System and method for a three-dimensionally printed lattice structure for heating gas in a non-linear path

An electric heating unit for ammonia dissociation, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
• a ceramic tube disposed within the housing and fluidly coupled to the inlet;
• and
• a three-dimensionally (3D) printed lattice heating element disposed within the ceramic tube, the 3D printed lattice heating element formed from a series of lattice cells, wherein each lattice cell has a power density-to-surface area ratio less than or equal to 70 W per square inch,
• wherein gaseous ammonia enters the electric heating unit via the inlet and experiences turbulence as it is traverses the 3D printed lattice heating element,
• wherein the gaseous ammonia undergoes a dissociation reaction as it traverses the 3D printed lattice heating element, and
• wherein hydrogen resulting from the dissociation reaction exits the electric heating unit via the outlet.

An electric heating unit for ammonia dissociation, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
• a ceramic tube disposed within the housing and fluidly coupled to the inlet;
• and
• a three-dimensionally (3D) printed lattice heating element disposed within the housing, the 3D printed lattice heating element consisting of a series of lattice cells, wherein each lattice cell has a power density-to-surface area ratio between 35 W per square inch and 55 W per square inch, and wherein the series of lattice cells for an electrical resistor network,
• wherein gaseous ammonia enters the electric heating unit via the inlet and experiences turbulence when colliding with the vertices and arms, and
• wherein the gaseous ammonia undergoes a dissociation reaction as it traverses the 3D printed lattice heating element.