Ammonia Combustion Process with Segmented Air Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ammonia combustion processes in industrial settings face challenges due to low flammability, high nitrogen oxide emissions, and complex reactor designs, making them economically and environmentally less viable.
Innovation Solution
A two- or three-stage process involving partial and catalytic oxidation of ammonia with specific air mixing ratios to produce product gas mixtures with low ammonia slip and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions, eliminating the need for preheating and ignition aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ammonia is used as fuel in industrial burners, then carbon dioxide-free combustion is achieved, but nitrogen oxide emissions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is divided into multiple stages with different air mixing ratios. The first stage uses a first air mixing ratio to produce an intermediate product gas, and the second stage uses a second air mixing ratio to complete combustion. This segmentation allows control over nitrogen oxide formation by managing oxygen availability at different combustion phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the air mixing ratio parameter throughout the combustion process. By varying the air-to-ammonia ratio from the first stage to the second stage, the combustion conditions are optimized to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions while maintaining complete combustion and carbon dioxide-free operation.
2Reliability
If measures are taken to improve ammonia flammability (adding ignition aids, preheating, enriching combustion air), then flame stability improves, but process complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the air mixing ratio parameter to achieve stable combustion without additional equipment. By carefully controlling the air-to-ammonia ratio in different stages, the process achieves reliable flame stability through parameter optimization rather than adding physical components.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If ammonia is partially oxidized with air deficiency (lambda 0.30-0.90), then nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced, but complete combustion is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is segmented into two stages: first stage with air deficiency (lambda 0.30-0.90) to limit nitrogen oxide formation, and second stage with sufficient or excess air (lambda ≥1.00) to complete combustion. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by achieving both low nitrogen oxide emissions and high combustion efficiency through sequential processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The first stage of combustion with controlled air deficiency is performed as a preliminary action before the second stage. This preliminary partial oxidation reduces nitrogen oxide formation potential, and then the second stage completes the combustion, ensuring both environmental and efficiency requirements are met.
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
The process effectively reduces ammonia slip and nitrogen oxide emissions, enhancing the ecological and economic viability of ammonia combustion by generating product gas mixtures suitable for industrial use with minimal environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
passing the ammonia used and air through a reactor containing a catalyst
Implementation Method 2
combustion of ammonia with air... partial and catalytic oxidation of ammonia
Implementation Method 3
combustion of ammonia with air, in particular for heat generation in industrial combustion processes
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the combustion of ammonia with air, comprising at least two or three stages, and optionally also stage 1a), namely a partial and catalytic oxidation of ammonia within a reactor containing at least one first catalyst K1 to obtain a first product gas mixture PM1 in stage 1), optionally a further partial oxidation of the first product gas mixture PM1 obtained after carrying out stage 1) to obtain a second product gas mixture PM2 in stage 1a, wherein an air deficit is present during the carrying out of stage 1) and optionally stage 1a), and a complete oxidation of the first product gas mixture PM1 obtained after stage 1) or, if optional step 1a) has been carried out, of the second product gas mixture PM2 obtained after stage 1a) in stage 2), wherein an air excess is present during the carrying out of stage 2).Product gas mixtures are available through partial implementation of this process, and these product gas mixtures can be used as fuels in industrial combustion processes.