Abstract
Conventional hydrogen production from ammonia is both energy and process intensive, requiring high temperature and independent purification units. Here, we present a compact process of energy conversion from NH3 to electricity using a novel membrane reactor, comprised of a dense metallic Pd/Ta composite membrane and Ru/La-Al2O3 pellet catalysts, and a fuel cell unit. The fabricated Pd/Ta composite membrane, having ca. 5 times higher H2 permeability than conventional Pd-Ag membranes, can both lower NH3 dehydrogenation temperature and completely remove an additional hydrogen purification unit. Compared to a packed-bed reactor without membrane, ammonia conversion improves by 75 and 45%, respectively at 425 and 400 °C, and >99.5% of conversion is achieved at 450 °C under pressurized ammonia feed of 6.5 bar. Main barriers of practical application of Pd/Group V metals as a composite hydrogen permeable membrane, embrittlement and durability issues, are overcome owing to pertinent operating temperatures (400–450 °C) of ammonia dehydrogenation coupled with membrane separation. Finally, as-separated hydrogen with <1 ppm of NH3 is provided directly to a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, showing no performance degradation for an extended time of operation. The combined results suggest a feasible and less energy/process intensive option for producing hydrogen or electricity from ammonia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 518-526 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Power Sources |
| Volume | 400 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 Oct 1 |
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Keywords
- Ammonia dehydrogenation
- Fuel cell
- Hydrogen production
- Membrane reactor
- Sustainable energy conversion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
A viable membrane reactor option for sustainable hydrogen production from ammonia. / Jo, Young Suk; Cha, Junyoung; Lee, Chan Hyun; Jeong, Hyangsoo; Yoon, Chang Won; Nam, SukWoo; Han, Jonghee.
In: Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 400, 01.10.2018, p. 518-526.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A viable membrane reactor option for sustainable hydrogen production from ammonia
AU - Jo, Young Suk
AU - Cha, Junyoung
AU - Lee, Chan Hyun
AU - Jeong, Hyangsoo
AU - Yoon, Chang Won
AU - Nam, SukWoo
AU - Han, Jonghee
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Conventional hydrogen production from ammonia is both energy and process intensive, requiring high temperature and independent purification units. Here, we present a compact process of energy conversion from NH3 to electricity using a novel membrane reactor, comprised of a dense metallic Pd/Ta composite membrane and Ru/La-Al2O3 pellet catalysts, and a fuel cell unit. The fabricated Pd/Ta composite membrane, having ca. 5 times higher H2 permeability than conventional Pd-Ag membranes, can both lower NH3 dehydrogenation temperature and completely remove an additional hydrogen purification unit. Compared to a packed-bed reactor without membrane, ammonia conversion improves by 75 and 45%, respectively at 425 and 400 °C, and >99.5% of conversion is achieved at 450 °C under pressurized ammonia feed of 6.5 bar. Main barriers of practical application of Pd/Group V metals as a composite hydrogen permeable membrane, embrittlement and durability issues, are overcome owing to pertinent operating temperatures (400–450 °C) of ammonia dehydrogenation coupled with membrane separation. Finally, as-separated hydrogen with <1 ppm of NH3 is provided directly to a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, showing no performance degradation for an extended time of operation. The combined results suggest a feasible and less energy/process intensive option for producing hydrogen or electricity from ammonia.
AB - Conventional hydrogen production from ammonia is both energy and process intensive, requiring high temperature and independent purification units. Here, we present a compact process of energy conversion from NH3 to electricity using a novel membrane reactor, comprised of a dense metallic Pd/Ta composite membrane and Ru/La-Al2O3 pellet catalysts, and a fuel cell unit. The fabricated Pd/Ta composite membrane, having ca. 5 times higher H2 permeability than conventional Pd-Ag membranes, can both lower NH3 dehydrogenation temperature and completely remove an additional hydrogen purification unit. Compared to a packed-bed reactor without membrane, ammonia conversion improves by 75 and 45%, respectively at 425 and 400 °C, and >99.5% of conversion is achieved at 450 °C under pressurized ammonia feed of 6.5 bar. Main barriers of practical application of Pd/Group V metals as a composite hydrogen permeable membrane, embrittlement and durability issues, are overcome owing to pertinent operating temperatures (400–450 °C) of ammonia dehydrogenation coupled with membrane separation. Finally, as-separated hydrogen with <1 ppm of NH3 is provided directly to a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, showing no performance degradation for an extended time of operation. The combined results suggest a feasible and less energy/process intensive option for producing hydrogen or electricity from ammonia.
KW - Ammonia dehydrogenation
KW - Fuel cell
KW - Hydrogen production
KW - Membrane reactor
KW - Sustainable energy conversion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052143514&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85052143514&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85052143514
VL - 400
SP - 518
EP - 526
JO - Journal of Power Sources
JF - Journal of Power Sources
SN - 0378-7753
ER -