Ammonia-Fueled Gas Turbines Toward Affordable and Clean Energy Production: A Review

Amidst the heightened global awareness of climate change, discourse has shifted decisively toward the ambitious vision of a carbon-free economy. This paradigm shift imposes even more rigorous criteria for selecting energy sources in shaping the future of mobility. Within the expansive array of alternative clean fuels that prioritize both energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, ammonia (NH₃) stands out as an exceptionally promising and superior choice. This review examines the potential and obstacles of implementing ammonia in gas turbine operations. The intricate chemical kinetics of ammonia combustion and the scarcity of confirming experimental data necessitate further scientific inquiry. Managing combustion challenges in gas turbines entails addressing issues like flame instability, diminished burning velocity, extended ignition delay, and restricted heat release rates. Strategies such as blending ammonia with hydrogen, methane, and oxy-combustion, as well as exploring mild combustion, are under scrutiny. Ammonia combustion results in notable NO_x emissions, demanding mitigation alongside unburnt ammonia emissions. Blending with other fuels shows promise in enhancing emission performance. This review evaluates various techniques, comparing their combustion efficiency and emissions advantages. Finally, it outlines prospects for ammonia use in gas turbines, underscoring the ongoing challenges in transitioning toward a decarbonized energy landscape to mitigate climate change.