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Pan L, Li J, Huang J, An Q, Lin J, Mujeeb A, Xu Y, Li G, Zhou M, Wang J. Renewable-to-ammonia: Configuration strategy and technoeconomic analysis. iScience 2023; 26:108512. [PMID: 38162027 PMCID: PMC10755057 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing demand for chemical raw materials has provided opportunities for the ammonia (NH3) industry. However, little attention has been devoted to the economic feasibility of renewable-to-ammonia (RE2A). Therefore, this paper proposes a technoeconomic model to research the optimal capacity configuration and quantify the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) for RE2A, which is a retrofitted plant based on coal-to-ammonia (C2A). A cost model of C2A is established as a benchmark to evaluate the economic feasibility of RE2A. A case study in Inner Mongolia is adopted, which shows that the monthly NH3 output is 7-11×103t, which satisfies actual industrial production. The LCOA of RE2A is 469$/t, with investment in wind turbines accounting for 58%, which is lower than the NH3 market price (605$-650$/t). The LCOA of RE2A will equal that of C2A with a carbon tax of 47.1$/t CO2, which confirms the economic advantages of RE2A in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Pan
- State Key Lab of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jiarong Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jingsi Huang
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qi An
- State Key Lab of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jin Lin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Asad Mujeeb
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanhui Xu
- State Key Lab of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Gengyin Li
- State Key Lab of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- State Key Lab of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jianxiao Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Big Data Analysis and Applications, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Peking University Ordos Research Institute of Energy, Ordos 017000, China
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Palys MJ, Daoutidis P. Optimizing Renewable Ammonia Production for a Sustainable Fertilizer Supply Chain Transition. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202300563. [PMID: 37606267 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Local renewable ammonia production using electrolytic hydrogen is an emerging approach to alleviate emissions attributed to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production while also insulating against fluctuations in fertilizer prices and mitigating transportation costs and emissions. However, replacing ammonia currently produced using fossil fuels will not be immediate. To this end, we develop a supply chain transition model, which first optimizes the design and hourly operation of new renewable ammonia facilities to minimize production costs and then optimizes the annual installation timing, production scale, and location of these new renewable facilities along with ammonia transportation to meet county resolution demands. The objective is to augment and eventually replace conventional ammonia market imports in an economically competitive manner. We performed a case study for Minnesota's ammonia supply chain and found that a full transition to in-state renewable production by 2032 is optimal. This is incentivized by the U.S. federal government's clean hydrogen production credits. This transition results in 99 % reduction in carbon intensity along with stable supply costs below $475 per metric tonne. New renewable production facilities are an order of magnitude smaller than existing conventional plants. They use both wind and solar resources and operate dynamically to minimize expensive battery and hydrogen storage capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Palys
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America
| | - Prodromos Daoutidis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America
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Ravi M, Makepeace JW. Facilitating green ammonia manufacture under milder conditions: what do heterogeneous catalyst formulations have to offer? Chem Sci 2022; 13:890-908. [PMID: 35211256 PMCID: PMC8790769 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04734e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ammonia production is one of the largest industrial processes, and is currently responsible for over 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising this process, yielding 'green ammonia', is critical not only for sustainable fertilizer production, but also to unlocking ammonia's potential as a zero-carbon fuel and hydrogen store. In this perspective, we critically assess the role of cutting-edge heterogeneous catalysts to facilitate milder ammonia synthesis conditions that will help unlock cheaper, smaller-scale, renewables-coupled ammonia production. The highly-optimised performance of catalysts under the high temperatures and pressures of the Haber-Bosch process stands in contrast to the largely mediocre activity levels reported at lower temperatures and pressures. We identify the recent advances in catalyst design that help overcome the sluggish kinetics of nitrogen activation under these conditions and undertake a categorized analysis of improved activity achieved in a range of heterogeneous catalysts. Building on these observations, we develop a 'catalyst efficiency' analysis which helps uncover the success of a holistic approach - one that addresses the issues of nitrogen activation, hydrogenation of adsorbed nitrogen species, and engineering of materials to maximize the utilization of active sites - for achieving the elusive combination of high-activity, low-temperature formulations. Furthermore, we present a discussion on the industrial considerations to catalyst development, emphasising the importance of catalyst lifetime in addition to catalyst activity. This assessment is critical to ensuring that high productivities can translate into real advances in commercial ammonia synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Ravi
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT UK
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Renewable ammonia for sustainable energy and agriculture: vision and systems engineering opportunities. Curr Opin Chem Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2020.100667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Elishav O, Mosevitzky Lis B, Miller EM, Arent DJ, Valera-Medina A, Grinberg Dana A, Shter GE, Grader GS. Progress and Prospective of Nitrogen-Based Alternative Fuels. Chem Rev 2020; 120:5352-5436. [PMID: 32501681 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alternative fuels are essential to enable the transition to a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply. Synthetic fuels derived from renewable energies can act as energy storage media, thus mitigating the effects of fossil fuels on environment and health. Their economic viability, environmental impact, and compatibility with current infrastructure and technologies are fuel and power source specific. Nitrogen-based fuels pose one possible synthetic fuel pathway. In this review, we discuss the progress and current research on utilization of nitrogen-based fuels in power applications, covering the complete fuel cycle. We cover the production, distribution, and storage of nitrogen-based fuels. We assess much of the existing literature on the reactions involved in the ammonia to nitrogen atom pathway in nitrogen-based fuel combustion. Furthermore, we discuss nitrogen-based fuel applications ranging from combustion engines to gas turbines, as well as their exploitation by suggested end-uses. Thereby, we evaluate the potential opportunities and challenges of expanding the role of nitrogen-based molecules in the energy sector, outlining their use as energy carriers in relevant fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Elishav
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Bar Mosevitzky Lis
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Elisa M Miller
- Materials and Chemical Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Douglas J Arent
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Agustin Valera-Medina
- College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Alon Grinberg Dana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Gennady E Shter
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Gideon S Grader
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.,The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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Demirhan CD, Tso WW, Powell JB, Heuberger CF, Pistikopoulos EN. A Multiscale Energy Systems Engineering Approach for Renewable Power Generation and Storage Optimization. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Doga Demirhan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Texas A&M Energy Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3372, United States
| | - William W. Tso
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Texas A&M Energy Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3372, United States
| | - Joseph B. Powell
- Shell Technology Center, Royal Dutch Shell, Houston, Texas 77082, United States
| | | | - Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Texas A&M Energy Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3372, United States
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganzhou Wang
- RWTH Aachen UniversityProcess Systems Engineering Aachen Germany
| | - Alexander Mitsos
- RWTH Aachen UniversityProcess Systems Engineering Aachen Germany
- JARA‐ENERGY Jülich Germany
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Energy Systems Engineering (IEK‐10)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany
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Arora A, Li J, Zantye MS, Hasan MMF. Design standardization of unit operations for reducing the capital intensity and cost of small‐scale chemical processes. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Arora
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University College Station Texas
| | - Jianping Li
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University College Station Texas
| | - Manali S. Zantye
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University College Station Texas
| | - M. M. Faruque Hasan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University College Station Texas
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Demirhan CD, Tso WW, Powell JB, Pistikopoulos EN. Sustainable ammonia production through process synthesis and global optimization. AIChE J 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Doga Demirhan
- Artie McFerrin Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
- Texas A&M Energy Institute; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
| | - William W. Tso
- Artie McFerrin Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
- Texas A&M Energy Institute; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
| | | | - Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos
- Artie McFerrin Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
- Texas A&M Energy Institute; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843
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Palys MJ, Allman A, Daoutidis P. Exploring the Benefits of Modular Renewable-Powered Ammonia Production: A Supply Chain Optimization Study. Ind Eng Chem Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b04189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Palys
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Andrew Allman
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Prodromos Daoutidis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Abstract
Synthetic ammonia produced from fossil fuels is essential for agriculture. However, the emissions-intensive nature of the Haber–Bosch process, as well as a depleting supply of these fossil fuels have motivated the production of ammonia using renewable sources of energy. Small-scale, distributed processes may better enable the use of renewables, but also result in a loss of economies of scale, so the high capital cost of the Haber–Bosch process may inhibit this paradigm shift. A process that operates at lower pressure and uses absorption rather than condensation to remove ammonia from unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen has been proposed as an alternative. In this work, a dynamic model of this absorbent-enhanced process is proposed and implemented in gPROMS ModelBuilder. This dynamic model is used to determine optimal designs of this process that minimize the 20-year net present cost at small scales of 100 kg/h to 10,000 kg/h when powered by wind energy. The capital cost of this process scales with a 0.77 capacity exponent, and at production scales below 6075 kg/h, it is less expensive than the conventional Haber–Bosch process.
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