# US 12,760,428 B2 · Method for cracking ammonia

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- Number: US 12,760,428 B2
- Document ID: US12760428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/246,729
- Filed: 2021-11-03
- Published: 2023-11-30
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-04
- Assignees: Topsoe A/S
- Applicants: Haldor TopsøE A/S
- Inventors: Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen; Pat A. Han; John Bøgild Hansen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760428B2

## CPC

- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C01B 3/047: Decomposition of ammonia
- C25B 9/05: Pressure cells
- C01B 2203/0277: containing a catalytic decomposition step
- C01B 2203/1052: Nickel or cobalt catalysts
- C01B 2203/1064: Platinum group metal catalysts
- C01B 2203/148: involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B 2203/80: Aspect of integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas not covered by groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/1695
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}

## Abstract

The present invention refers to a method for cracking ammonia, producing hydrogen and generating electrical power including electrolysis of water in feed ammonia, evaporation, pre-heating and cracking of ammonia, using ammonia synthesis catalysts at low temperatures. A method for cracking ammonia including a) electrolysis of water in feed ammonia, wherein feed ammonia includes make-up ammonia; b) evaporation; c) cracking; wherein cracking of ammonia takes place between 300-700° C., using ammonia synthesis catalysts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cracking ammonia, comprising:
a) electrolysis of water in feed ammonia, wherein feed ammonia comprises make-up ammonia;
b) evaporation;
c) cracking;
wherein cracking of ammonia takes place between 300-700° C., using ammonia synthesis catalysts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein ammonia is pre-heated before the cracking stage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said make-up ammonia comprises from approximately 0.2 up to approximately 2% of water.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein ammonia synthesis catalysts are Fe-based.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein catalysts used are Co, Ru or Ni based.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a solution comprising liquid ammonia and non-evaporated water is purged from evaporator and recycled back into feed ammonia.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrolysis is a high-pressure electrolysis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein hydrogen resulting from ammonia cracking is recycled with an external compressor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein water is added to the cooling step e) and a scrubber is used for removing traces of unconverted ammonia.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein unconverted ammonia is condensed and recycled to the electrolyzer when it contains water or to the evaporator when it is water free.

### Claim 11

A method for producing electricity, feeding a gas turbine with at least one of hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia obtained by:
a) electrolysis of water in feed ammonia, wherein feed ammonia comprises make-up ammonia;
b) evaporation;
c) cracking; and
d) cooling of the gas phase resulting from cracking,
wherein cracking of ammonia takes place between 300-700° C., using ammonia synthesis catalysts and wherein at least one of the (i) hydrogen produced by electrolysis and (ii) hydrogen resulting from ammonia cracking, contribute to the hydrogen final yield and wherein waste heat is recovered into ammonia evaporator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein part of the ammonia is cracked and part of the ammonia is bypassed to feed a gas turbine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, comprising using the method for producing electricity by feeding a gas turbine with at least one of hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia.

### Claim 14

A method for producing hydrogen from make-up ammonia comprising:
a) electrolysis of water in feed ammonia, wherein feed ammonia comprises make-up ammonia;
b) evaporation;
c) cracking; and
d) cooling of the gas phase resulting from cracking,
wherein cracking of ammonia takes place between 300-700° C., using ammonia synthesis catalysts and wherein at least one of the (i) hydrogen produced by electrolysis and (ii) hydrogen resulting from ammonia cracking, contribute to the hydrogen final yield.