ORCID
0009-0006-8215-8072
Keywords
Shock tube, Chemical Kinetics, Ammonia, Hydrogen, Laser Absorption Spectroscopy, Gas Turbines
Abstract
The combustion chemistry of hydrogen and ammonia fuels has become a research priority because of their potential for zero-carbon emission for uses in maritime, power generation, and air travel sectors. By representing their reaction pathways in a detailed chemical kinetic model, complex combustion chamber designs can be simulated to lower the amount of nitrogen oxides produced from these fuels, assuming the theoretical and measured reaction rates are correct. The work performed in this study set out to validate the NUIGMech 1.3 chemical kinetic mechanism, which includes both hydrocarbon- and nitrogen-based chemistry, through fundamental combustion parameters, such as ignition delay times (IDTs) and species time history measurements. The IDT conditions prioritized low temperature, high pressure, and undilute mixtures using a shock tube, while species time-history measurements were taken at high temperature, high pressure, and dilute mixtures; all the first to be measured at these conditions. Additionally, measurements of natural gas mixtures containing hydrogen and ammonia were tested and compared to the chemical kinetic model as a way to lower carbon emissions while utilizing the current power generation gas turbines. The work within found that the original NUIGMech 1.3 simulations deviated severely from undilute mixtures’ IDTs of hydrogen and ammonia, as did many other chemical kinetic models, and had moderate disagreement with the natural gas mixtures containing ammonia and hydrogen. A revised and reduced version of the NUIGMech 1.3 is represented using the experimental data collected and updated reactions in the literature to ensure more accurate computational fluid dynamics simulations and accelerate the development of hydrogen and ammonia engines.
Completion Date
2025
Semester
Summer
Committee Chair
Vasu, Subith
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
College
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Format
Release Date
8-15-2027
Document Type
Dissertation
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Subjects
Gas-turbines--Combustion--Mathematical models; Combustion--Models; Chemical kinetics--Research; Combustion--Computer simulation; Internal combustion engines--Combustion--Research
STARS Citation
Pierro, Michael, "Chemical Kinetic Model Validation Through High-Pressure Experiments for Hydrogen and Ammonia Turbine Engines" (2025). Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024. 566.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2024/566
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