WO2023156444A1 - Synthèse électrochimique et chimique d'ammoniac - Google Patents

Synthèse électrochimique et chimique d'ammoniac Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023156444A1
WO2023156444A1 PCT/EP2023/053734 EP2023053734W WO2023156444A1 WO 2023156444 A1 WO2023156444 A1 WO 2023156444A1 EP 2023053734 W EP2023053734 W EP 2023053734W WO 2023156444 A1 WO2023156444 A1 WO 2023156444A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ammonia
electrochemical
synthesis device
nitrogen
ammonia synthesis
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/053734
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Nicolai Antweiler
Katja POSCHLAD
Original Assignee
Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Ag
Thyssenkrupp Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE102022201597.5A external-priority patent/DE102022201597A1/de
Priority claimed from BE20225101A external-priority patent/BE1030273B1/de
Application filed by Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Ag, Thyssenkrupp Ag filed Critical Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Ag
Publication of WO2023156444A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023156444A1/fr

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01CAMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
    • C01C1/00Ammonia; Compounds thereof
    • C01C1/02Preparation, purification or separation of ammonia
    • C01C1/04Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase
    • C01C1/0405Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase from N2 and H2 in presence of a catalyst
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01Products
    • C25B1/27Ammonia
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B11/00Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for
    • C25B11/04Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for characterised by the material
    • C25B11/051Electrodes formed of electrocatalysts on a substrate or carrier
    • C25B11/073Electrodes formed of electrocatalysts on a substrate or carrier characterised by the electrocatalyst material
    • C25B11/075Electrodes formed of electrocatalysts on a substrate or carrier characterised by the electrocatalyst material consisting of a single catalytic element or catalytic compound
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00Operating or servicing cells
    • C25B15/02Process control or regulation
    • C25B15/021Process control or regulation of heating or cooling
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00Operating or servicing cells
    • C25B15/08Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
    • C25B15/083Separating products
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00Operating or servicing cells
    • C25B15/08Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
    • C25B15/085Removing impurities
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/17Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • C25B9/19Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
    • C25B9/23Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms comprising ion-exchange membranes in or on which electrode material is embedded
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25BELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01Products
    • C25B1/02Hydrogen or oxygen
    • C25B1/04Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the combination of an electrochemical ammonia synthesis with a classic high-pressure, high-temperature ammonia synthesis.
  • Ammonia is traditionally produced using the Haber-Bosch process at pressures of around 150 to 350 bar and temperatures of around 400 to 500 °C. For this purpose, nitrogen and hydrogen are compressed and reacted over a suitable catalyst. The ammonia formed is separated off and unreacted starting materials are circulated. A large part of the hydrogen used for this comes from the reforming of natural gas. Therefore, ammonia is currently responsible for a relevant part of global CC emissions.
  • the object of the invention is to produce ammonia in an efficient manner by using, in particular, regenerative energies.
  • the plant according to the invention is used for the synthesis of ammonia.
  • the plant for the synthesis of ammonia using regenerative energies serves to avoid CC emissions and thus serves to protect the climate.
  • the plant has at least a first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device for generating a gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen and a converter for generating ammonia with a recirculation of the unreacted hydrogen-nitrogen mixture after the ammonia separation, hereinafter referred to as the recirculation circuit.
  • the gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen contains ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen as synthesis components (i.e. as the components to be used for a subsequent ammonia synthesis in the converter in the recirculation circuit - including any electrochemically synthesized ammonia - in particular with a total content of these three components of at least 80 vol. %, preferably at least 90% by volume, particularly preferably at least 99% by volume, based on the total volume of the gas mixture), but this can optionally also contain other components such as water or argon.
  • synthesis components i.e. as the components to be used for a subsequent ammonia synthesis in the converter in the recirculation circuit - including any electrochemically synthesized ammonia - in particular with a total content of these three components of at least 80 vol. %, preferably at least 90% by volume, particularly preferably at least 99% by volume, based on the total volume of the gas mixture
  • this can optionally also contain other components such as water or argon.
  • the gas mixture can contain other components such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, neon, methane, krypton and the like (especially small amounts, especially in traces - so that every other component is present in a maximum proportion of 100 ppm, each based on the total volume of the gas mixture).
  • the plant according to the invention differs fundamentally from the previous concepts, which use either a direct electrochemical production of ammonia or an electrochemical production of hydrogen and a subsequent synthesis of ammonia according to the Haber-Bosch process.
  • Ammonia is first produced in the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device, with the production of hydrogen being accepted as a side reaction for economically viable operation.
  • a first ammonia separator is arranged between the at least one first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device and the converter.
  • the electrochemically generated ammonia is separated before the remaining mixture, which consists of hydrogen and nitrogen (in addition to any other components mentioned above and any other components), is fed to the converter, for example in accordance with a classic Haber-Bosch process, and fed there high pressure and high temperature over a catalyst. If, at high throughputs, a selectivity of 50%, for example, is achieved in the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device, i.e.
  • electrochemical ammonia synthesizers can be connected in parallel side by side to generate a sufficient flow of synthesis gas for the converter.
  • the plant has a storage device between the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device and the converter.
  • the storage device is preferably arranged between the first ammonia separator and the recirculation circuit.
  • the storage device is, for example and preferably, a pressure accumulator.
  • the storage device is used to buffer fluctuations in the regenerative energy generation and to provide the converter with an educt stream that is as constant as possible or at least one that fluctuates as little as possible.
  • the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device is designed to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and water.
  • nitrogen can be present as pure nitrogen.
  • electrochemical ammonia synthesizers which produce ammonia electrochemically from nitrogen and hydrogen.
  • this has the disadvantage that the hydrogen is first produced from water in a first electrolysis in a water electrolysis and ammonia is produced from nitrogen and hydrogen only in a second step. As a result, the expenditure on equipment is higher and losses also increase. Therefore, direct electrochemical production from nitrogen and water is preferred.
  • electrochemical ammonia synthesizers There are two different basic modes of operation of electrochemical ammonia synthesizers. In the first embodiment, water is converted to oxygen on the anode side and protons migrate through the membrane and are reacted with nitrogen to form ammonia (and hydrogen as a by-product) in the cathode compartment. In the second embodiment, nitrogen and water are converted to ammonia (and hydrogen as a by-product) on the cathode side, oxygen ions migrate through the membrane and form oxygen on the anode side.
  • the first electrochemical ammonia synthesizer is a solid oxide electrolytic cell.
  • the membrane is thus a solid oxide
  • the solid oxide electrolytic cell is usually operated at high temperatures and is particularly suitable for conducting oxygen ions O 2 '.
  • the anode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device is designed to convert water vapor into oxygen.
  • the membrane of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device is designed for proton transfer.
  • the cathode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device is designed to convert nitrogen into ammonia with the protons passing through the membrane.
  • an air separation plant is arranged upstream of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device.
  • the separation into, in particular, oxygen and nitrogen is particularly preferably carried out by the membrane process.
  • a cryotechnical air separation for example according to the Linde process, is also possible, usually achieves high purity, but is usually more energy-intensive.
  • a carbon dioxide separator also CO2 scrubber
  • an exhaust gas flow from a combustion process for example from another neighboring plant, is cleaned from nitrogen and carbon dioxide by separating the carbon dioxide, for example in order to bind it chemically in order to avoid CO2 emissions.
  • a first heat exchanger is arranged after the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device and before the first ammonia separator. Cooling can be achieved as a result, and ammonia can thus be separated more easily and efficiently. This is especially true when the first electrochemical ammonia synthesizer is operated at high temperature.
  • a first compressor is arranged after the first heat exchanger and before the recirculation circuit.
  • the gas stream is preferably brought to the pressure of the recirculation circuit.
  • the recirculation circuit has a second ammonia separator. Furthermore, the recirculation circuit has at least one second heat exchanger between the converter and the second ammonia separator. Furthermore, the recirculation circuit between the ammonia separator and the converter has at least a third heat exchanger and a second compressor. This corresponds to the classic structure of the Haber-Bosch process.
  • the second heat exchanger is connected to the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device in a vapor-conducting manner. This allows the thermal energy from the converter in the electrochemical Ammonia synthesis device are transferred in a simple manner and at the same time
  • Water can be provided for the synthesis of the ammonia.
  • the cathode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device has a catalyst, the catalyst containing nitrogen-doped carbon.
  • the invention relates to a method for producing ammonia, the method having the following steps: a) providing nitrogen and water, b) electrochemical conversion to produce a gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen, c) separating off the ammonia from the gas mixture, d) compressing the gas mixture, e) converting the gas mixture in a converter to produce ammonia, f) separating off the ammonia produced in the converter, g) returning unreacted hydrogen and nitrogen to the converter.
  • the nitrogen in step a) is provided by means of air separation.
  • the water is provided from low-calorific water vapor from a heat exchanger.
  • the low-calorific energy can still be used, so that the overall efficiency of the entire system can be increased.
  • step b) on the anode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device for generating a gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen water vapor is converted into oxygen and protons. Further, protons are transported through the membrane of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesizer. And further, on the cathode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesizer, nitrogen is converted into ammonia with the protons passing through the membrane.
  • hydrogen is formed in step b) on the cathode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device from the protons passing through the membrane. This by-product, which is undesirable as a side reaction for the purely electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, represents the starting material for the ammonia produced in the converter.
  • nitrogen and water are converted into ammonia in step b) on the cathode side of the first electrochemical ammonia synthesis device.
  • Oxygen ions also pass through the membrane.
  • the oxygen ions passing through the membrane are converted into oxygen.
  • the gas mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger between step b) and step c).
  • the gas mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger between step e) and step f).
  • water vapor is generated in the heat exchanger.
  • the water vapor thus generated is fed to the electrochemical ammonia synthesizer.
  • the system according to the invention or the method according to the invention is particularly preferred if the ammonia conversion in both parts of the system is in the same order of magnitude, i.e. in particular if between 20% ammonia and 80% hydrogen to 80% ammonia and 20% hydrogen are formed in the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device. If the proportion of ammonia is lower, then pure water electrolysis with Haber-Bosch synthesis makes sense; if the proportion of ammonia is higher, the subsequent Haber-Bosch synthesis becomes less economical. The invention thus enables the economic use of a synthesis route that is otherwise (not yet) economical on its own.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the plant for the synthesis of ammonia according to the invention.
  • About the air supply 11 air is fed into an air separation plant 10 and for example by means of a
  • the oxygen can either be used or released into the environment.
  • the oxygen delivery 12 is used for this purpose.
  • the nitrogen is fed into the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device 20 via the nitrogen transfer 13 in order to produce a gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen.
  • water vapor is supplied to the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device 20 via the water supply 21 .
  • the educt stream is converted at least partially, preferably in the amount of about 50%, into ammonia, while the other 50% are obtained as hydrogen and nitrogen, ie as a educt gas mixture for the Haber-Bosch synthesis.
  • Corresponding electrochemical cells are known to the person skilled in the art and can be found, for example, in Amar, I.A.; Lan, R.; Petit, C.T.G.; Tao, S. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry 2011, 15, 1845-1860.
  • it is a high-temperature electrolysis cell.
  • the product-educt mixture 23 produced in this way is discharged and cooled via a heat exchanger W and fed to the first ammonia separator 30 as a cooled product-educt mixture 24 .
  • the oxygen generated in the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device 20 is released via the oxygen release 22, either also fed to further utilization or released into the environment.
  • the ammonia separated in the first ammonia separator 30 is removed via the ammonia discharge 31 and fed, for example, to a tank, a bottling plant or a further conversion to, for example, urea and/or nitric acid.
  • the educt mixture 32 of hydrogen and nitrogen is fed to the recirculation circuit via a compressor. Since, with the selectivity of the ammonia synthesis assumed above in the electrochemical ammonia synthesis device 20, the educt flow is only half as large as in a pure water electrolysis and a subsequent exclusive Ammonia synthesis, all of the following components in the high-pressure and high-temperature range can be reduced to about half their size.
  • the educt mixture is fed to the converter 40 for the production of ammonia and, according to the classic principle of ammonia synthesis, is converted proportionately to ammonia over a catalyst in an equilibrium reaction.
  • the product-educt mixture 41 emerging from the converter 40 is cooled via a heat exchanger W (usually in several stages) and fed to the second ammonia separator 50 as a cooled product-educt mixture 42 .
  • the ammonia flow separated there is discharged via the ammonia discharge 51 and can, for example, be combined with the ammonia flow discharged from the first ammonia separator 30 via the ammonia discharge 31 .
  • the two streams of ammonia can also be used for different purposes, for example a urea synthesis and the other a nitric acid synthesis.
  • the unreacted educts are fed from the second ammonia separator 50 via the educt return line 52 to the recirculation circuit, where they are heated by a heat exchanger W and then fed back to the converter 40 via the compressor K.
  • the two heat exchangers W are preferably at least partially connected to one another via a heat transfer medium, so that the heat is retained within the recirculation circuit.
  • part of the heat from the recirculation loop must be removed to the outside. This heat can be used, for example, to heat a high-temperature electrolysis cell and thus provide the necessary energy, as indicated in FIG. 1 by the steam line 43 between the heat exchanger and the water supply 21.
  • the invention also relates to other electrochemical ammonia synthesis devices for generating a gas mixture of ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen, for example those in which nitrogen and water (which can optionally also contain other components) are used as starting materials using an oxygen-ion-conducting medium , so that the product gas stream is a gas mixture which also contains unreacted water in addition to ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen.
  • nitrogen and water which can optionally also contain other components

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de synthèse d'ammoniac, le système comprenant au moins un premier dispositif de synthèse d'ammoniac électrochimique (20) pour générer un mélange gazeux qui est constitué d'ammoniac, d'hydrogène et d'azote, et un convertisseur (40) pour générer de l'ammoniac, ledit dispositif ayant également un système de recirculation, un premier séparateur d'ammoniac (30) étant situé entre le ou les premiers dispositifs de synthèse d'ammoniac électrochimique (20) et le convertisseur (40).
PCT/EP2023/053734 2022-02-16 2023-02-15 Synthèse électrochimique et chimique d'ammoniac WO2023156444A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102022201597.5A DE102022201597A1 (de) 2022-02-16 2022-02-16 Elektrochemische und chemische Synthese von Ammoniak
BE20225101A BE1030273B1 (de) 2022-02-16 2022-02-16 Elektrochemische und chemische Synthese von Ammoniak
BEBE2022/5101 2022-02-16
DE102022201597.5 2022-02-16

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WO2023156444A1 true WO2023156444A1 (fr) 2023-08-24

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016213360A1 (de) 2016-07-21 2018-01-25 Thyssenkrupp Ag Verfahren zur elektrochemischen Herstellung von Ammoniak
EP3441505A1 (fr) * 2016-03-03 2019-02-13 JGC Corporation Procédé de production d'ammoniac
WO2021223938A1 (fr) * 2020-05-07 2021-11-11 Dynelectro Aps Systèmes et procédés de génération de gaz de synthèse pour la production d'ammoniac

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3441505A1 (fr) * 2016-03-03 2019-02-13 JGC Corporation Procédé de production d'ammoniac
DE102016213360A1 (de) 2016-07-21 2018-01-25 Thyssenkrupp Ag Verfahren zur elektrochemischen Herstellung von Ammoniak
WO2018015287A1 (fr) * 2016-07-21 2018-01-25 Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Ag Procédé de production d'ammoniac par voie électrochimique
WO2021223938A1 (fr) * 2020-05-07 2021-11-11 Dynelectro Aps Systèmes et procédés de génération de gaz de synthèse pour la production d'ammoniac

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
AMAR, I. A.LAN, R.PETIT, C. T. G.TAO, S., JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE ELECTROCHEMISTRY, vol. 15, 2011, pages 1845 - 1860
S. GIDDEY ET AL: "Review of electrochemical ammonia production technologies and materials", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, vol. 38, no. 34, 1 November 2013 (2013-11-01), pages 14576 - 14594, XP055112095, ISSN: 0360-3199, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.054 *

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