Publications Details

Solar-Thermal Ammonia Production: A Renewable, Carbon-Neutral Route to Ammonia via Concentrating Solar Thermochemistry [Slides]

Ambrosini, Andrea A.; Bush, Hagan E.; Gao, Xiang M.; Nguyen, Nhu (Ty) P.; De La Calle, Alberto; Ermanoski, Ivan; Farr, Tyler; Albrecht, Kevin J.; Kury, Matthew W.; Loutzenhiser, Peter L.; Stechel, Ellen B.

Solar Thermal Ammonia Production has potential to produce green ammonia using CSP, air, and water. Air separation to purify N₂ was successfully demonstrated with BSF1585 in packed bed reactor; on-sun reduction reactor under construction. Metal nitrides (MNy) were successfully synthesized and characterized under both ambient and pressurized conditions. Co₃Mo₃N shown to successfully produce NH₃ when exposed to pure H₂ at pressures between 5 – 20 bar 600 – 750 °C. Ambient reaction experiments imply there may be a catalytic aspect as well. Technoeconomic and systems analyses show a path towards scale-up.