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Ammonia as a Potential Substance

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Sustainable Energy Systems and Applications

Abstract

Ammonia is a substance formed from hydrogen, the most abundant chemical element of the universe, and nitrogen, the major component of the terrestrial atmosphere (79%). It is interesting to note that the second major component of the terrestrial atmosphere, oxygen (21%) in combination with hydrogen forms water. Similarly to water, ammonia plays a major role in the global ecosystem: it represents a nitrogen source for all living species. At the same time, ammonia can play a major role in the sustainable development of mankind since it is a hydrogen source that packs 1.5 mol of hydrogen per mol of NH3 at a density as high as 106 kg H2/m3. Moreover, ammonia is produced industrially in large quantities as artificial fertilizer for agriculture. With respect to sustainable development, it is of major importance to find and promote cleaner and more efficient technologies of ammonia production, since NH3 is produced currently from fossil fuels, and its synthesis process leads to major greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale and consumes a significant amount of the world’s energy budget.

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Abbreviations

c :

Specific cost, currency per mass

ex :

Specific exergy, kJ/kg

g :

Gravitational acceleration, m/s2

h :

Specific enthalpy, kJ/kg

H :

Formation enthalpy, J/mol

LHV:

Lower heating value, MJ/kg

P :

Pressure, Pa

s :

Specific entropy, KJ/kg K

T :

Temperature, K

w :

Mass specific work, J/kg

x d :

Dissociation fraction

z :

Elevation, m

ε :

Effectiveness

η :

Efficiency

μ :

Molar mass, kg/kmol

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

0:

Reference state

c:

Cooling effect

d:

Dissociation

i:

Inlet

r:

Refrigeration

S:

Isentropic

w:

Expansion

\( (\ )^{\prime\prime\prime} \) :

Per unit of volume

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Oshawa, ON, L1H 7K4, Canada

    İbrahim Dinçer & Calin Zamfirescu

Authors
  1. İbrahim Dinçer
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  2. Calin Zamfirescu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to İbrahim Dinçer .

Study Questions/Problems

Study Questions/Problems

  1. 7.1

    How much hydrogen is embedded in 1 mol of ammonia, 1 m3 of ammonia, and 1 kg of ammonia?

  2. 7.2

    Determine the quantity of hydrogen present in a 1-m3 ammonia tank containing 20% per volume of ammonia vapor, and ammonia liquid. Consider that the tank is kept at (a) standard temperature, (b) negative 40oC, and (c) positive 45oC.

  3. 7.3

    Consider the system presented in Fig. 7.1 for ammonia synthesis. Using energy and mass balance equations and appropriate assumption, determine the ammonia production efficiency according to the first and second law of thermodynamics.

  4. 7.4

    According to Fig. 7.2, determine the amount of energy needed to synthesize one molecule of ammonia using nitrogenase enzyme.

  5. 7.5

    Consider the ammonia storage system presented in Fig. 7.3. Make reasonable assumptions and determine the efficiency and the cost of storage for a period of 6 months.

  6. 7.6

    Calculate the reaction heat associated with NOx decomposition on zeolites using ammonia, according to Eq. (7.3), for two cases: (a) cold start at ambient temperature, and (b) steady operation at 300°C.

  7. 7.7

    Demonstrate through calculation of the cost the advantage of the “hydrogen from ammonia route” compared with the “hydrogen-only route.” Use the diagram in Fig. 7.8 for the calculations.

  8. 7.8

    Determine the reaction heat of an ammonia decomposition reaction for a reasonable range of temperatures and pressures.

  9. 7.9

    By minimizing Gibbs energy, determine the equilibrium concentration of the ammonia decomposition reaction for pressures of 0.1 bar, 1 bar, 10 bar, and 100 bar and temperatures in the range of −40°C to 1,000°C.

  10. 7.10

    Make reasonable assumptions and determine the efficiency of the power-generation system presented in Fig. 7.10.

  11. 7.11

    Consider the system in Fig. 7.14a and determine the refrigeration effect associated with a 100-kW engine.

  12. 7.12

    Redo through your own calculation the plot in Fig. 7.17.

  13. 7.13

    Based on a literature study, determine the energy density per mass and volume of ammonia borane and compare it with that of an ammonia-only system.

  14. 7.14

    Calculate the life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions when ammonia is produced from coal and then used as fuel for motor engines.

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Dinçer, İ., Zamfirescu, C. (2011). Ammonia as a Potential Substance. In: Sustainable Energy Systems and Applications. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-95861-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-95861-3_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95860-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-95861-3

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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