Systems and methods for sequential energization of heating elements in an electric catalyst unit for ammonia dissociation

An electric catalyst unit for ammonia dissociation, comprising:

• a housing comprising a first section and a second section, the first section containing a first heating element and the second section containing a second heating element;
• a first power feed-through coupled to the first heating element and to a power supply;
• a second power feed-through coupled to the second heating element and to the power supply;
• a first temperature sensor mounted to the first section downstream from the first heating element;
• a second temperature second mounted to the second section downstream from the second heating element;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the power supply, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor,
• wherein the controller increases a heater percentage of the first heating element if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is below a threshold temperature, and
• wherein the controller supplies power to the second heating element only if (i) the first heating element is operating at a maximum heater percentage and (ii) the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is below the threshold temperature.

An electric catalyst unit for ammonia dissociation, comprising:

• a housing comprising a first section and a second section,
• a first heating element disposed within the first section, the first heating element having a positive end coupled to a first power feed-through and having a negative end coupled to a first ground terminal;
• a second heating element disposed within the second section, the second heating element having a positive end coupled to a second power feed-through and having a negative end coupled to a second ground terminal;
• a first temperature sensor mounted to the first section at a location downstream from the first heating element;
• a second temperature second mounted to the second section at a location downstream from the second heating element;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to a power supply, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor,
• wherein the controller increases a heater percentage of the first heating element if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is below a threshold temperature, and
• wherein the controller supplies power to the second heating element only if (i) the first heating element is operating at a maximum heater percentage and (ii) the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is below the threshold temperature.