Hydrogen Generation via Sequential Ammonia and Nitrogen Adsorption
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing hydrogen from ammonia decomposition generate wastewater and require separate compressors for ammonia and nitrogen removal, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that integrates ammonia and nitrogen adsorption beds, allowing direct transmission and operation of high-pressure gas, eliminating the need for a separate compressor and utilizing off-gas for heating and cooling to maintain stable gas composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If ammonia is dissolved in water for removal, then ammonia can be removed from the mixed gas, but a large amount of wastewater is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts ammonia from the mixed gas using an adsorption bed with adsorbent material, separating it directly without liquid absorption. This eliminates the need for water-based dissolution and prevents wastewater generation while effectively removing ammonia from the hydrogen production process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous adsorbent materials in the adsorption bed to capture ammonia molecules from the mixed gas stream. The porous structure provides large surface area for adsorption, enabling efficient ammonia removal without requiring liquid solvents that would generate wastewater
2Reliability
If separate compressors are used for ammonia adsorption bed and nitrogen adsorption bed, then each bed can operate independently, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compression function into a single shared compressor that serves both the ammonia adsorption bed and the nitrogen adsorption bed. The compressor is configured to supply high-pressure gas to both beds through a common supply line, reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to operate each bed independently through separate control valves and flow paths
Solution Approach 2:
The single compressor is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it provides high-pressure gas to both the ammonia adsorption bed and the nitrogen adsorption bed, and can adjust its output to meet the varying demands of each bed. This universal compressor replaces what would traditionally require two separate compression units
3Productivity
If ammonia adsorption bed is heated or cooled, then adsorption efficiency is improved, but gas composition changes significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffer chamber or control system between the heating/cooling mechanism and the ammonia adsorption bed that regulates temperature changes. This intermediary controls the rate and magnitude of temperature adjustments, allowing efficient adsorption operations while minimizing abrupt gas composition changes that would disrupt downstream nitrogen adsorption processes
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
This integration increases efficiency, reduces costs, and enables stable operation by consecutively arranging ammonia and nitrogen adsorption processes, minimizing gas composition changes and eliminating the need for additional compressors.
Implementation Method 1
an ammonia decomposition bed configured to introduce an ammonia gas, decompose the ammonia gas into a high-pressure first mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
an ammonia adsorption bed supplied with the high-pressure first mixed gas from the ammonia decomposition bed, and configured to adsorb residual ammonia of the first mixed gas
Implementation Method 3
a nitrogen adsorption bed directly supplied with the high-pressure second mixed gas from the ammonia adsorption bed, and configured to adsorb the nitrogen, and discharge the hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A system for generating hydrogen includes an ammonia decomposition bed configured to introduce an ammonia gas, decompose the ammonia gas into a high-pressure first mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen, and discharge the high-pressure first mixed gas; an ammonia adsorption bed supplied with the high-pressure first mixed gas from the ammonia decomposition bed, and configured to adsorb ammonia of the first mixed gas, and discharge a high-pressure second mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen; and a nitrogen adsorption bed directly supplied with the high-pressure second mixed gas from the ammonia adsorption bed, and configured to adsorb the nitrogen, and discharge the hydrogen.