40
Low
Temperature, Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis--Lynntech,
Inc., 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 102, College Station, TX
77840; 979-693-0017, www.lynntech.com
Dr.
Adrian Denvir, Principal Investigator,
Dr.
G. Duncan Hitchens, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83702
Amount:
$750,000
Approximately 3% of the world’s energy consumption goes into ammonia
synthesis. By far, the most
important method of making ammonia is the Haber-Bosch system, which accounts for
over 90% of the world’s ammonia production.
However, this process suffers from low product yield and requires
synthesis at high temperatures and pressures.
An efficient, low-cost method for ammonia production could significantly
reduce energy consumption while reducing the cost of ammonia-based products,
including fertilizers and polymers. This
project will use ambient temperature molten salts to reduce the operating
temperature of a previously developed electrochemical method for the synthesis
of ammonia. Phase I tested and
evaluated numerous low-temperature molten salts for use in an ambient
temperature and pressure system for electrochemical ammonia synthesis.
Molten salts that possessed favorable characteristics including stability
and conductivity were further tested in an electrochemical ammonia production
system. Feasibility of the proposed
research was successfully demonstrated by synthesis of ammonia in this system.
Phase II will fabricate, test, and evaluate the economic viability of a
first-generation ammonia production system.
The prototype cell design will be based upon a similar technology, molten
carbonate fuel cells, which will allow inexpensive and efficient scale-up of the
system.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: The technology
should decrease ammonia production costs by a factor of ten, from $56 per ton to
$6 per ton. In the