Ammonia Cracking Technology of Aramco and Linde Set to Transform Global Lower-Carbon Landscape

Ammonia Cracking Technology of Aramco and Linde Set to Transform Global Lower-Carbon Landscape

Here’s an article posted in chemanager that talks about the Ammonia cracking technology developed by Aramco and Linde.

According to the article,

• Aramco and Linde Engineering have partnered to develop a new lower-carbon ammonia cracking technology.
• The technology involves splitting ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen over a catalyst for energy or manufacturing applications.
• They plan to build a demonstration plant in northern Germany to showcase the technology and offer it to existing and new customers, creating new commercial opportunities within the global lower-carbon energy supply chain.
• The technology is expected to support the world’s urgent need for decarbonization by bridging the gap between domestic renewable energy production and total energy demand.

Additional details related to this post:

Saudi Aramco and Linde Engineering’s joint development of new ammonia cracking technology focuses on establishing a more sustainable hydrogen supply chain. This collaboration aims to innovate in the field of hydrogen production from ammonia, which is considered a more carbon-efficient carrier. Here’s a detailed look at the process, its significance, and the potential impact:

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Ammonia Cracking Process

Ammonia cracking involves breaking down ammonia (NH₃) into hydrogen (H₂) and nitrogen (N₂) using a catalyst. This chemical reaction is generally represented as: 2NH₃ → 3H₂+ N2

Key Components:

1. Ammonia as Feedstock: Ammonia is rich in hydrogen but bonds with nitrogen, making it a dense hydrogen carrier. It’s easier to store and transport than pure hydrogen.
2. Catalyst: The success of the process heavily depends on the efficiency of the catalyst used to split ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. Aramco and Linde are focusing on developing a superior ammonia cracking catalyst, in collaboration with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Technological and Environmental Significance

1. Decarbonization: Hydrogen produced from ammonia can be used as a clean energy source, reducing carbon emissions from traditional hydrogen production methods, which often involve reforming natural gas.
2. Energy Transport: Ammonia can be liquified and transported over long distances more easily and safely than hydrogen. This makes it an effective medium for transporting energy from regions rich in renewable energy resources to those lacking them.

Demonstration Plant in Germany

• Objective: The plant aims to showcase the viability and efficiency of the new ammonia cracking technology.
• Location: Northern Germany.
• Collaborators: Alongside the joint effort with Linde, Aramco is also working with other industrial giants like SABIC and BASF on related projects to leverage electricity for heating in industrial processes, further enhancing carbon efficiency.

Potential Impact

• Energy Supply Chains: By facilitating the transport of hydrogen in the form of ammonia, countries can potentially bridge the gap between local energy production capacities and demands.
• Industrial Applications: Hydrogen is critical for various industrial applications, including chemical manufacturing and as an energy source in fuel cells.

Challenges and Future Directions

• Catalyst Efficiency: The effectiveness of the catalyst in cracking ammonia without significant energy losses is crucial. The new catalyst being developed needs to prove its efficiency against existing technologies.
• Economic Viability: The cost implications of adopting ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and the infrastructure required for its transport and cracking need to be economically viable.
• Scale of Production: Scaling the technology from a demonstration plant to industrial levels is a significant challenge that will require technological advancements and substantial investments.

Interestingly, we have other posts related to this content:

“Shipping with Green Hydrogen: Ammonia Cracking Technology by Pherousa” – This article talks about Pherousa’s deal with pure hydrogen and their proposed solution to the challenges of storing and using hydrogen on deep-sea shipping with ammonia cracker.