SAM Gas Projects (P) Ltd also manufacture and export ammonia cracking units globally. Ammonia cracker gas unit produces mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen which is widely used in heat treatment furnaces. Ammonia gas from cylinders is passed through a bed of nickel catalyst at 850 degree celsius temperatures and cracking takes place into its basic constituents i.e. 75% hydrogen (H2) & 25% nitrogen (n2) used for different purposes. In fact, ammonia crackers are very simple units. They are widely used in industries for small generation of hydrogen gas. It is assumed that Ammonia cracking units are electrically heated units which consume around 1.4kw power per cubic meter of hydrogen.

Process Description
This method involves cracking of ammonia gas with ammonia cracker units at small as well as broad level. The process starts when, raw ammonia gas stored in a cylinder passes through a nickel catalyst at a high temperature. In this way, ammonia gas cracks at approximately 850 deg. C to 900 deg. C on a nickel catalyst.

2 NH₃ N₂ + 3 H₂

As a result, ammonia dissociates into nitrogen and hydrogen. Sometimes, PSA molecular sieves are also used for ammonia cracking to ensure the production of pure hydrogen. If it is applied, the purity of the produced hydrogen reaches up to 99.999%.

It is found that approximately 100 ppm of uncracked ammonia is present even in the cracked gas, with a dew point of -(30) degrees. But, gas purification units are installed to obtain a dew point of -(70) degrees enabling to remove uncracked ammonia gas. It is interesting to know that the cost involved for the generated hydrogen from these plants is very nominal. Due to this, many industries prefer ammonia cracking units for hydrogen and nitrogen as well.

Production of Hydrogen & Nitrogen from Ammonia
Here is the flow of production of hydrogen and nitrogen from ammonia. Generally, this method is followed by small scale industries.



Application of Ammonia:

Gas Purification systems Brazing Heat Treatment Edible Oil Industry Chemical & Petrochemical Industry Brazing

Sintering Deoxidization Nitrization Hydrogenation of organic compounds Galvanization Production of Forming Gas