Research

This project de-risks the adaptation of hydrogen to some Type-B appliances which are key to industrial processes, in particular cement and alumina production, through a combined experimental and computational research program at scale.

It quantifies the impact of hydrogen blending on the characteristics of the resulting flames including size, stability, heat transfer and emission. The results inform gas suppliers and industrial users of the limits, potential impediments and opportunities of hydrogen blending.

This project has published three peer-reviewed papers on its research

Hydrogen addition to a commercial self-aspirating
burner and assessment of a practical burner
modification strategy to improve performance (Adam J. Gee, Douglas B. Proud, Neil Smith, Alfonso Chinnici, Paul R. Medwell)

Performance of biogas blended with hydrogen in a commercial
self-aspirating burner (Adam J. Gee, Neil Smith, Alfonso Chinnici, Paul R. Medwell)

Characterisation of turbulent non-premixed hydrogen-blended flames in a
scaled industrial low-swirl burner (Adam J. Gee, Neil Smith, Alfonso Chinnici, Paul R. Medwell)

A new understanding is needed to optimally utilise hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels in high temperature industrial processes. In particular, the project is targeting burners that are used in applications in which radiation is a significant heat transfer mechanism, namely, glass, iron and steel, and kilns. These industries use more than half of the industrial natural gas annually and cover a range of flame characteristics in industry.

The project generates unique and new insights on the effect of blending hydrogen into industrial burner operating on natural gas. Quantifying the effects on flame characteristics and the adaptation strategies required helps pave the way to the introduction of hydrogen fuel to thermal industrial processes.

The intention is to make decision-makers aware of the pathway through which the intended outputs of the research will lead to practical changes that impact in the industry.

Jeremy Harris