AFC Energy, a leading provider of hydrogen power generation technologies, has announced positive results from the integration of its novel ammonia cracker technology to improve the combustion and emissions of future ammonia-fueled maritime engines. The company successfully operated its ammonia cracker reactor technology alongside a MAHLE Powertrain combustion test engine, which was primarily fueled by ammonia. The ammonia cracker provided a pilot fuel, operating in a ratio of 80:20 (ammonia: cracked gas), delivering improved operating performance compared to ammonia combustion alone. The cracker was able to generate hydrogen on-demand and co-blend with additional ammonia to create a resulting flammable fuel gas stream that was fed into the engine injection system. The enhanced burn characteristics from the cracked gas blend (75% Hydrogen:25% Nitrogen) are designed to improve engine performance, evidenced by stable operation and increased efficiency with reduced (zero carbon) pollutant emissions.
The success in cracker integration with ammonia engines means maritime propulsion can be achieved with a single ammonia fuel without the need for dual (fossil) fuels, as is currently the case in several ammonia combustion engine developments. The "Enhanced Ammonia Cracking to Improve Engine Combustion and Emissions" ("ENTICE") project, led by AFC Energy with partners including MAHLE Powertrain, Nottingham University, and Clean Air Power, is funded by InnovateUK. AFC Energy is also assessing applications with partners for ammonia combustion engine and cracker integration across land-based hydrogen production and in the fueling of large off-road machinery, such as that used in the mining industry. The ENTICE project is scheduled to continue until March 2025, enabling further system integration with larger multiple cylinder engines for testing across a range of operational parameters.
Adam Bond, Chief Executive of AFC Energy, highlighted the significance of ammonia cracking as a core part of the company's technology platform approach to supporting the hydrogen value chain. He emphasized the growing opportunities emerging through the adoption of clean ammonia as the world's leading decarbonized fuel vector. AFC Energy's ammonia cracking technology aims to support the production of low-cost hydrogen for combustion or fuel cell applications, both on board vessels and on land.
AFC Energy plc is a leading provider of hydrogen energy solutions, targeting commercial deployment across the construction and temporary power markets with longer-term opportunities in electric vehicle charging, maritime, and data centers. The company's proprietary ammonia cracking technology further highlights emerging opportunities across the distributed hydrogen production market with a focus on hydrogen's role in supporting the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries.