IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,492,121
Granted Patent B2
US 12,492,121 · App. 17/978,475 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Conversion of ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen using ammonia as a sweep gas

Inventors: Mohammad Abdur Rakib (Dhahran, SA); Stephen N. Paglieri (Dhahran, SA); Osamah Siddiqui (Dhahran, SA); Sai P. Katikaneni (Dhahran, SA); Kunho Lee (Dhahran, SA)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
C01B3/047B01D53/002B01D53/229B01J8/065B01J8/067C01B3/503C01B3/506B01J2208/065C01B2203/041C01B2203/046C01B2203/0465
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,492,121
App. No.
17/978,475
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for the production of hydrogen (H 2 ) from ammonia (NH 3 ) in a membrane reactor that include using ammonia as a sweep gas. Ammonia is converted to hydrogen and nitrogen (N 2 ), and the hydrogen is separated from the nitrogen and unreacted ammonia by passing the hydrogen through a hydrogen-permeable membrane while using ammonia as a sweep gas. The ammonia sweep gas can be separated from the permeated hydrogen and continuously recycled.

Claims (49)

1 . A system, comprising:

a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane;

a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor;

a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor; and

a heat source,

wherein the system is configured so that, during use of the system:

the first ammonia source supplies ammonia to the first portion of the reactor;

the heat source heats the ammonia in the first portion of the reactor so that the ammonia in the first portion of the reactor is converted to hydrogen and nitrogen;

the hydrogen passes through the hydrogen-permeable membrane and enters the second portion of the reactor; and

the second ammonia source supplies ammonia to the second portion of the reactor in the form of a gas stream that removes the hydrogen from the second portion of the reactor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first cylinder comprising the hydrogen-permeable membrane; and

a second cylinder that surrounds the first cylinder.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein:

an interior space of the first cylinder defines the first portion of the reactor; and

an annular space formed between an exterior surface of the first cylinder and an interior surface of the second cylinder defines the second portion of the reactor.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein:

an interior space of the first cylinder defines the second portion of the reactor; and

an annular space formed between an exterior surface of the first cylinder and an interior surface of the second cylinder defines the first portion of the reactor.

6 . The system of claim 3 , comprising a plurality of first and second cylinders.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst disposed in the first portion of the reactor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-permeable membrane comprises a planar hydrogen-permeable membrane.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooler, a compressor, and a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a separator, capable of separating ammonia and hydrogen, in fluid communication with an outlet of the condenser,

wherein the ammonia from the separator forms a third ammonia source.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein

the third ammonia source comprises a contaminant; and

the contaminant is removed from the third ammonia source.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the third ammonia source is configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the third ammonia source supplies ammonia to the second portion of the reactor in the form of a gas stream that removes the hydrogen from the second portion of the reactor.

14 . A system, comprising:

a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane;

a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor;

a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor;

a first cylinder comprising the hydrogen-permeable membrane; and

a second cylinder that surrounds the first cylinder.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

16 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a cooler, a compressor, and a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a separator, capable of separating ammonia and hydrogen, in fluid communication with an outlet of the condenser,

wherein the ammonia from the separator forms a third ammonia source.

18 . A system, comprising:

a reactor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions separated by a hydrogen-permeable membrane;

a first ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the first portion of the reactor;

a second ammonia source configured to be in fluid communication with the second portion of reactor;

a cooler;

a compressor; and

a condenser in fluid communication with an outlet of the second portion of the reactor.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first ammonia source is the same as the second ammonia source.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2022
From: RAKIB, MOHAMMAD ABDUR; PAGLIERI, STEPHEN N.; SIDDIQUI, OSAMAH; KATIKANENI, SAI P.; LEE, KUNHO
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 061862/0797 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240140788A1 · May 2, 2024
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