Systems and methods of ammonia synthesis
AssigneeOhmium International, Inc.
InventorsArne BALLANTINE, Chockkalingam KARUPPAIAH
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Abstract
A system for synthesizing ammonia includes a reactor including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and an energy source arranged to deliver energy to one or more reactants receivable through the inlet portion of the reactor, and the energy source activatable to reduce nitrogen to ammonia in the presence of hydrogen, at least one hydrogen pump in fluid communication with the outlet portion of the reactor, each hydrogen pump including at least one electrochemical cell, and a recirculation circuit in fluid communication between the at least one hydrogen pump and the inlet portion of the reactor and configured to direct a respective hydrogen stream from each hydrogen pump to the inlet portion of the reactor.
Claims20
A method of synthesizing ammonia comprising:
- delivering nitrogen from a nitrogen source to an inlet portion of a reactor including one or more synthesis cells, each synthesis cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane or electrolyte located between the anode and the cathode;
- delivering hydrogen from a hydrogen source to the inlet portion of the reactor;
- reacting the nitrogen and hydrogen in the reactor to form ammonia, wherein a portion of the hydrogen bypasses the one or more synthesis cells and exits an outlet portion of the reactor in a bypass stream;
- electrochemically pumping the bypass stream to pressurize the hydrogen to form a pressurized hydrogen stream;
- and
- recycling the pressurized hydrogen stream to the inlet portion of the reactor.
A method of synthesizing ammonia comprising:
- delivering nitrogen from a nitrogen source to an inlet portion of a reactor including one or more synthesis cells, each synthesis cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane or electrolyte located between the anode and the cathode;
- delivering hydrogen from a hydrogen source to the inlet portion of the reactor;
- reacting the nitrogen and hydrogen in the reactor to form a product stream comprising, wherein a portion of the hydrogen bypasses the one or more synthesis cells and exits an outlet portion of the reactor in a bypass stream, and wherein the product stream comprises ammonia, nitrogen, and hydrogen;
- electrochemically pumping the bypass stream to pressurize the hydrogen to form a pressurized hydrogen stream;
- recycling the pressurized hydrogen stream to the inlet portion of the reactor;
- separating the ammonia from the product stream;
- electrochemically pumping the product stream to separate the hydrogen from the product stream and to pressurize the hydrogen from the product stream;
- and
- recycling the pressurized hydrogen from the product stream to the inlet portion of the reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.