IHI announces it has developed an ammonia single firing burner for thermal power plant boilers and completed technical verifications for practical application.

Aiming for decarbonization of thermal power boilers and steam supply boilers, in 2024 IHI conducted large-scale conversion demonstration tests for fuel ammonia (heat capacity ratio 20%) at the JERA Hekinan Thermal Power Station unit 4 on boilers that use conventional fuel (coal, natural gas, etc.), successfully achieving ammonia 20% firing (combustion) in a burner in a commercially operating boiler. As a method to achieve even greater decarbonization, IHI has also worked on developing a burner capable of ammonia 60% high ratio firing and an ammonia single firing burner that can be implemented with minimal modifications on existing facilities.

The ammonia single firing burner was developed with the aim to increase the firing ratio of ammonia in stages until 100% ammonia firing can be realized, while minimizing modifications to existing boilers. In 2022, IHI successfully conducted stable ammonia single firing in a small combustion test facility. Because ammonia has the characteristic of low combustibility, IHI has repeatedly conducted testing at a large combustion test facility (image 1, image 2) at IHI’s Aioi Works (Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture) to realize stable combustion, reduce emissions of NOx and unburnt ammonia, and support load fluctuation which is required in thermal power plants.
Due to optimization of the burner structure and fuel supply method, IHI realized stable combustion in a wide operational range from low-load to high-load, and achieved compliance with environmental standards at an operational level.

Looking ahead to applying the technology to commercial equipment, IHI will work to further optimize the burner structure and improve environmental performance for ammonia single firing, and push operational evaluations in full-scale boilers. IHI will promote sustainable energy transition and contribute to reduction of the global environmental load by offering low carbon technologies including technologies using fuel ammonia.

Related press releases:
June 26, 2024 News
IHI and JERA Complete Fuel Ammonia Substitution Demonstration Testing at Hekinan Thermal Power Station | 2024FY | News Articles | IHI Corporation

September 19, 2023 Press Release
IHI Photographs Ammonia Flames from Burner inside Thermal Power Boiler as Part of Efforts to Accelerate Development through Dedicated Firing Tests in Large Furnace with Expanded Ammonia Combustion Test Capacity | 2023FY | News Articles | IHI Corporation

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