Impact of spray interaction on ammonia/diesel dual-fuel combustion and emission under engine relevant conditions

This study investigates the combustion characteristics of ammonia and diesel sprays in a constant-volume vessel under conditions typical of internal combustion engines, focusing on the interplay between evaporation dynamics and flame interactions within the framework of the Direct Dual Fuel Stratification (DDFS) concept. Under non-evaporation conditions, ammonia and diesel sprays exhibit comparable evaporation profiles, but under evaporation scenarios, ammonia’s higher evaporation rate results in faster mixing with ambient gas than diesel despite the similar liquid penetration lengths of these two fuels. By utilizing meticulously designed arrangements of diesel and ammonia spray injectors, two distinct interaction scenarios between diesel spray and ammonia spray, early and late interaction, are explored. In the early interaction scenario, fuel-rich ammonia-air mixtures ignite directly by the diesel flame, achieving self-sustained propagation and significant heat release, thereby maintaining a high-temperature region for continuous combustion. Conversely, in late interaction scenarios, rapid ammonia evaporation leads to a fuel-lean ammonia/air mixture that cannot be ignited by the diesel flame, eventually leading to ammonia flame extinction. The study reveals that NOx and NO emissions are sensitive to the diesel/ammonia flame interaction. NO emissions, formed predominantly at the forefront of the quenching ammonia flame, pose a significant challenge due to the fast evaporation rate and slow oxidation rate in fuel-lean mixtures. These findings provide insights into the physics of ammonia–diesel combustion, highlighting the challenges and potential strategies for efficient and clean combustion in ammonia-fueled DDFS engines.