Technology Development for Ammonia Fuel-powered Small Engine Systems toward a Decarbonized Society

Background

Ammonia is attracting attention as an alternative to fossil fuel because it does not emit CO₂ during combustion and can be stored and transported with existing infrastructure and technology. On the other hand, using ammonia as an engine fuel involves low combustibility and other problems; there is no practical example of a small engine system that can be powered with ammonia alone.

Osaka Gas has accumulated core engine combustion technologies through the development of gas engines for cogeneration¹ and GHP² systems. By utilizing these technologies, the company will also strive for the technology development of an engine that uses ammonia as fuel as a way to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society. The goal is to build a small engine system that works using ammonia fuel alone.

1. A general term for systems that produce and supply electric power and heat from a heat source, such as Ene-Farm
2. An air conditioning system that drives a compressor with a gas engine to achieve highly efficient heating and cooling

Technical Issues Involved in Ammonia Combustion 

Overview of Engine System

Development and demonstrative experiments will be conducted for an engine system that reforms some of the low combustible ammonia into hydrogen inside the system to realize stable combustion.

　　　　　　Overview of Engine System 　　    　　　　　　   Improved combustion due to added hydrogen

Action

As a commissioned project³ of the Ministry of the Environment, we worked to establish core technologies for the engine system and conducted demonstrative experiments of operation by installing the engine system on a real machine. Our next goal is to realize the world's first small engine system that works using ammonia fuel alone.

3. Our project proposal, “Development of technology for utilizing a small internal combustion engine using ammonia as fuel for decarbonization in various industrial activities,” was submitted for application and adopted for the “2021 Low Carbon Technology Research, Development and Demonstration Program (first solicitation).”
Click here for the press release on this matter （ https://www.osakagas.co.jp/company/press/pr2021/1296663_46443.html）.