Posted on 06/05/2007 12:48:29 PM PDT by Red Badger
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. (HEC) demonstrated its proprietary ammonia/hydrogen-fueled Oxx Power engine (earlier post) just prior to the annual shareholders’ meeting in Algona, Iowa on 30 May.
The test engine—one of the company’s 4.9-liter, 6-cylinder units—was designed to use HEC’s proprietary Oxx Boxx engine controller and a dual-fuel injection system. Although the engine is capable of running exclusively on hydrogen, the test was conducted using 95% ammonia and 5% hydrogen used as a combustion catalyst.
The increased density of hydrogen associated with the ammonia fuel provides the engine with significantly more power than hydrogen alone. The small amount of hydrogen needed can be generated onboard the engine, thus eliminating the need for a second fuel. Because ammonia contains no carbon, emissions byproducts include only slightly increased amounts of water vapor and trace amounts of NOx.
We have been awaiting the day when we could add ammonia to the world’s list of potential fuels and today is the day. The performance of the engine is very impressive. This demonstration clearly shows that anhydrous ammonia can be used as a fuel. —Ted Hollinger, HEC President
HEC has filed 5 patents on its ammonia engines. The company will continue endurance testing, then will install an ammonia/hydrogen-fueled engine in the Oxx Power hydrogen-fueled genset that is currently powering the company’ dyno room.
Ammonia (NH3) is the second-most prevalent chemical in the world, and is widely used as the primary input for the majority of worldwide nitrogen fertilizer production.
Worldwide ammonia production is largely based on modifications of the Haber-Bosch process in which NH3 is synthesized from a 3:1 volume mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst.
Nitrogen used is obtained from the air, while the hydrogen is obtained from the steam reforming of natural gas or other light hydrocarbons, or by the partial oxidation of heavy fuel oil or coal. According to a June 2004 review of greenhouse gas emissions in fertilizer production prepared for the IEA Bioenergy Task Force, about 85% of world ammonia capacity is based on natural gas.
The synthesis of ammonia is a very energy demanding process, with the current fertilizer manufacturers typically consuming around 25-35 GJ/tonne ammonia through the steam reforming process. Thus, due to consumption of natural gas or other hydrocarbons both for the hydrocarbon feedstock and to meet energy requirements of the process, CO2 emissions are the major component of GHG budgets for ammonia manufacture.
The IEA report cites a number of studies that identify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia production as ranging from 1,150 grams to 2,163 grams of CO2-equivalent emissions per kilogram of ammonia produced.
For the US, the Department of Energy has estimated average specific energy in ammonia manufacture of 14.8MJ/lb, or 32.6 GJ/tonne, and CO2-equivalent emissions of about 2,440 pounds/ton of ammonia (or 1,220 grams/kg).
Smelly fuel ping!......
Heeeeeelllllooooooo chemical burns!
Booyah!
Old technology... there was some science show hosted by Leonard Nimoy (Spock) in the 70’s or 80’s, A&E used to run it in the afternoon... there was a vehicle that ran on ammonia fuel on the show...
No one seems to be able to invent anything new, just slightly rehash old ideas...
Not to mention a horrible death from lack of oxygen........
Sweet! The exhaust apparently smells like a fart from someone with the stomach flu.
Anhydrous ammonia is NOT for the faint of heart. A good whiff of just a fume or two will get your attention Right Now. God forbid you have a fuel tank/system rupture.
Well, it would cure people of falling asleep at the whell........
“Anhydrous ammonia”
I have had the “privilege” of being around that stuff. Not a good idea.
This one is a waste of time to even research.
There is no way there will ever be a car powered by hydrogen and ammonia. Way too explosive and poisonous.
Ammonia is by far the best refrigerant, was used in the past. But was abandoned because of toxicity. Handling it is a major hazard.
Can you imagine an auto accident involving hydrogen and ammonia?
Never happen.
“The synthesis of ammonia is a very energy demanding process, with the current fertilizer manufacturers typically consuming around 25-35 GJ/tonne ammonia through the steam reforming process. Thus, due to consumption of natural gas or other hydrocarbons both for the hydrocarbon feedstock and to meet energy requirements of the process, CO2 emissions are the major component of GHG budgets for ammonia manufacture.”
I’m having trouble understanding the benefits of going to ammonia - uses a ton of energy and produces lots of CO2!!??
My 1993 Fleetwood travel trailer uses an Ammonia refrigerator....
I’m not sure, either. There must be some reason for this research..........
Open the door, step back and take a small breath before you charge in.
I walked into a cabin once that had a leaking ammonia refrigerator. Almost had to be dragged out. Whew!!
Ammonia is still used in some mainly commercial applications. Railroads used to use it a lot. Technicinas demanded and got top dollar to work on the stuff.
Trivia.. Propane is an exact drop-in replacement refrigerant for R-12. ( the ‘freon’ that was used in refrigerators and auto AC’s until recently, now banned) As far as refrigerating properties.
But it isn’t used for obvious reasons.
“There must be some reason for this research..........”
You can get grant money for anything if you mention global warming or climate change in the proposal.
No one seems to be able to invent anything new, just slightly rehash old ideas...
There was something similar posted here a good while back. The conclusion is that there is no cost savings to the fuel, it actually cost more than current gas.
The IEA report cites a number of studies that identify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia production as ranging from 1,150 grams to 2,163 grams of CO2-equivalent emissions per kilogram of ammonia produced.
OK. So we’re putting in more energy than we’re getting back out, and generating more greenhouse gasses (as if it mattered) in net by burning the “alternative fuel + H2” mixture vice a regular methane/gasoline/diesel fuel?
And, oh by the way, we lose the fertilizer by burning the NH3 rather than using it to feed people.
Am I miss-reading something?
If you get behind it, would the exhaust help clean your windshield?
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