Conversion of ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen using ammonia as a sweep gas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12492121-B2
Application number	US-202217978475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2022
Priority date	Nov 1, 2022
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for the production of hydrogen (H2) from ammonia (NH3) in a membrane reactor that include using ammonia as a sweep gas. Ammonia is converted to hydrogen and nitrogen (N2), and the hydrogen is separated from the nitrogen and unreacted ammonia by passing the hydrogen through a hydrogen-permeable membrane while using ammonia as a sweep gas. The ammonia sweep gas can be separated from the permeated hydrogen and continuously recycled.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system, comprising:
a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane; a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor; a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor; and a heat source, wherein the system is configured so that, during use of the system:
the first ammonia source supplies ammonia to the first portion of the reactor;
the heat source heats the ammonia in the first portion of the reactor so that the ammonia in the first portion of the reactor is converted to hydrogen and nitrogen;
the hydrogen passes through the hydrogen-permeable membrane and enters the second portion of the reactor; and
the second ammonia source supplies ammonia to the second portion of the reactor in the form of a gas stream that removes the hydrogen from the second portion of the reactor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cylinder comprising the hydrogen-permeable membrane; and a second cylinder that surrounds the first cylinder.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein:
an interior space of the first cylinder defines the first portion of the reactor; and an annular space formed between an exterior surface of the first cylinder and an interior surface of the second cylinder defines the second portion of the reactor.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein:
an interior space of the first cylinder defines the second portion of the reactor; and an annular space formed between an exterior surface of the first cylinder and an interior surface of the second cylinder defines the first portion of the reactor.

6 . The system of claim 3 , comprising a plurality of first and second cylinders.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst disposed in the first portion of the reactor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-permeable membrane comprises a planar hydrogen-permeable membrane.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooler, a compressor, and a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a separator, capable of separating ammonia and hydrogen, in fluid communication with an outlet of the condenser,
wherein the ammonia from the separator forms a third ammonia source.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein
the third ammonia source comprises a contaminant; and the contaminant is removed from the third ammonia source.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the third ammonia source is configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the third ammonia source supplies ammonia to the second portion of the reactor in the form of a gas stream that removes the hydrogen from the second portion of the reactor.

14 . A system, comprising:
a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane; a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor; a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor; a first cylinder comprising the hydrogen-permeable membrane; and a second cylinder that surrounds the first cylinder.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

16 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a cooler, a compressor, and a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a separator, capable of separating ammonia and hydrogen, in fluid communication with an outlet of the condenser,
wherein the ammonia from the separator forms a third ammonia source.

18 . A system, comprising:
a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane; a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor; a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor; a cooler; a compressor; and a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Rakib Mohammad Abdur
• Paglieri Stephen N
• Siddiqui Osamah
• Katikaneni Sai P
• Lee Kunho

Classifications

• B01D53/229 Primary

  Integrated processes (Diffusion and at least one other process, e.g. adsorption, absorption) · CPC title

• C01B2203/046

  Purification by cryogenic separation · CPC title

• C01B2203/041

  In-situ membrane purification during hydrogen production · CPC title

• B01J2208/065

  Heating or cooling the reactor · CPC title

• B01D53/002

  by condensation · CPC title