Engines that burn hydrogen and ammonia could replace diesel and petrol, but only if the fuels can be injected and burned efficiently enough to deliver the power that heavy transport, shipping, and aviation demand. The problem is practical. Hydrogen is difficult to store and transport, while ammonia and alcohol-based e-fuels have low energy density or require entirely new infrastructure. This project tackles those barriers by advancing a technology that mixes hydrogen or ammonia with nanobubbles—tiny gas pockets suspended in liquid fuel—to improve how the fuel atomises and burns inside an engine. The team will build a prototype fuel-injection and generator system, called Nano-FUGEN, and develop computer models to predict combustion behaviour. If the technology works, it could give the UK a realistic, drop-in alternative to battery electrification for sectors where batteries are too heavy or slow to recharge. The immediate impact would be on engine design for trucks, ships, light aircraft, and backup generators. Longer term, the research could accelerate the rollout of zero-carbon fuel infrastructure by making those fuels viable in existing engine architectures. The work is applied engineering, not fundamental science, and is explicitly aimed at commercial deployment.
View original technical description
The UK Government has set out ambitious net zero target by 2050. To achieve ambitious net zero targets, alternative net-zero technologies need to be researched, developed, and implemented for transport sector. Among green fuels, e-fuels (e.g. methanol and ethanol), hydrogen and ammonia have been recognised as the most appropriate energy storage and energy carrier for long-term energy storage and transport. Therefore, many countries, including UK, Europe, US, and Japan, have been exploring the potential of these green fuels. In practice, there are obstacles hindering the application of these green fuels. As a zero-carbon fuel, the storage and transport of hydrogen remain a significant challenge for its wider usage in transport due to the complexity and substantial cost of setting up hydrogen infrastructure and on-board fuelling systems. Therefore, there are increasing interests to use green ammonia (NH3), as an excellent hydrogen carrier, in transport. Though ethanol and methanol produced from renewable sources can be used with existing fuel supply systems, the significantly lower energy density, which is about half of that of gasoline/diesel, makes them unfavourable to be directly applied in the existing engines for various applications that require high power density. Whilst there is a drive to move towards electrification, it is vital to innovate advanced hybrid electrical and engine powertrain to provide additional options for zero-carbon transport. Building on the on-going FLF project, the renewal project aims to further advance the nanobubble fuel technology, the knowledge in alternative fuel injection and combustion, and dedicated engine generator for their application in future low-carbon and zero-carbon transport. The main objectives are (1) To study nanobubble generation with membrane method and additives, and develop a prototype Nano-FUGEN system; (2) To study fuel injection, mixing, and combustion characteristics of hydrogen and hydrogen nanobubble fuels; (3) To develop and validate injection and combustion models of hydrogen and nanobubble fuels; (4) To research high-efficiency zero-emission hydrogen combustion technologies; (5) To develop and demonstrate high efficiency engine generator; (6) To disseminate project results to relevant industry, policy makers and the public, and explore commercialisation opportunities in transport; (7) To develop the Fellow as a world-leading researcher in green fuel and zero-emission propulsion system. The proposed research will benefit the scientific research community in the area of nanobubble technology, hydrogen and nanobubble fuel spray and combustion, and advanced engine and generator technologies. The project will strengthen the UK’s internationally leading capabilities in zero carbon fuel combustion and applications and help UK SME to develop zero carbon engines for vehicles, marine, light aircraft and generators applications. The research can lead to the development of a realistic alternative solution to short and long-term carbon reduction and pave the way for zero carbon fuel infrastructure expansion and their faster adoption in transport and other sectors. This will ultimately help the UK to meet net zero target. The project also fits well with EPSRC Prosperity Outcomes (Productive, Healthy and Resilient Nations) and will establish the UK as the leader in these areas.
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know