Tube-wall catalytic membrane reactor for hydrogen production by low-temperature ammonia decomposition

Ammonia has attracted great interest as a chemical hydrogen carrier. However, ammonia decomposition is limited kinetically rather than thermodynamically below 400 degrees C. We developed a tube-wall catalytic membrane reactor that could decompose ammonia with high conversion even at temperatures below 400 degrees C. The reactor had excellent heat transfer characteristics, and thus nearly 100% conversion for an NH3 feed of 10 mL/min at 375 degrees C was achieved with a 2-mu m-thick palladium composite membrane, and hydrogen removal from the decomposition side resulted in a large kinetic acceleration. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Ammonia decomposition is limited kinetically below 400 degrees C, but a tube-wall catalytic membrane reactor developed by the research team achieved nearly 100% conversion at 375 degrees C using a palladium composite membrane. The hydrogen removal from the decomposition side resulted in a large kinetic acceleration.