Process for catalytic cracking of ammonia

A process for the catalytic cracking of ammonia, the process comprising providing:

• a primary cracking pathway comprising one or more catalyst containing reaction tubes disposed within a fired ammonia cracking reactor;
• and
• a parallel cracking pathway comprising one or more secondary ammonia cracking reactors arranged sequentially and in fluid connection with one another, the process comprising the steps of:
• supplying a first ammonia stream to the primary cracking pathway;
• cracking the ammonia in the first ammonia stream in the one or more catalyst containing reaction tubes of the fired ammonia cracking reactor to produce a first hydrogen containing stream;
• supplying a second ammonia stream to the parallel cracking pathway;
• cracking the ammonia in the second ammonia stream in the one or more secondary ammonia cracking reactors to produce a cracked second ammonia stream which further comprises unreacted ammonia;
• withdrawing a second hydrogen containing stream from the parallel cracking pathway;
• feeding the second hydrogen containing stream to one or more purification units and increasing the hydrogen content of the second hydrogen containing stream to produce an enriched hydrogen stream and a tail gas stream;
• and
• combusting the tail gas stream with oxygen in a fuel combustion zone of the fired ammonia cracking reactor to provide heat energy to support the cracking of the ammonia in the one or more catalyst containing reaction tubes,
• wherein the second hydrogen containing stream comprises from 40 mol % to 75 mol % H2.