Ammonia for power – fundamental combustion through computational fluid dynamics: Review

Shi, H., Vigueras-Zuniga, M. O., Chong, C. T., Wang, P., Yu, C., Vargas-Ruiz, H., Gicquel, L., Jangi, M., Shahsavari, M., Chiong, M. C. and Valera-Medina, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1580-7133 2026. Ammonia for power – fundamental combustion through computational fluid dynamics: Review. Applications in Energy and Combustion Science 27 , 100550. 10.1016/j.jaecs.2026.100550

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Abstract

Ammonia has gained considerable interest from the combustion community as an alternative fuel. The chemical promises to remove carbon entirely from heating, power and propulsion processes without incurring in extensive infrastructure developments, an important parameter for isolated regions located far from electrical or natural gas grids. As such, the work on ammonia combustion expands from fundamental analyses to giga-Watt practical applications in power generation. However, experimental research usually lacks further information about radical interactions, blends reactivity, emissions abatement, flame stability, and scalability parameters. Therefore, numerical modelling via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) not only offers detailed insights into these combustion challenges using ammonia but also ensures that by applying novel methodologies ammonia resolution is accurate, relevant and affordable for a topic with such a large impactful potential. Therefore, this review addresses a large literature survey from researchers and technologist across the globe currently assessing ammonia as an energy vector. The review approaches the current situation of ammonia continuing with a brief description of the importance of CFD to analyse ammonia flames. After this section the review addresses relevant CFD research on topics that progress from the most fundamental combustion parameters to innovative applications such as liquid injection, plasmas and porous media systems. Finally, major challenges and future developments are presented, with conclusions that address the versatility of studies and most interesting areas of further research relevant to the use of CFD modelling in the resolution of fundamental parameters in ammonia combustion systems. The novelty of the review lays on the discussion of the latest research, via computational fluid dynamics, intended to delve new technologies such as small burners, liquid atomization, plasma systems and porous media to deploy ammonia energy concepts to new fields that include medium heating, small transport, domestic applications and even aerospace systems.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2666-352X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 August 2026
Last Modified:	17 Aug 2026 11:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189024

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