Upscaling operation characteristics of small diesel-ammonia fuelled internal combustion engines to heavy duty applications - 2024/2025

This project aims to scale up and adapt internal combustion engine technology that operates on a diesel–ammonia fuel blend—originally developed for small-scale engines—toward high-power applications and heavy-duty machinery.

Ammonia (NH₃) is a carbon-free hydrogen carrier and is considered a promising alternative for decarbonizing heavy transport. However, its use as a fuel in engines presents technical challenges such as low reactivity, thermal efficiency limitations, and emission control.

The project focuses on optimizing the diesel–ammonia blend, injection systems, and operating conditions to ensure efficient, safe combustion with reduced pollutant emissions, particularly CO₂ and NOx. Scaling these technologies to large engines opens the door to cleaner solutions in sectors such as freight transport, mining, stationary power generation, and heavy industrial machinery.

This contributes to advancing a sustainable energy transition by reducing the carbon footprint in sectors that are difficult to electrify directly.

Grant Program: ECOS ANID

Project Duration: 12 months

Principal Investigator: Dr. Wolfram Jahn