Assessment of the combustion performance of a room furnace operating on pipeline natural gas mixed with simulated biogas or hydrogen. (3rd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yan; McDonell, Vince; Samuelsen, Scott
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 45:Number 19(2020)
• Page Start: 11368
• Page End: 11379
• Publication Date: 2020-04-03
• Subjects: Hydrogen -- Biogas -- Interchangeability -- Room furnace -- Emissions; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.02.071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: With the inexorable depletion of fossil fuel and the increasing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, blending renewable fuels like biogas or renewable hydrogen into natural gas is of great interest. Due to various potential sources and low-carbon or even carbon-free properties, biogas and hydrogen are competitive energy carriers and promising gaseous fuels to replace pipeline natural gas in the future. From the perspective of end users and combustion device manufacturers, one of the major concerns is the influence of the renewable content on the combustion device performance. In addition, the upper limit of renewable gas content percentage in pipeline also interests policy makers and gas utility companies. Therefore, the present study is conducted to investigate the influence of renewable gas content on the operating performance of a residential room furnace. Evaluated combustion performance characteristics include ignition performance, blow-off/flashback limits, burner temperature and emissions (NO, NO2, N2 O, CO, UHC, NH3 ). The results show that 5% carbon dioxide and 15% (by volume) hydrogen can be added to natural gas separately without significant impacts. Above this amount, the risk of blow-off and flashback is the limiting factor. Generally speaking, carbon dioxide addition helps decrease NOX emission but increases CO emission. However, hydrogen addition up to the amounts studied here in has minimal impact on NOX and CO emissions. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Ignition failure and flame blow-off occur when CO2 addition exceeds 5% and 25%, respectively. Flashback induced ignition failure occurs when H2 addition exceeds 15%. Steady state flashback occurs when H2 addition exceeds 40% by volume. CO2 addition reduces burner material temperature and H2 addition increases it. CO2 addition decreases NOX emission and increases CO emission; however, H2 addition has minimal impact on either NOX or CO emissions.