First step toward a flexible CFD framework for ammonia-fueled gas turbine combustors

Milanese, Gabriele, Bellotti, Daria, Marsano, Davide, Alnasif, Ali, Valera-Medina, Agustin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1580-7133 and Cravero, Carlo 2026. First step toward a flexible CFD framework for ammonia-fueled gas turbine combustors. Presented at: ASME Turbo Expo 2026: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Milan, Italy, 15-19 June 2026. Aircraft Engine; Ceramics and Ceramic Composites; Coal, Biomass, Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels. , vol.1 ASME, 10.1115/GT2026-178805

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Abstract

The use of ammonia-based fuels in gas turbines requires dedicated combustor research and development because of substantial differences in ignition delay, laminar flame speed, and nitrogen chemistry compared with natural gas. In this context, the availability of reliable yet computationally affordable models is essential to support the design process. The present work represents a first step toward the development of a flexible Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) framework for the design and analysis of generic gas turbine combustors, typically featuring a diffusive pilot flame and a main premixed flame. The study focuses on the use of Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes (FANS) solutions to simulate a non-premixed burner configuration, previously investigated both experimentally and numerically by other authors. Particular attention is devoted to two main aspects: (i) the capability of different turbulence models to reproduce the key flow features of combustors and (ii) the evaluation of computationally affordable ammonia kinetic mechanisms. Results obtained from test cases of increasing complexity highlight the primary role exerted by the turbulence model and relevant improvements obtained with a new eddy viscosity model. Comparative simulations employing five NH3/H2 kinetic mechanisms, with different sizes, indicate similar predictions of the flame structure, with limited differences in NO formation.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item - published (Paper)
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	ASME
ISBN:	978-0-7918-8970-1
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2026 11:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/190430

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