Characteristics of a stepwise fuel-rich/lean catalytic combustion of natural gas bearing ammonia

A two-step fuel-rich/fuel-lean catalytic combustion seems to be one of the most effective methods to control simultaneously the NO generation and the hydrocarbon (HC) conversion from fuel-bound nitrogen. By controlling equivalent air ratio, space velocity, inlet temperature, and catalyst component, the HC and ammonia conversion efficiency higher than 95% could be achieved, with ammonia conversion to NO remaining below 5%. The experimental results would be applied to the combustion of land fill gas and to gasified refuse-derived fuels as a method of minimizing NO generation.