US 11,994,061 B2
Methods for reforming ammonia
Young Suk Jo, Brooklyn, NY (US); Hyunho Kim, Brooklyn, NY (US); Gregory Robert Johnson, Annandale, NJ (US); and Matthew Jacob Montgomery, Brooklyn, NY (US)
Assigned to AMOGY INC., Brookyln, NY (US)
Filed by AMOGY INC., Brooklyn, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/889,260.
Application 17/889,260 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/029264, filed on May 13, 2022.
Application PCT/US2022/029264 is a continuation of application No. 17/401,993, filed on Aug. 13, 2021.
Application 17/401,993 is a continuation of application No. 17/366,633, filed on Jul. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/292,122, filed on Dec. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/247,054, filed on Sep. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/236,048, filed on Aug. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/215,843, filed on Jun. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/188,593, filed on May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/209,530, filed on Jun. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0403775 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F02C 3/30 (2006.01); B01J 8/00 (2006.01); B01J 8/04 (2006.01); C01B 3/04 (2006.01); F02C 7/14 (2006.01); F02C 7/22 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 3/30 (2013.01) [B01J 8/001 (2013.01); B01J 8/0496 (2013.01); C01B 3/047 (2013.01); F02C 7/14 (2013.01); F02C 7/22 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00415 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00504 (2013.01); B01J 2208/0053 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00539 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00548 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0277 (2013.01); C01B 2203/066 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0822 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of initiating an ammonia decomposition system, comprising:
a. heating at least one electrical heater to heat one or more electrically-heated reactors of one or more reactors to a first target temperature range, wherein the one or more electrically-heated reactors comprise one or more catalysts, wherein the at least one electrical heater is in thermal communication with the one or more catalysts of the one or more electrically-heated reactors,
b. providing ammonia (NH3) to the one or more electrically-heated reactors from one or more storage tanks, wherein the one or more storage tanks are in fluid communication with the one or more electrically-heated reactors;
c. decomposing the NH3 at the first target temperature range using the one or more electrically-heated reactors to produce a fuel comprising hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2);
d. heating at least one combustion heater by combusting at least part of the fuel produced in (c) to heat one or more combustion-heated reactors of the one or more reactors to a second target temperature range, wherein the one or more combustion-heated reactors comprise one or more catalysts, wherein the at least one combustion heater is in thermal communication with the one or more catalysts of the one or more combustion-heated reactors;
e. providing additional NH3 to the one or more combustion-heated reactors;
f. decomposing the additional NH3 using the one or more combustion-heated reactors to generate additional fuel comprising H2 and N2; and
g. combusting less than about 30% of the H2 in the fuel and the additional fuel in the at least one combustion heater to maintain a temperature of the one or more combustion-heated reactors within the second target temperature range.
 
19. A method of initiating an ammonia decomposition system, comprising:
a. heating at least one electrical heater to heat one or more electrically-heated reactors of one or more reactors to a first target temperature range, wherein the one or more electrically-heated reactors comprise one or more catalysts, wherein the at least one electrical heater is in thermal communication with the one or more catalysts of the one or more electrically-heated reactors,
b. providing ammonia (NH3) to the one or more electrically-heated reactors from one or more storage tanks, wherein the one or more storage tanks are in fluid communication with the one or more electrically-heated reactors;
c. decomposing the NH3 at the first target temperature range using the one or more electrically-heated reactors to produce a fuel comprising hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2);
d. heating at least one combustion heater by combusting at least part of the fuel produced in (c) to heat one or more combustion-heated reactors of the one or more reactors to a second target temperature range, wherein the one or more combustion-heated reactors comprise one or more catalysts, wherein the at least one combustion heater is in thermal communication with the one or more catalysts of the one or more combustion-heated reactors;
e. providing additional NH3 to the one or more combustion-heated reactors;
f. decomposing the additional NH3 using the one or more combustion-heated reactors to generate additional fuel comprising H2 and N2;
g. using a fuel cell to consume a first fraction of the H2 in the fuel and the additional fuel to generate electricity; and
h. in response to detecting a fault, reducing or shutting down electricity generation from the fuel cell,
wherein the fault comprises an NH3 concentration being greater than a predetermined threshold concentration, wherein the NH3 concentration is measured in at least one of (i) one or more adsorbents configured to remove a portion of ammonia that is not decomposed in the one or more reactors, or (ii) the fuel cell.