Ammonia Hydrogen Production with Integrated Heating and Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing hydrogen gas are costly due to the use of expensive metal hydrides.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen gas production apparatus that includes a vaporizer to generate ammonia gas, a main thermal decomposition device to decompose ammonia gas into nitrogen and hydrogen gas using a fuel gas, a cooler to cool the decomposition gas, and a separator to isolate hydrogen gas, allowing for efficient production without the need for a separate fuel gas or cooling medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal hydride is used to produce hydrogen gas, then hydrogen gas can be produced, but the production cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal hydride with liquid ammonia, which is a much cheaper and more readily available substance. The system uses ammonia that can be continuously supplied and decomposed, eliminating the need for costly metal hydride materials while maintaining hydrogen production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state and form of the hydrogen source from solid metal hydride to gaseous ammonia. By heating ammonia to decompose it into hydrogen and nitrogen, the system achieves hydrogen production through a different chemical parameter approach that is more cost-effective
2Productivity
If fuel gas is used to heat ammonia gas for decomposition, then decomposition efficiency improves, but the need for separate fuel gas preparation increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fuel gas preparation function with the ammonia decomposition process itself. By using a portion of the ammonia as fuel to decompose the remaining ammonia, the system eliminates the need for a separate fuel gas preparation system, reducing device complexity while maintaining decomposition efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes ammonia serve multiple functions: it is both the substance to be decomposed for hydrogen production and the fuel source for the decomposition process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fuel systems and simplifies the overall device structure
3Temperature
If separate cooling medium is used to cool decomposition gas, then cooling effectiveness improves, but the need for separate cooling medium increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquid ammonia itself as the cooling medium to cool the decomposition gas. Since ammonia is already present in the system as the feedstock, using it for cooling purposes eliminates the need for separate cooling medium systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes liquid ammonia serve dual purposes: as the feedstock for hydrogen production and as the cooling medium for the decomposition gas. This multi-functionality simplifies the system by eliminating the need for separate cooling systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the production of hydrogen gas at a lower cost compared to conventional methods, utilizing ammonia as both a reactant and a cooling medium, thereby reducing expenses.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporizer configured to generate ammonia gas by heating liquid ammonia
Implementation Method 2
a main thermal decomposition device configured to decompose the ammonia gas generated in the vaporizer, into nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas, by heating the ammonia gas by causing a fuel gas to burn
Implementation Method 3
a cooler configured to cool a first decomposition gas including the nitrogen gas and the hydrogen gas generated through the decomposition in the main thermal decomposition device
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen gas production apparatus 1 includes: a vaporizer 5 configured to generate ammonia gas by heating liquid ammonia; a main thermal decomposition device 6 configured to decompose the ammonia gas generated in the vaporizer 5, into nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas, by heating the ammonia gas by causing a fuel gas to burn; a cooler 7 configured to cool a decomposition gas including the nitrogen gas and the hydrogen gas generated through the decomposition in the main thermal decomposition device 6; and a separator 8 configured to separate hydrogen gas from the decomposition gas having been cooled.