[ ammonia ]
Monthly mean ( kg of H2 per hour )
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Scenario 1 : Full NH3 production all year
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Monthly mean ( kg of H2 per hour )
20,000 17,500 15,000 12,500 10,000 7,500 5,000 2,500
0
Scenario 2 : Seasonally adapted NH3 production
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
H2 consumption ( kg / h )
H2 production ( kg / h ) H2 consumption ( kg / h ) H2 production ( kg / h )
Fig . 5 . Two operational scenarios for a solar ammonia production plant
system with intraday capacity , reducing the reliance on large seasonal storage .
Considering these two scenarios , the significance of operational control strategies for inlet mass flow , and solar hydrogen production infrastructure and storage sizing as optimization parameters for solar ammonia techno-economic optimization becomes evident .
This can be summarized as follows :
1 . Dynamic control of HB operation : Adjusting the mass flow rate in the HB reactor based on solar resource availability can enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs while maintaining 24 / 7 operation at a reduced mass flow compared to the nominal rate .
2 . Simulation-based optimization : Leveraging advanced software tools , mathematical methods , and real-time data can help design a cost-effective system that is resilient to external variabilities .
Conclusion
The transition to green ammonia production systems , particularly those harnessing solar energy , is an urgent need that poses both challenges and opportunities . With the right strategies , innovations , and collaborative efforts , it is possible to design efficient and sustainable systems that not only reduce carbon emissions but also pave the way for a greener future .
References
1
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2
Fertilizers Europe . ( 2022 ). Fertilizer industry facts and figures 2022 .
3
Advances in Agronomy 87 ( 2005 ): 85 – 156 .
4
IFA & IPNI . ( 2017 ). Assessment of fertilizer use by crop at the global level .
5
Agriculture , Ecosystems & Environment 325 ( 2022 ): 107747 .
6
DECHEMA . ( 2022 ). Perspective Europe 2030 : Technology options for CO 2
-emission reduction of hydrogen feedstock in ammonia production .
7
Energy Environ Sci 13 ( 2020 ): 331 – 44 .
8
Joule 4 ( 2020 ): 142 – 58 .
9
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46.26 ( 2021 ): 13709 – 28 .
10
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 47.64 ( 2022 ): 27303 – 25 .
11 iScience 25.8 ( 2022 ): 104724 .
12
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 43.36 ( 2018 ): 17295 – 308 .
About the authors
Felipe Gallardo , CEO of Southern Lights , holds degrees from Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Chile . He is also currently a PhD candidate at KTH Royal Institute of Technology . Anton Frisk , CPO of Southern Lights , holds an MSc in nanoscience material science from Lund University .
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 12 | October 2023 29