Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Simulation of a Microturbine Combustion Chamber with Carbon-Free Fuels under Lean and Premixed Combustion Conditions

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Aref Sohrabi 1
Seyyed Mahdi Mirsajedi 2
1 Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of New Technologies and Aerospace Engineering, Tehran, Iran
2 Faculty of Modern Technologies and Aerospace Engineering, University of Shahid Beheshti , Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jtae.2025.9.4.3
Abstract
This study presents a numerical investigation of a C30 microturbine combustion chamber operating with carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia under lean and premixed combustion regimes. The primary objective is to evaluate the influence of varying fuel compositions on critical combustion characteristics, including temperature distribution, pollutant formation, chamber performance, thermal efficiency, and the practicality of sustaining lean premixed conditions. A partially premixed combustion model was applied alongside the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations to capture the coupled flow-combustion behavior. Ammonia concentration in the fuel blend was systematically increased in 10% increments, ranging from 0% to 50%. At concentrations up to 30%, nearly complete ammonia oxidation occurred within the combustion zone. Beyond this threshold, however, substantial unburned ammonia was observed due to diminished flame temperature and combustion efficiency. The results indicate that higher ammonia content leads to reduced flame temperature and lower NOx emissions, supporting environmental targets. Nevertheless, this temperature drop adversely impacts overall cycle efficiency. Substituting methane with hydrogen significantly enhanced combustion efficiency-from 88.5% to 99%-due to hydrogen’s superior calorific value. In contrast, incorporating ammonia above 30% led to a marked decline in efficiency, attributed to its relatively low heating value. This study offers critical insights into the design and optimization of combustion systems for carbon-free fuels, aiming to balance performance with emissions reduction and thereby contribute to the development of sustainable energy technologies.
Keywords
Numerical simulation
Lean combustion
Microturbine combustion chamber
Hydrogen
Ammonia
NOx emissions
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 16 January 2025
  • Revise Date 28 May 2025
  • Accept Date 31 May 2025
  • First Publish Date 10 June 2025