Sunday, November 29, 2009 11:37:24 AM
ongoing projects for ammonia fuel The AFN is proud to point to numerous ongoing projects that are advancing the implementation of ammonia fuel, and associated technologies.
Spark-Ignited Ammonia Engines and Gensets – The Hydrogen Engine Center is developing ammonia-hydrogen and ammonia-propane spark ignited engines, with the goal of achieving a super-efficient 100% ammonia engine in the near future. HEC currently is operating an ammonia-propane engine in California which is powering an irrigation system. (Contact: Ted Hollinger, Hydrogen Engine Center, 515-295-3178, thollinger@hydrogenenginecenter.com)
Ammonia-Powered Diesel Engines – The Iowa Energy Center is funding research at Iowa State University on the performance of diesel engines using ammonia. Since ammonia will not compression ignite except at extremely high compression ratios, a small amount (~5% energy basis) of high-cetane fuel is injected with the ammonia to promote combustion. The work, using a John Deere tractor engine, has demonstrated successful low-NOx operation. By combining 5% biodiesel and 95% ammonial, the engine was operated at 110% of rated load. (Contact: Norm Olson, Iowa Energy Center, 515-382-1774, nolson@iastate.edu)
Diesel Engines Fueled by Liquid Ammonia – Propulsion Sciences Co. and Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. are funding R&D on the use of ammonia in diesel engines at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Liquid ammonia is emulsified into fossil fuels in real time and injected into an unmodified diesel engine, namely a 12 cylinder, 400 horsepower Waukesha diesel gen-set. The fuel emulsion system can be scaled from 5 hp to many thousands of horsepower which has been done with conventional alternate fuels and /or water as the emulsion component. No additives or surfactants are employed. The engine is presently working with 6% ammonia by mass, and will be increased to higher percentages. (Contact: Vito Agosta, US Merchant Marine Academy, 516-773-5716, vagosta@optonline.net)
Hydrogen (Ammonia) Power Hubs – Hydrogen Hubs are energy storage systems with off-peak and/or stranded hydroelectric and wind power being used to synthesize from water and air, in effect storing the energy through chemical conversion. Then, in times of peak demand, the stored ammonia can be run through converted diesel or gas generators to provide power capacity. This approach avoids the building of new baseline generating capability and new power transmission lines. (Contact: Jack Robertson, Northwest Hydrogen Alliance, 503-228-5099, jdnglobal@aol.com)
Ammonia-Gasoline and Ammonia-Ethanol Engines – The Ammonia Engine Research group in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan is characterizing ammonia-gasoline and ammonia-ethanol combustion in spark ignited engines for use in passenger car applications. Engine performance, efficiency and emissions are being studied using a single cylinder research engine. A light pickup truck ammonia-gasoline demonstration vehicle has also been built and driven from Detroit to San Francisco. (Contact: Stani Bohac, University of Michigan, 734-936-0431, sbohac@umich.edu)
Ammonia-Gasoline Engine Conversions – Following a flawless highway demonstration in summer 2007 of their ammonia-gasoline engine technology, the company Gillespie-Stack-Grannell LLC was formed to offer services for conversion of people’s existing gasoline engines to operate on an ammonia-rich (up to 80%) blend. These engines would also be able to operate on pure gasoline in the event that ammonia was not available. (Contact: Casey Stack, Gillespie-Stack-Grannell LLC, 801-292-2309, casey@lasercompliance.com)
Solid-State Ammonia Synthesis (SSAS) – The company NHThree LLC was formed to commercialize the SSAS technology for high-efficiency synthesis of ammonia from water, air and electricity. If the electricity is green in this approach, the ammonia produced represents an entirely green energy fuel-energy cycle. The SSAS approach promises to be more efficient and less capital costly than past approaches using water electrolysis. (Contact: Jason Ganley, NHThree LLC, 202-806-4796, jganley@howard.edu)
BioAmmonia – Ammonia can be synthesized from a wide variety of hydrogen sources, including biomass. Work at the Iowa Energy Center’s Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) Facility has shown that renewable crops such as sweet sorghum can supply sufficient amounts of hydrogen through processes such as anaerobic digestion or thermal gasification to produce an amount of ammonia that contains more energy per acre than if that acre produced ethanol either from corn or cellulose crops. The BioAmmonia also promises to be cheaper than ethanol on a per Btu basis. (Contact: Norm Olson, Iowa Energy Center – BECON, 515-382-1774, nolson@iastate.edu)
Ammonia from Wind Power I – The University of Minnesota - West Central Research and Outreach Center is configuring a system to convert wind energy into ammonia. The approach uses the wind power to drive a water electrolysis system to produce hydrogen and an air separations unit to take nitrogen from air. The hydrogen and nitrogen will then be combined in an advanced catalytic reactor developed at the university. The goal of the project is to produce ammonia, either for fertilizer or fuel, which is cost competitive with fossil-fuel derived ammonia fertilizer or fuel. (Contact: Mike Reese, University of Minnesota - West Central Research and Outreach Center, 320-589-1711, reesem@morris.umn.edu)
Ammonia from Wind Power II – This project, called Freedom Fertilizer, is based in northwest Iowa and focuses on “stranded wind” as the source of power to drive the ammonia synthesis process. Again, the goal is to produce cost-competitive ammonia to serve local Iowa communities when it is not feasible, or there is no connection, for selling the wind power to the grid. This approach will help provide energy and cost independence for Iowa communities who have had no choice recently but to buy expensive imported ammonia produced with natural gas. (Contact: Steve Gruhn, Freedom Fertilizer LLC, 720-320-3114, sgruhn@freedomfertilizer.com)
Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells (DAFC) – There are a number of designs for ammonia fuel cells, which can operate directly with ammonia without a cracking step to provide hydrogen. Solid oxide fuel cells have been shown to work well with direct ammonia feed, and more recently DAFCs based on proton-conducting ceramic electrolytes and molten salt electrolytes have been developed. These fuel cells will enable high efficiency conversion of ammonia to electric power, and thus be able to take advantage of the superior energy density storage of ammonia compared to hydrogen. (Contact: Jason Ganley, NHThree LLC, 202-806-4796, jganley@howard.edu or Andy McFarlan, KANNET Natural Resources Canada, 613-995-2376, anmcfarl@nrcan.gc.ca)
Ammonia-Fueled Combustion Turbine – Combustion turbines have been shown in past research to be able to operate with ammonia fuel, with some modification of burner design and fuel delivery systems. Challenges of NOx generation can also be addressed, so that such a turbine has a zero carbon footprint as well as zero other deleterious emissions. Although no manufacturers are currently making ammonia turbines, the demand for clean back-up and peaker power generation can make such turbines a valuable alternative. (Contact: Bill Lear, University of Florida – Energy and Gasdynamic Systems Lab, 352-392-7572, lear@ufl.edu)
Ammonia Electrolysis Cell – Research at Ohio University has shown that hydrogen is evolved by electrolysis of an aqueous ammonia solution at a small fraction of the electric energy required from water electrolysis. In fact, the energy contained in the hydrogen is greater than the electric energy required to produce it. The hydrogen is also free of contaminants, and suitable for use in PEM fuel cells or internal combustion engines. This approach, which is now being commercialized, opens up numerous opportunities for harvesting energy from animal waste and wastewaster. (Contact: Gerri Botte, Ohio University, 740-593-9670, botte@bobcat.ent.ohiou.edu or Ben Schafer, American Hydrogen Corporation, 503-645-2523, ben.schafer@hydrafuelcell.com)
Super-Safe Ammonia Storage – Implementation of an “ammonia economy” will require that ammonia can be stored and delivered with flawless safety equipment and procedures. Although the safety track record in the agricultural and refrigeration applications is excellent, use of ammonia as a fuel for stationary and transportation needs will require an even higher level of safeguards. Work is under way to develop the next generation of ammonia tanks, fittings, and tubing to ensure safe operation, including double-shell tanks with chemical neutralizers and fail-safe connectors. (Contact: Gordon Nyquist, Mackinaw Associates, 248-647-3333 X510, gordon.nyquist@mercurystorage.com) or Gary Smith, Ammonia Safety and Training Institute, 831-818-1321, garyws@charter.net)
http://www.ammoniafuelnetwork.org/projects.html Addiction to imported petroleum carries with it huge economic, environmental and national security risks for the United States and other developed countries. The search for a domestically produced, economical and environmentally friendly fuel has led to one acceptable solution, anhydrous ammonia. Also known as "the other hydrogen", ammonia is the closest thing to a perfect transportation fuel.
Ammonia is an ultra-clean, energy-dense alternative liquid fuel. Along with hydrogen, ammonia is the only fuel that does not produce any greenhouse gases (GHG) on combustion.
Hydrogen combustion: 2H2 + O2 2H2O (water vapor)
Ammonia combustion: 4NH3 + 3O2 2N2 + 6H2O (nitrogen and water vapor)
Also, ammonia is...
Practical
Ammonia (anhydrous, NH3) is 18% hydrogen by weight
Ammonia is a liquid fuel at ambient temperatures and moderate pressures (~125 psi)
Ammonia has 52% of the energy density of gasoline, and is over 50% more energy dense per gallon than cryogenic liquid hydrogen
It can be used directly to drive fuel cells, or directly in internal combustion engines (ICE), it can also be used in combustion turbines
Conversions of gasoline and diesel ICEs to run on ammonia are relatively straightforward
Ammonia is easy to store and deliver in large quantities
Ammonia represents a sustainable, carbon-free fuel for back-up and peaker capacity generation
Ammonia fuel can help free us from dependence on imported oil
Available
Current worldwide annual production of ammonia is ~130 million tons, primarily from natural gas and coal; China is the #1 producer at 30 million tons annually
~ 20 million tons of NH3 and NH3-based fertilizers are consumed annually in the US as fertilizer (equivalent in energy to ~3.5 billion gallons of gasoline)
A storage and delivery infrastructure of pipelines, barges, rail and truck already exists for ammonia, with 3000 miles of pipeline in the US heartland; retail ammonia outlets exist in practically every state, 800 outlets in Iowa alone
Ammonia can be produced cleanly from coal and natural gas with carbon sequestration, and also from biomass, renewable energy sources and nuclear power, using nitrogen from the air
Ammonia can also be recovered from agricultural animal waste
Ammonia is also produced naturally in legumes by nitrogenase bacteria
Ammonia is covered as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, so ammonia vehicles qualify for fleet sale requirements
Low/Stable Cost
Ammonia is comparable to or lower in price than gasoline on an equal energy basis
Ammonia made using renewable or nuclear source electricity will be more stable in price and will grow increasingly cheaper per Btu versus fossil based fuels
Environmentally Friendly
Ammonia contains no carbon, so releases no GHGs on combustion; also any NOx is easily neutralized
In accident scenarios, ammonia is not flammable and is lighter than air so will dissipate into the atmosphere
Ammonia is not itself a GHG in the atmosphere
Ammonia will not damage the ozone layer
Anhydrous ammonia itself is used as the active chemical reactant in NOx reduction, and CO2 and SO2 capture
Properties of Selected Fuels in their Liquid State (sorted by H2 Density)
http://www.ammoniafuelnetwork.org/why.html
Spark-Ignited Ammonia Engines and Gensets – The Hydrogen Engine Center is developing ammonia-hydrogen and ammonia-propane spark ignited engines, with the goal of achieving a super-efficient 100% ammonia engine in the near future. HEC currently is operating an ammonia-propane engine in California which is powering an irrigation system. (Contact: Ted Hollinger, Hydrogen Engine Center, 515-295-3178, thollinger@hydrogenenginecenter.com)
Ammonia-Powered Diesel Engines – The Iowa Energy Center is funding research at Iowa State University on the performance of diesel engines using ammonia. Since ammonia will not compression ignite except at extremely high compression ratios, a small amount (~5% energy basis) of high-cetane fuel is injected with the ammonia to promote combustion. The work, using a John Deere tractor engine, has demonstrated successful low-NOx operation. By combining 5% biodiesel and 95% ammonial, the engine was operated at 110% of rated load. (Contact: Norm Olson, Iowa Energy Center, 515-382-1774, nolson@iastate.edu)
Diesel Engines Fueled by Liquid Ammonia – Propulsion Sciences Co. and Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. are funding R&D on the use of ammonia in diesel engines at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Liquid ammonia is emulsified into fossil fuels in real time and injected into an unmodified diesel engine, namely a 12 cylinder, 400 horsepower Waukesha diesel gen-set. The fuel emulsion system can be scaled from 5 hp to many thousands of horsepower which has been done with conventional alternate fuels and /or water as the emulsion component. No additives or surfactants are employed. The engine is presently working with 6% ammonia by mass, and will be increased to higher percentages. (Contact: Vito Agosta, US Merchant Marine Academy, 516-773-5716, vagosta@optonline.net)
Hydrogen (Ammonia) Power Hubs – Hydrogen Hubs are energy storage systems with off-peak and/or stranded hydroelectric and wind power being used to synthesize from water and air, in effect storing the energy through chemical conversion. Then, in times of peak demand, the stored ammonia can be run through converted diesel or gas generators to provide power capacity. This approach avoids the building of new baseline generating capability and new power transmission lines. (Contact: Jack Robertson, Northwest Hydrogen Alliance, 503-228-5099, jdnglobal@aol.com)
Ammonia-Gasoline and Ammonia-Ethanol Engines – The Ammonia Engine Research group in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan is characterizing ammonia-gasoline and ammonia-ethanol combustion in spark ignited engines for use in passenger car applications. Engine performance, efficiency and emissions are being studied using a single cylinder research engine. A light pickup truck ammonia-gasoline demonstration vehicle has also been built and driven from Detroit to San Francisco. (Contact: Stani Bohac, University of Michigan, 734-936-0431, sbohac@umich.edu)
Ammonia-Gasoline Engine Conversions – Following a flawless highway demonstration in summer 2007 of their ammonia-gasoline engine technology, the company Gillespie-Stack-Grannell LLC was formed to offer services for conversion of people’s existing gasoline engines to operate on an ammonia-rich (up to 80%) blend. These engines would also be able to operate on pure gasoline in the event that ammonia was not available. (Contact: Casey Stack, Gillespie-Stack-Grannell LLC, 801-292-2309, casey@lasercompliance.com)
Solid-State Ammonia Synthesis (SSAS) – The company NHThree LLC was formed to commercialize the SSAS technology for high-efficiency synthesis of ammonia from water, air and electricity. If the electricity is green in this approach, the ammonia produced represents an entirely green energy fuel-energy cycle. The SSAS approach promises to be more efficient and less capital costly than past approaches using water electrolysis. (Contact: Jason Ganley, NHThree LLC, 202-806-4796, jganley@howard.edu)
BioAmmonia – Ammonia can be synthesized from a wide variety of hydrogen sources, including biomass. Work at the Iowa Energy Center’s Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) Facility has shown that renewable crops such as sweet sorghum can supply sufficient amounts of hydrogen through processes such as anaerobic digestion or thermal gasification to produce an amount of ammonia that contains more energy per acre than if that acre produced ethanol either from corn or cellulose crops. The BioAmmonia also promises to be cheaper than ethanol on a per Btu basis. (Contact: Norm Olson, Iowa Energy Center – BECON, 515-382-1774, nolson@iastate.edu)
Ammonia from Wind Power I – The University of Minnesota - West Central Research and Outreach Center is configuring a system to convert wind energy into ammonia. The approach uses the wind power to drive a water electrolysis system to produce hydrogen and an air separations unit to take nitrogen from air. The hydrogen and nitrogen will then be combined in an advanced catalytic reactor developed at the university. The goal of the project is to produce ammonia, either for fertilizer or fuel, which is cost competitive with fossil-fuel derived ammonia fertilizer or fuel. (Contact: Mike Reese, University of Minnesota - West Central Research and Outreach Center, 320-589-1711, reesem@morris.umn.edu)
Ammonia from Wind Power II – This project, called Freedom Fertilizer, is based in northwest Iowa and focuses on “stranded wind” as the source of power to drive the ammonia synthesis process. Again, the goal is to produce cost-competitive ammonia to serve local Iowa communities when it is not feasible, or there is no connection, for selling the wind power to the grid. This approach will help provide energy and cost independence for Iowa communities who have had no choice recently but to buy expensive imported ammonia produced with natural gas. (Contact: Steve Gruhn, Freedom Fertilizer LLC, 720-320-3114, sgruhn@freedomfertilizer.com)
Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells (DAFC) – There are a number of designs for ammonia fuel cells, which can operate directly with ammonia without a cracking step to provide hydrogen. Solid oxide fuel cells have been shown to work well with direct ammonia feed, and more recently DAFCs based on proton-conducting ceramic electrolytes and molten salt electrolytes have been developed. These fuel cells will enable high efficiency conversion of ammonia to electric power, and thus be able to take advantage of the superior energy density storage of ammonia compared to hydrogen. (Contact: Jason Ganley, NHThree LLC, 202-806-4796, jganley@howard.edu or Andy McFarlan, KANNET Natural Resources Canada, 613-995-2376, anmcfarl@nrcan.gc.ca)
Ammonia-Fueled Combustion Turbine – Combustion turbines have been shown in past research to be able to operate with ammonia fuel, with some modification of burner design and fuel delivery systems. Challenges of NOx generation can also be addressed, so that such a turbine has a zero carbon footprint as well as zero other deleterious emissions. Although no manufacturers are currently making ammonia turbines, the demand for clean back-up and peaker power generation can make such turbines a valuable alternative. (Contact: Bill Lear, University of Florida – Energy and Gasdynamic Systems Lab, 352-392-7572, lear@ufl.edu)
Ammonia Electrolysis Cell – Research at Ohio University has shown that hydrogen is evolved by electrolysis of an aqueous ammonia solution at a small fraction of the electric energy required from water electrolysis. In fact, the energy contained in the hydrogen is greater than the electric energy required to produce it. The hydrogen is also free of contaminants, and suitable for use in PEM fuel cells or internal combustion engines. This approach, which is now being commercialized, opens up numerous opportunities for harvesting energy from animal waste and wastewaster. (Contact: Gerri Botte, Ohio University, 740-593-9670, botte@bobcat.ent.ohiou.edu or Ben Schafer, American Hydrogen Corporation, 503-645-2523, ben.schafer@hydrafuelcell.com)
Super-Safe Ammonia Storage – Implementation of an “ammonia economy” will require that ammonia can be stored and delivered with flawless safety equipment and procedures. Although the safety track record in the agricultural and refrigeration applications is excellent, use of ammonia as a fuel for stationary and transportation needs will require an even higher level of safeguards. Work is under way to develop the next generation of ammonia tanks, fittings, and tubing to ensure safe operation, including double-shell tanks with chemical neutralizers and fail-safe connectors. (Contact: Gordon Nyquist, Mackinaw Associates, 248-647-3333 X510, gordon.nyquist@mercurystorage.com) or Gary Smith, Ammonia Safety and Training Institute, 831-818-1321, garyws@charter.net)
http://www.ammoniafuelnetwork.org/projects.html Addiction to imported petroleum carries with it huge economic, environmental and national security risks for the United States and other developed countries. The search for a domestically produced, economical and environmentally friendly fuel has led to one acceptable solution, anhydrous ammonia. Also known as "the other hydrogen", ammonia is the closest thing to a perfect transportation fuel.
Ammonia is an ultra-clean, energy-dense alternative liquid fuel. Along with hydrogen, ammonia is the only fuel that does not produce any greenhouse gases (GHG) on combustion.
Hydrogen combustion: 2H2 + O2 2H2O (water vapor)
Ammonia combustion: 4NH3 + 3O2 2N2 + 6H2O (nitrogen and water vapor)
Also, ammonia is...
Practical
Ammonia (anhydrous, NH3) is 18% hydrogen by weight
Ammonia is a liquid fuel at ambient temperatures and moderate pressures (~125 psi)
Ammonia has 52% of the energy density of gasoline, and is over 50% more energy dense per gallon than cryogenic liquid hydrogen
It can be used directly to drive fuel cells, or directly in internal combustion engines (ICE), it can also be used in combustion turbines
Conversions of gasoline and diesel ICEs to run on ammonia are relatively straightforward
Ammonia is easy to store and deliver in large quantities
Ammonia represents a sustainable, carbon-free fuel for back-up and peaker capacity generation
Ammonia fuel can help free us from dependence on imported oil
Available
Current worldwide annual production of ammonia is ~130 million tons, primarily from natural gas and coal; China is the #1 producer at 30 million tons annually
~ 20 million tons of NH3 and NH3-based fertilizers are consumed annually in the US as fertilizer (equivalent in energy to ~3.5 billion gallons of gasoline)
A storage and delivery infrastructure of pipelines, barges, rail and truck already exists for ammonia, with 3000 miles of pipeline in the US heartland; retail ammonia outlets exist in practically every state, 800 outlets in Iowa alone
Ammonia can be produced cleanly from coal and natural gas with carbon sequestration, and also from biomass, renewable energy sources and nuclear power, using nitrogen from the air
Ammonia can also be recovered from agricultural animal waste
Ammonia is also produced naturally in legumes by nitrogenase bacteria
Ammonia is covered as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, so ammonia vehicles qualify for fleet sale requirements
Low/Stable Cost
Ammonia is comparable to or lower in price than gasoline on an equal energy basis
Ammonia made using renewable or nuclear source electricity will be more stable in price and will grow increasingly cheaper per Btu versus fossil based fuels
Environmentally Friendly
Ammonia contains no carbon, so releases no GHGs on combustion; also any NOx is easily neutralized
In accident scenarios, ammonia is not flammable and is lighter than air so will dissipate into the atmosphere
Ammonia is not itself a GHG in the atmosphere
Ammonia will not damage the ozone layer
Anhydrous ammonia itself is used as the active chemical reactant in NOx reduction, and CO2 and SO2 capture
Properties of Selected Fuels in their Liquid State (sorted by H2 Density)
http://www.ammoniafuelnetwork.org/why.html
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