Abstract
A systems study was made to assess the economic prospects for using purchased industrial ammonia as a hydrogen distribution and storage medium for users requiring 0.93–9.34 million std m 3 y −1 of hydrogen (33–330 million std ft 3 y −1). Projected costs to the end user were determined for: the product of dissociated ammonia (N 2+H 2)/NH 3, and the 99.999% pure H 2 obtained by separation of the nitrogen (H 2/NH 3); hydrogen produced by the steam reforming of natural gas (H 2/NG); electrolytic hydrogen (EH 2); purchased (merchant) liquid hydrogen (LH 2); OTEC (ocean thermal energy conversion) LH 2; as well as OTEC NH 3 and the H 2 products derived from it. Future costs are projected as $ GJ −1 and as $ MBTU −1 (1980$ in 1990) using two sets of forecast energy prices. The results show that merchant LH 2 was substantially higher in cost than the other options, and that until EH 2 is available at the projected costs, H 2/NH 3 would be the preferred option for the smallest plant sizes where it is projected to be competitive with H 2/NG of comparable purity. Thus, via state-of-the-art technology, industrial NH 3 can now serve as a viable H 2 carrier for some small-scale users. The availability of OTEC NH 3 at the projected costs would substantially increase the competitive position of H 2/NH 3. Consideration of safety and environmental factors are among the important items listed in recommendations for future work.
Published Version
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