(677b) Coupling Integral Molten Salt Reactor Technology into Hybrid Nuclear: Direct Ammonia Production via H2 High Temperature Steam Electrolysis
AIChE Annual Meeting
2017
2017 Annual Meeting
Topical Conference: NH3 Energy+ - Enabling Optimized, Sustainable Energy and Agriculture
NH3 Fuel Synthesis I
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - 8:18am to 8:36am
John
Kutsch
Vice
President Development
Terrestrial
Energy USA
312-303-5019
Cell Text
Terrestrial
Energy USA Ltd
150 East 58th Street, Suite 2413
New York,
NY, 10155
USA
Abstract
for NH3 Conference Events:
NH3
Energy+ - Enabling Optimized, Sustainable
Energy and Agriculture(TD)
Section
TD000 NH3 Synthesis - Oral Session
Coupling
Integral Molten Salt Reactor Technology into Hybrid Nuclear :
Direct
Ammonia Production via H2 High Temperature Steam Electrolysis
Demands
for safe secure supplies of potable water across the planet are
increasing faster than can be provided by natural, ever depleting
sources of fresh water. At the same time, world demand for electric
power is also accelerating.
Making
H2 from Natural Gas is not an optimal or very efficient process that
is also
un-economic
at higher and erratic gas costs.
An
Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR®) is uniquely suited to
provide the very high temperatures (600C+ working temps. ) that are
needed to both generate significant amounts of High Temperature Steam
Electrolysis (HTSE) derived Hydrogen & Oxygen ( a feed for
industrial oxygen uses ) and Electricity needed for advanced
economies and industry.
Studies
conducted by Terrestrial Energy USA and Idaho Nation Laboratory (INL)
have shown that this new generation of IMSR would be the most
effective system of those reviewed to ensure a growing H2 supply and
energy to the grid. These H2 and power demands could both be served
by a carbon free source of inherently safe, clean, non-proliferating
energy.
Analysis
by INL and Terrestrial USA have shown that IMSR is uniquely suited to
be coupled to a pure H2 production from High Temperature Steam
Electrolysis. The ability to immediately dispatch heat energy to
where it is needed is a specific trait of the IMSR.
IMSR,
with an unequaled, walk away safe source of compact, efficient, very
high temperature process heat, coupled with the latest industrial
systems, Terrestrial Energy USA, working with Idaho National Labs,
can provide an expanded NH3 Industry with the H2, O2 and power needed
to make an industrial economy flourish.
Ammonia
production from Terrestrial Energy USA IMSR400 Molten Salt Reactor:
During 2016, 30 plants produced
9.4+ million tonnes of ammonia (NH3), principally based on the
Haber-Bosch reaction processes. The principal feedstock to these
plants is natural gas, which is reformed with steam to produce a
target stoichiometric gas mixture of CO2, N2, and H2. Sorbents are
used to remove CO2 and other contaminants prior to synthesizing NH3.
Ammonia is used to produce a wide variety of fertilizers, nitric
acid, fuels, and amine-based chemicals.
There are three outstanding
opportunities for IMSR to benefit the large and growing NH3 Ammonia
industry. First, hydrogen that is produced by high temperature steam
electrolysis can replace the steam methane reformer. This would
eliminate CO2 emissions altogether. Profitable Economic
considerations are calculated on the cost of steam methane reforming
and the value of GHG emissions avoidance and the market value of
Oxygen production for Industrial uses.
The second opportunity for IMSR®
is to modify an interface with either a conventional or a revised
steam methane reforming plant, a similar system to a manner used for
methanol production.
All the vast benefits of a new
NH3 Economy can be expedited into existence with the Hybrid coupling
of IMSR400 Process Heat and Large Scale Ammonia production.