Electrified Single Stage Ammonia Cracking to Compressed Hydrogen

SINGLE will enable ammonia as an energy carrier in the hydrogen value chain through demonstration of a proton ceramic electrochemical reactor (PCER) that integrates the ammonia dehydrogenation (ADH) reaction, hydrogen separation, heat management and compression in a single stage. The realization of 4 process steps in a single reactor allows the technology to achieve unprecedented energy efficiencies with a project target to demonstrate > 90% (HHV) at system level. The PCER-ADH technology enables to directly deliver purified, pressurized H2 (20 bar). SINGLE will demonstrate the technology at a 10 kg H2 /day scale that will provide a pathway for future scale-up systems ranging from small (fuelling stations) to large centralized (at harbour) deployments. A key technology component is the electrochemical cell, that will be engineered to act as a durable PGM-free ADH catalyst at 500 °C and a voltage-driven membrane separator. The achievements in SINGLE will be an important proof of technological feasibility advancing the technology from TRL3 to TRL5. To strengthen the implementation of NH3 as a H2 carrier, SINGLE will actively disseminate and communicate the results to influence stakeholders in the value chain, including standardization entities within the hydrogen sector. The consortium counts on partners from the industry, institute and academia sector with high world-wide excellence in the respective fields of catalysis, electrochemical membrane reactors, life-cycle assessment, process engineering, control systems and hydrogen fuelling stations.