An efficient process for sustainable and scalable hydrogen production from green ammonia. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cha, Junyoung; Park, Yongha; Brigljević, Boris; Lee, Boreum; Lim, Dongjun; Lee, Taeho; Jeong, Hyangsoo; Kim, Yongmin; Sohn, Hyuntae; Mikulčić, Hrvoje; Lee, Kyung Moon; Nam, Dong Hoon; Lee, Ki Bong; Lim, Hankwon; Yoon, Chang Won; Jo, Young Suk
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 152(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Ammonia reforming -- H2 production -- Efficiency analysis -- Process simulation -- Economic analysis; Abs Adsorber -- CAPEX Capital expense -- CE Costing exponent -- CNT Carbon nanotube -- FFR Fuel flow rate -- GHSV Gas hourly space velocity -- HX Heat exchanger -- LHV Lower heating value -- MHSP Minimum hydrogen selling price -- NCF Non-discounted cash flow -- NPV Net present value -- OPEX Operating expenses -- PEMFC Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell -- PFD Process flow diagram -- PSA Pressure swing adsorption -- REF Reformer -- SC Storage cost -- SMR Steam methane reforming -- STP Standard temperature and pressure -- TCI Total capital investment -- TEA Techno-economic assessment -- TEM Transmission electron microscopy -- TIC Total installation cost -- TOF Turnover frequency; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: This study comprehensively investigates hydrogen production from green ammonia reforming, including synthesis of catalysts, reactor development, process integration, and techno-economic analysis. In-house developed Ru/La–Al2 O3 pellet catalyst having perovskite structure showed high catalytic activity of 2827 h −1 at 450 °C and stability over 6700 h at 550 °C, exceeding the performance of the majority of powder catalysts reported in the literature. A scalable 12-faceted reactor adopting the as-produced catalyst was designed to enhance heat transfer, producing over 66 L min −1 of hydrogen with state-of-the-art ammonia reforming efficiency of 83.6 %. Near-zero CO2 emission of hydrogen extraction from green ammonia was demonstrated by-product gas recirculation as a combustion heat source. A techno-economic assessment was conducted for system scales from 10 kW to 10 MW, demonstrating the effect of reduced minimum hydrogen selling prices from 7.03 USD kg −1 at small modular scales to 3.98 USD kg −1 at larger industrial scales. Sensitivity analyses indicate that hydrogen selling prices may reduce even further (up to 50 %). The suggested hydrogen production route from green NH3 demonstrates superior CO2 reduction ranging from 78 % to 95 % in kg CO2 (kg H2 ) −1 compared to biomass gasification and steam methane reforming. These findings can be used as a basis for following economic and policy studies to further validate the effectiveness of the suggested system and process for H2 production from NH3 . Highlights: Experimental and techno-economic analyses of H2 from green NH3 are conducted. As-developed Ru pellet catalysts showed high activity of 2827 h −1 at 450 °C. Reforming efficiency of 83.6 % was achieved at 5 kWe scale with a COX free operation. Minimum H2 selling price of 4 USD kg −1 is expected at industrial scales >10 MW. CO2 emission can be reduced up to 95 %, compared to the conventional processes.