NSF Org:	CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Initial Amendment Date:	July 15, 2022
Latest Amendment Date:	July 15, 2022
Award Number:	2225803
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Harsha Chelliah hchellia@nsf.gov  (703)292-7281 CBET  Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG  Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	August 1, 2022
End Date:	July 31, 2025 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$499,999.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$499,999.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2022 = $499,999.00
History of Investigator:	Peng Zhao (Principal Investigator) pzhao12@utk.edu Zhili Zhang (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Tennessee Space Institute 411 BH GOETHERT PKWY TULLAHOMA TN  US  37388-9700 (931)393-7212
Sponsor Congressional District:	04
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Tennessee Space Institute 411 BH GOETHERT PKWY TULLAHOMA TN  US  37388-9700
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	R7UDMNZJNFU5
Parent UEI:	R7UDMNZJNFU5
NSF Program(s):	CFS-Combustion & Fire Systems
Primary Program Source:	01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):
Program Element Code(s):	140700
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.041

ABSTRACT

With the global trend of decarbonization and growing interests in sustainable transportation and propulsion, it becomes increasingly important to understand the combustion performance and emission characteristics of carbon-free fuels under practical operation conditions. Ammonia has attracted extensive research interests as a carbon-free fuel and an effective hydrogen carrier, due to its relatively high volumetric energy density, low cost, convenience to store and deliver, and mature production infrastructure from renewable resources. A major obstacle yet to be resolved is the emission of nitric oxide and unburnt ammonia during combustion, both of which are strongly coupled with the spray and mixing process. This proposal focuses on the understanding the characteristics of high-pressure liquid ammonia spray and combustion, with pressures up to 80 bar, to inform future carbon-free transportation and propulsion systems. The proposed efforts will also broaden participation in research and integrate research with teaching to enhance student learning. The proposed work will not only impact on the fundamental spray dynamics and combustion kinetics, but also be transformative for the development of carbon-free transportation and propulsion systems.

The goal of this research is to combine comprehensive in-situ laser diagnostics and numerical simulation to provide in-depth understanding of ammonia sprays under non-vaporizing, vaporizing, and reacting conditions. This fills a substantial knowledge gap and requires a combination of expertise in advanced laser diagnostics and high-fidelity numerical simulations. Advanced laser diagnostics will include 2D Raman, PLIF and rainbow reflectometry to acquire flow, key reaction intermediates and droplet size distribution. These experimental measurements will provide unprecedented details about the performance and emission characteristics of high-pressure ammonia combustion as a carbon-free fuel. Information of the flow, temperature, droplet and chemical intermediate distribution will also provide valuable targets to validate simulations using both open source CFD code and commercial software to enhance modeling and prediction capability for future clean combustion systems.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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