Hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition

Catalysts for ammonia cracking are essential to accelerate the process and reduce the activation energy. Among the most effective catalysts, ruthenium supported on high-surface-area substrates has demonstrated superior performance, with conversion rates up to 97%. Other metals, such as nickel, rhodium, and cobalt, have also been evaluated, but ruthenium remains the benchmark catalyst, despite its limited industrial interest due to higher costs.

At K-INN Tech, we have a dedicated laboratory setup to test the catalytic activity of various materials, in forms such as powders, grains, and pellets (up to 2-3 mm), for the NH3 decomposition reaction under varying operating conditions: temperatures up to 900°C, pressures up to 30 bar, and space velocities up to 50,000 h-1. We measure the concentration profiles of hydrogen, nitrogen, and ammonia over time to determine hydrogen yields based on working conditions.

We tailor the working conditions, assessing the impact of potential contaminants in the ammonia feed (e.g., water vapor, which is present in NH3 tanks to protect the internal walls from corrosion) and investigating any by-products formation (such as NOx).

The experimental data are subsequently used to develop kinetic models that also account for mass and energy transfer phenomena. These models enable us to design pilot or industrial reactors with maximum efficiency and precision, making large-scale hydrogen production from ammonia a tangible reality.