energy sources. A promising carbon free fuel is ammonia (NH3). It is considered as a chemical storage medium for hydrogen that can be easily stored and transported. Ammonia has the potential to play a key role in managing energy grids integrated with intermittent and renewable sources by providing a solution to store energy. The main objective of the project is to develop ACTIVATEngine technology which aims to solve the challenges to fueling an engine with NH3 and burn it efficiently with the evaluation and demonstration in an agricultural demonstration vehicle. The ACTIVATEngine concept will develop a new direct-injection concept for ammonia which is theorized to help improve NH3 engine operation and solve the issue of NH3 slip, bringing the technology to an application-readiness level. The numerical retrofitting tool that will be developed is a novelty that enhances the efficiency of the technology and enables its direct transfer to other engines and sectors, such as marine or transport applications. This transfer of technologies, concepts, protocols and understanding outside of the project is strengthened by the full documentation in reports and journal papers of the key technologies for retrofitting; the technology has a great potential to reach the market in the near future and contribute to an immediate CO2 emission reduction. The introduction of NH3 as a new player in energy and transport sectors offers many benefits. An increased worldwide trend in NH3 as a smart energy carrier can be introduced in Polish R&D sector.
Summary of project results
The current usage of ammonia as an energy carrier is limited, but its high hydrogen content and carbon free nature result in large potential to replace hydrocarbons. The introduction of ammonia as a new player in energy and transport sectors offers many benefits but also imposes challenges. An increased worldwide trend in ammonia as a smart energy carrier can be introduced in Polish R&D sector and potentially prepare its market for the new fuel. For use in the transport sector and directly in the power train, ammonia has significant benefits when compared to pure hydrogen. Ammonia is easily liquefied for storage at a modest pressure (8 bar-10 bar) at ambient temperature, resulting in much cheaper and simplified storage systems than those of pure hydrogen.
To achieve formulated goals of the project the work was divided into the experimental, numerical and economical part. The combustion analysis of the fuel were investigated at NTNU using a small compression ignition engine (aprox. 10 kW). Experiments were conducted to investigate the injection strategies and concepts towards improved ignition, flame stabilization, emission characteristics, and combustion efficiency. The entire system for retrofitting the existing engine and testing its functionality in a lab environment were done at SUT where also the ammonia pump was tested. As a part the numerical analysis and simulations of combustion of ammonia/biodiesel mixtures and emissions formation in CI engines were carried out. Both 0D and 3D models were used complementarily in a co-optimization of the technology. Simultenously, an assessment of the technology impact using data from the other work were conducted. The LCA was performed using different scenarios related e.g. to fuel origin, fuel quality, fuel injection strategy, methods for storage and transportation. The comprehensive environmental impact analysis were assured by supplementing the LCA with a thermo-ecological analysis (TEC). The final stage of the project was demonstration of developed technology using retrofitted for ammonia direct combustion agricultural SCOUT 18T tractor.
The execution of ACTIVAT project allowed to develop a new direct-injection concept for ammonia which was provided to improve NH3 engine operation and solve the issue of ammonia slip, bringing the technology to an application-readiness level. The project brought new perspectives in field of the ammonia usage as an alternative fuel and chemical energy carrier. This is a fundamental advancement and reflects the high scientific value of the project directed towards tackling important climate challenges. The scientific value of the project is also demonstrated by the high quality of the results, namely the scientific publications, participation in conferences and involvement of young and senior researchers.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian NTNU partner provided tremendous amount of knowledge in field of ammonia combustion. Priory to the project execution NTNU already has some experience with modeling ammonia combustion and also performed primary laboratory test. Undoubtedly without NTNU experience and knowledge the execution of the project would be very changing and difficult.During project execution, in biweekly project meeting all project partners had chance to show their progress and discuss problems. Cooperation between researchers opens new paths for future project in field of IC engine application.Based on close cooperation with NTNU the demonstration of the technology using agricultural tractor was possible. Nowadays with NTNU partner the new EU project concept is discussed in filed of ammonia application for power and marine sector.