Utility and System Design For Green Ammonia

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
School of Engineering and Applied Science::Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering::Senior Design Reports (CBE)
Degree type
Discipline
Chemical Engineering
Subject
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Funder
Grant number
Copyright date
2025
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Kim, Clara
Nguyen, Anthony
Sanford, Seito
Contributor
Abstract

Ammonia is a crucial chemical compound in global food production, primarily as an essential component of fertilizers in its anhydrous form. However, there has been increasing concern over the environmental impact of ammonia production, as the conventional industrial process, which relies on methane, generates substantial carbon dioxide emissions. To mitigate ammonia’s carbon footprint, more environmentally friendly production methods are necessary. This report presents a sustainable approach to ammonia production, featuring a comprehensive design for a green ammonia production system. The proposed system includes a detailed Haber-Bosch plant design, a renewable wind and solar utility design using local weather patterns, and sustainable sourcing of nitrogen and hydrogen via air separation and water electrolysis. This process, when operating at full capacity, can produce 450 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia daily and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. Profitability analyses were performed for two scenarios—one where the process is connected to the grid and one where it is fully disconnected and uses a battery instead. Using a discount rate of 10% and a nominal ammonia selling price of $700 per metric ton, a thorough sensitivity analyses showed that the best-case scenario for grid connection, yields an internal rate of return of 11.46%, and a net present value of $71.3 million. The best-case scenario for a nongrid connection with a battery, results in an internal rate of return of 8.11%, and a net present value of -($126) million. The selling price of ammonia and discount rate can affect the IRR and NPV, but the ones reflected above were used as nominal or base case values. While a grid connected system showed more profitability, a fully off-grid system still shows promise.

Advisor
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Publication date
2025-04-15
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Recommended citation
Collection