Evaluating Ammonia-Diesel Blends in Engine Operations: Performance and Stability Impacts

Abstract This study investigated the effects of incorporating ammonia into diesel engine operations, focusing on its impact on performance and stability. Ammonia was introduced into the engine via the intake air. By varying ammonia ratios at different engine speeds and under full load conditions, it was found that ammonia integration could be achieved without stability issues up to an energy fraction of 54%. However, exceeding this threshold resulted in misfire occurrences during engine operation. Notably, lower energy ammonia fractions below 40% led to increased power output, while higher fractions caused power reduction. Additionally, consistent reductions in brake-specific energy consumption were observed with ammonia supplementation. Variations in in-cylinder pressure were directly correlated with power output changes. Peak pressure initially increased with ammonia but decreased beyond 40% energy sharing, with its location consistently retarded. Moreover, ammonia induction led to longer ignition delays and altered combustion phasing across all engine speeds, indicating its significant influence on engine operating parameters.