University-led initiative harnesses nuclear energy for ammonia production in the United States
In the upcoming 24th edition of a quarterly publication, a significant project is set to be featured. This project, a collaborative effort between the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the USA, aims to develop two reference designs for carbon-free ammonia production using small modular reactors (SMRs).
The designs under consideration are innovative, with one design utilizing fresh water for hydrogen production, while the other employs seawater or brackish water. The system in question makes use of the NuScale Power Module, a versatile component with a thermal power rating of approximately 250 MWt and a gross electrical output of 77 MWe.
The preliminary case study investigates three thermally integrated configurations for ammonia production using a nuclear-powered system. These cases, numbered 1, 2, and 3, each present a unique approach to harnessing the power of SMRs for ammonia production.
In Case 1, the hydrogen product stream and SMR bypass steam are utilized to heat the HTSE feedwater until it becomes saturated vapor at 5 bar. Case 2, on the other hand, preheats the HTSE feedwater using ammonia products from the H-B reactor, hydrogen product stream, and an electric heater.
However, the focus shifts in Case 3, which boasts the highest production rate of ammonia. This is achieved by harnessing waste heat generated in the H-B unit to produce steam for the HTSE. Moreover, Case 3 preheats the HTSE feedwater using heat generated in the multi-stage compressors and additional heating from the ammonia product stream leaving the H-B reactor.
As the project progresses, the focus will be shifted towards performing system-level optimization and techno-economic analysis of the production cost of ammonia. The incorporation of freeze desalination and ice energy storage subsystems when using seawater or brackish water as the hydrogen source is also expected to be a key component of the project's development.
This groundbreaking project promises to pave the way for a more sustainable and carbon-free method of ammonia production, a crucial step towards a greener future.
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