Site items in: Energy Efficiency

Electric Heating Solutions for SMR-Based Ammonia Plants
Presentation

Electric Heating Solutions for SMR-Based Ammonia Plants

Dave Yeardye

This presentation underscores the well-established and advantageous role of electric heaters in transforming heating processes within ammonia production, with insightful parallels drawn to the broader trend of electrification in various industries. Electric heaters have emerged as a tried-and-true alternative, and this session will delve into their numerous benefits, making a compelling case for their adoption. As industries worldwide are increasingly electrifying their heating processes to combat emissions, we will explore the technical and operational advantages of electric heaters, specifically within the context of ammonia production, utilizing the Haber-Bosch method. With a focus on reducing emissions, enhancing efficiency, and reducing maintenance…

Coupling solid oxide electrolysis to ammonia production
Article

Coupling solid oxide electrolysis to ammonia production

Kevin Rouwenhorst February 07, 2023

In our January episode of Ammonia Project Features, we explored the current commercial status of solid oxide electrolysis, and its potential to be integrated with ammonia production. Rick Beuttel (Bloom Energy) and Jakob Krummenacher (LSB industries) also discussed the utilization of the technology in a new decarbonization project at LSB’s ammonia plant in Pryor, Oklahoma.

A road ahead via lithium-mediated electrochemical nitrogen reduction?
Article

A road ahead via lithium-mediated electrochemical nitrogen reduction?

Kevin Rouwenhorst October 03, 2022

Realisation of electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia has proven to be a herculean scientific challenge. Recently, a focus on Lithium-mediated synthesis has delivered promising results. Last year a team from Monash University in Australia unveiled their phosphonium “proton shuttle” method, and this year have reported nearly 100% Faradaic efficiency for the reaction (with promising reaction rates). Late last year, a team from the Technical University of Demark (DTU) reported that addition of small amounts of oxygen gas drastically increased Faradaic efficiencies and production rates. The results push electrochemical synthesis R&D ever-closer to elusive benchmarks set for commercial realisation.

Nitrogen Reduction Reaction at High Current-to-Ammonia Efficiency
Presentation

Nitrogen Reduction Reaction at High Current-to-Ammonia Efficiency

Hoang-Long DuAlexandr SimonovDouglas MacFarlane

Apart from its use in the fertiliser and chemical industries, ammonia is currently attracting our community as a potential carbon-neutral fuel and as an energy carrier for worldwide transportation of renewable sources. To achieve this goal, replacements of the conventional hydrocarbon deposit-based technology for NH3 production require to be a green but inexpensive and scale-flexible technology, namely the only genuine electrochemical lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR). Reported by many research groups around the world, the process had so far been hampered by poor yield rates and efficiencies. At Monash University, we introduced a compact ionic assembly arranged in the electrode-electrolyte…

Hysata - technology and company overview
Presentation

Hysata - technology and company overview

Tom Campey

Hysata is an Australian electrolyser company which is developing a completely new type of electrolyser, featuring the world’s most efficient electrolysis cell coupled with a simplified balance of plant. Electricity makes up most of the cost of green hydrogen and therefore, the most efficient electrolyser will deliver the lowest cost hydrogen. The Hysata founding team comprises electrolyser industry veterans, with deep expertise in the design and scale-up of novel electrolysers. Building on that foundation we are growing a world-class engineering, manufacturing, and commercial team with a footprint on multiple continents. Backed by leading global investors, Hysata is moving rapidly towards…

DECHEMA and Fertilizers Europe: decarbonizing ammonia production up to 2030
Article

DECHEMA and Fertilizers Europe: decarbonizing ammonia production up to 2030

Kevin Rouwenhorst May 12, 2022

DECHEMA and Fertilizers Europe recently released a new report detailing how & where the European fertilizer industry can decarbonize leading up to 2030. Technology options for CO2-emission reduction of hydrogen feedstock in ammonia production explores decarbonization pathways including energy efficiency improvements, carbon capture & sequestration, renewable hydrogen feedstock and grid-based electrolysis. It proposes a detailed roadmap towards 19% emissions reduction from the EU fertilizer industry by 2030, and – looking ahead to 2050 – forecasts the almost complete decarbonization of the industry, via zero-carbon electricity generation in the EU and the growth of renewable hydrogen production. With the right policy & regulatory levers in place, Fertilizers Europe believes there is no reason the transition cannot happen faster.

High-productivity electrosynthesis of ammonia from dinitrogen
Presentation

High-productivity electrosynthesis of ammonia from dinitrogen

Alexandr Simonov

The so-called lithium redox-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction presents the only known process enabling genuine electrochemical conversion of N2 to ammonia. Notwithstanding the rapidly increasing investigative efforts, the commonly reported performances of the Li-mediated N2 electroreduction, viz. yield rate, current-to-ammonia (faradaic) efficiency and durability in operation, still pertain to the domain of academic research rather than practical development. Our most recent work focused on redesigning the key components of the electrolytic N2 reduction cell enabled breakthroughs in all the key metrics of the process. Specifically, we have introduced a stable proton shuttle based on the phosphonium cation that delivers protons to…