Plasma-Catalysis for Ammonia Production
Purpose of the Research Ammonia (NH3) is a critically important industrial chemical. Presently, it is produced primarily via the highly energy-intensive Haber-Bosch (H-B) process, which requires extreme operating conditions of 450-600°C and 150-300 atm and must be executed at very large scales in order to maximize efficiency. It also utilizes H2 and N2 as feedstocks, each of which must first be produced in separate energy intensive processes. ACT has proposed a novel reaction mechanism utilizing non-thermal plasmas to produce ammonia directly from cheap, greenhouse gas feedstocks, via the following reaction: 3CH4 + 3CO2 + 30N2 → 4NH3 + 6CO +28N2 This reaction uses natural gas (CH4) and flue gas (CO2 + N2) to produce two valuable chemical products: ammonia (NH3), and carbon monoxide (CO). Using nonthermal plasmas, the reaction can be carried out at very mild operating conditions, which would enable decentralized ammonia production. Additionally, the process can be easily turned on and off with no compression or preheating requirements, allowing operators to take advantage of low-cost electricity produced via renewable sources when it is available. The research conducted under this project seeks to develop this proposed novel reaction such that it may be implemented in a commercial capacity, to capitalize on its unique benefits.
- Research Organization:
- Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0020924
- OSTI ID:
- 1874033
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- RD98RD-N-6080; RD98RD-N-6080
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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