Climate-friendly electricity is derived from ammonia
Electricity and heat are generated in a single compact system — without CO2 emissions or other harmful by-products
There are high hopes for hydrogen and its derivatives as sources of energy. They play a central role in the energy transition component of the German federal government’s National Hydrogen Strategy. Ammonia (NH3) has been identified as having especially high potential, as hydrogen is easier to store and transport in the form of ammonia.
A team of researchers with Professor Laura Nousch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Dresden has developed a demonstrator based on a high-temperature fuel cell stack (solid oxide fuel cell, SOFC) that can use ammonia to generate electricity directly and with high efficiency. Electricity and heat are generated in a single compact system — without CO2 emissions or other harmful byproducts.
Ammonia becomes hydrogen, hydrogen becomes electricity
Fraunhofer researcher Laura Nousch explains the advantages of this method: “Ammonia has been used in the chemical industry for decades, for example to produce fertilizers, so there are established and familiar processes of handling this substance. However, it still needs to be treated with caution. As a hydrogen carrier, ammonia offers high energy density, and at the same time it is relatively easy to store and transport. Ammonia is an ideal starting material for climate-friendly generation of electricity and heat energy.”
In the process, ammonia is first conditioned and fed into the cracker, where it is heated to temperatures of 300 degrees Celsius or higher. In response, it breaks down into hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2). When the process is completed, the nitrogen can simply be released together with water vapor as harmless exhaust gases. Then, the hydrogen is fed into the high-temperature fuel cell. In the ceramic electrolyte, it flows over the anode, while air streams pass the cathode. Splitting the hydrogen releases electrons that move from the anode to the cathode. This is how electricity starts to flow. In addition to water vapor, this electrochemical reaction also produces thermal energy. The afterburning also generates heat. “The heat is used to maintain the high temperature inside the cracker and is also released as waste heat. The latter can then be used for purposes like heating buildings,” Nousch explains.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
