Full-Scale Development of Ammonia Fuel Gas Turbine with Zero Pollutants

Korea Institute of Energy Research Begins Development of Combustion Technology Using Anhydrous Ammonia

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Research has begun to develop high-efficiency gas turbines using ammonia, one of the carbon-free fuels, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The Korea Institute of Energy Research announced on the 29th that Dr. Minjeong Lee's research team in the New Combustion Power Laboratory has initiated the development of combustion technology using 100% anhydrous ammonia for the first time in Korea. Anhydrous ammonia refers to pure ammonia in liquid and gaseous states composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, distinguished from aqueous ammonia solutions.

Through the institute's core project, "Development of Low Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Gas Turbine Combustion Technology for Direct Use of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)-free Ammonia," the research team plans to secure key design technologies for ammonia combustors. Notably, the development of combustion technology using 100% ammonia without mixing with conventional fuels is a first attempt in Korea.

This technology is gaining attention due to the government's announcements last year of the "Hydrogen Economy Activation Roadmap" and the "2050 Carbon Neutrality Promotion Strategy." Hydrogen demand is expected to increase significantly as it expands into various industrial sectors. Ammonia is a stable substance compared to hydrogen, which has explosion risks, and serves as a "hydrogen carrier" that can be immediately converted into hydrogen upon decomposition. It can also be directly used as fuel through combustion. Since ammonia is already widely used globally as a fertilizer and has established infrastructure, economic feasibility is also achievable.

Consequently, ammonia combustion technology is actively being researched worldwide. In March, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began developing a 40MW ammonia gas turbine aiming for the world's first commercialization in 2025. In June, the U.S. company General Electric (GE) and Japan's IHI Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for gas turbine development.

However, ammonia has drawbacks such as having only about 50% of the calorific value and 20% of the combustion speed compared to conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel, making it difficult to ensure stability. Additionally, nitrogen atoms in the fuel increase nitrogen oxide emissions in high-temperature combustion environments.

To overcome these challenges, the research team plans to secure fuel nozzle designs with a high Turn Down Ratio (TDR), ammonia hydrogen decomposition technology using waste heat, and multi-stage combustion technology to ensure combustion stability and suppress NOx generation.

Jung Hak-geun, Director of the Energy Efficiency Research Headquarters, stated, "The development of carbon-free ammonia combustion technology is expected to significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions from energy-intensive devices in the power generation and industrial sectors." He added, "This technology can be applied to the transition to carbon-free fuels in fuel combustion systems in the energy sector, which accounts for 87% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, it will help reduce carbon emissions in gas turbines, thermal power generation, steel heating processes, petrochemical and refining processes, and industrial boilers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.