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Presentation

Optimizing absorption to improve Haber-Bosch synthesis

Alon McCormick Matthew Kale Cory Marquart Deepak Ojha Matthew Palys Chinomso Emmanuel Onuoha Zac Pursell Edward Cussler Prodromos Daoutidis Paul Dauenhauer Michael Reese Sameer Parvathikar Mahdi Malmali

Ammonia absorber columns offer an alternative separation unit to replace condensation in the Haber-Bosch synthesis loop. Metal halide salts can selectively separate ammonia from the reactor outlet gas mixture and incorporate it into their crystal lattice with remarkably high thermodynamic capacity. While the salts’ working capacity can be limited and unstable when they are in their pure form, the capacity is stable and can be high when using a porous silica support. Here, we discuss optimal conditions for uptake and release of ammonia. The production capacity (ammonia processed per unit absorbent and per unit production time) depends on processing parameters…

Presentation

Renewable ammonia for grid-scale sustainable energy: Sector coupling for economic competitiveness

Matthew Palys Michael Reese Prodromos Daoutidis

Ammonia produced from renewably sourced electrolytic hydrogen has considerable promise as a seasonal energy storage medium to enable high renewable penetration in the electrical power generation mix. Long duration energy storage via ammonia is significantly less expensive than using hydrogen or batteries [1,2]. Renewable ammonia can also be used as in its traditional application as a fertilizer to reduce agricultural carbon intensity. These multiple renewable ammonia use cases give rise to opportunities for sector coupling [3]. For example, an electric utility could deploy ammonia for energy storage while also pursuing additional ammonia production for sale in local agriculture markets. This…

Presentation

Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Conventional and Absorbent-Enhanced Ammonia Synthesis

Matthew Palys Alon McCormick Edward Cussler Prodromos Daoutidis

Ammonia is the second-most produced synthetic chemical and the main precursor for nitrogen-based fertilizer. In 2015, 160 million tons were produced globally, and global demand is expected to grow 1.5% annually until 2050 [1]. However, traditional ammonia production uses natural gas or coal as its hydrogen source, and as a result, is also responsible for more than 1% of global GHG emissions and 5% of global natural gas consumption [2]. Clearly, a more sustainable ammonia production scheme is needed. One such alternative is obtain hydrogen from electrolysis powered by wind- or solar-derived electricity. It has been proposed to perform this…

Presentation

Design Optimization of an Ammonia-Based Distributed Sustainable Agricultural Energy System

Matthew Palys Anatoliy Kuznetsov Joel Tallaksen Michael Reese Prodromos Daoutidis

Small-scale, distributed production of ammonia better enables the use of renewable energy for its synthesis than the current paradigm of large-scale, centralized production. Pursuant to this idea, a small-scale Haber-Bosch process has been installed at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) in Morris, MN [1] and there is ongoing work on an absorbent-enhanced process at the University of Minnesota [2], [3]. Using renewables to make ammonia would greatly improve the sustainability of fertilizer production, which currently accounts for 1% of total global energy consumption [4]. The promise of renewable-powered, distributed ammonia production for sustainability is in fact not…

Presentation

Design Optimization of a Distributed Ammonia Generation System

Matthew Palys Alon McCormick Prodromos Daoutidis

Distributed ammonia generation located near farms is a promising alternative to the current practice of large-scale, centralized production. This production mode would reduce the need for transportation of ammonia over long distances currently caused by the mismatch between production and consumption locations. In addition, a small-scale ammonia synthesis process could more easily take advantage of distributed power generation based on wind or sunlight to reduce energy costs and lessen the dependence on fossil fuels. Distributed, renewables-based fertilizer production would largely insulate farmers against market uncertainty while also increasing the sustainability of the agricultural supply chain. However, a technically proven, economically…