STTR Phase I: Microwave-Enhanced Modular Ammonia Synthesis

STTR 第一阶段：微波增强模块化氨合成

• 批准号: 2335104
• 负责人: Brandon Robinson
• 金额: $ 27.5万
• 依托单位: VIADUCT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-03-15 至 2024-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2335104&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Microwave; Enhanced; Modular

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its exploration of Microwave Enhanced Ammonia Synthesis. Microwave research holds the promise of disruptive innovation and enables opportunities for substantial carbon emission reductions through reduced energy requirements, minimal direct emissions, and increased process selectivity. Applying microwave energy to chemical processes may transform how chemical reactions occur. This project targets the production of ammonia, which is the second most-produced chemical in the world. Ammonia is used as a fertilizer but also as a carbon-neutral liquid fuel; it allows power generation without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, making it crucial for sustainable energy. As a hydrogen carrier, ammonia’s role in hydrogen-powered systems is expected to increase with decarbonization efforts. Microwave-enhanced ammonia synthesis can transform the commercial landscape by meeting the increasing demand for ammonia, opening new market opportunities, and potentially increasing profitability.This STTR Phase I project will address the Haber-Bosch process, which has been the standard method to produce ammonia in bulk for over a century. However, this process functions at high pressures and temperatures and requires a constant supply of energy, which equates to higher operational costs and increased emissions of CO2. Microwaves offer instantaneous, selective, and volumetric heating via interaction with electromagnetic radiation that targets the active sites, inducing electron transfer on the surface of a heterogeneous catalyst. This results in a fundamentally different reaction mechanism than conventional thermal heating, conductive, or convective heating. The goal of the Phase-1 project will be to directly test the feasibility of a specific microwave frequency, design, model, and test the optimization of an ammonia-specific microwave-enhanced applicator cavity that implements high flow rates, electric-field uniformity, catalyst temperature uniformity with high electrical efficiency. The research will involve electromagnetic numerical analysis, laboratory catalytic activity experiments, determining frequency effects, and the continued development of microwave-sensitive catalyst and catalyst support material. The anticipated technical results include the development of a more efficient, renewably powered, cost-effective method for ammonia synthesis, contributing to the decarbonization efforts of the energy sector.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这种小型企业技术转移（STTR）I期项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于其对微波增强的氨合成的探索。微波研究具有破坏性创新的希望，并通过减少能源需求，最小的直接排放和提高过程选择性来实现大量碳排放的机会。将微波能量应用于化学过程可能会改变该项目的化学反应如何靶向氨的产生，氨是世界第二大化的化学物质。氨被用作肥料，也用作碳中性液体燃料。它允许没有二氧化碳（CO2）排放的发电，这对于可持续能源至关重要。作为氢载体，氨在氢驱动系统中的作用有望随着脱碳作用而增加。微波增强的氨合成可以通过满足对氨的需求，开放新的市场机会以及潜在地提高利润率来改变商业景观。该STTR I期项目将解决HABER-BOSCH的过程，这是一个多世纪以来生产氨的标准方法。但是，此过程在高压和温度下起作用，并且需要持续的能量供应，这足以应对更高的运营成本并增加了CO2的排放。微波通过与电子辐射的相互作用提供瞬时，选择性和体积加热，该电子辐射靶向活性位点，从而在异质催化剂表面诱导电子转移。这与常规的热加热，导电或对流加热产生了根本不同的反应机制。第1阶段项目的目的是直接测试特定微波频率，设计，模型和测试的可行性，并测试氨特异性微波增强涂抹器的优化，该量具有高流速，电场均匀性，催化剂温度均匀性，并具有高电效率。该研究将涉及电磁数值分析，实验室催化活性实验，确定频率效应以及微波敏感催化剂和催化剂支持材料的持续发展。预期的技术结果包括开发氨合成的更有效，更有能力的，具有成本效益的方法，有助于能源部门的脱碳工作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子和更广泛影响的审查审查的审查标准来通过评估来通过评估来获得的支持。