Method of storing and delivering ammonia and the use of electromagnetic radiation for desorption of ammonia from a chemical complex

• US 8,578,702 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amminex Emissions Technology A/S (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Amminex Emissions Technology A/S (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Johannessen, Tue, Christensen, Claus Hviid, Srensen, Rasmus Zink, Quaade, Ulrich, Nrskov, Jens Kehlet, Schmidt, Henning
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHIAS, JONATHAN R
• Application Number:
  US12/279,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 602/86, 602/95, 603/01
• US Class Current: 60/286
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/2062 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/80 Employing electric, magnetic, electromagnetic or wave energy, or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/802 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/806 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/90 Injecting reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9431 Processes characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/046 containing halogens, e.g. halides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3433 of sorbents or filter aids other than those covered by B01J20/3408 - B01J20/3425
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3441 Regeneration or reactivation by electric current, ultrasound or irradiation, e.g. electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, UV, light, microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/006 making use of solid ammonia storage materials, e.g. complex ammine salts
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/06 the substance being in the gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/10 the substance being heated, e.g. by heating tank or supply line of the added substance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1406 Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/10 : of nitrous oxide (N2O)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of storing and delivering ammonia and the use of electromagnetic radiation for desorption of ammonia from a chemical complex. Solid metal ammine complexes are applied for safe and high-density storage of ammonia to be released for use as reducing agent in selective catalytic reduction of NO_x in exhaust gases. The compositional formula of the metal ammine complexes is M(NH₃)_nX_z, where M²⁺ represents one or more metal ions capable of binding ammonia, X represents one or more anions, n is the coordination number (from 2 to 12), and z the valency of the metal ion (and thus the total number of compensating anion charges). Ammonia is released non-thermally by photon-activation using electromagnetic irradiation of the complex bond between ammonia coordinated to the metal ion.

Claims

1. A method of storing and delivering ammonia, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a container;

(b) placing an ammonia containing material in said container, said ammonia containing material being a chemical complex in the form of an ionic salt of the general formula;

M_a(NH₃)_nX_z, wherein M is one or more cations selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al and transition metals or combinations thereof, X is one or more anions selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, thiocyanate, sulphate, molybdate and phosphate ions, a is the number of cations per salt molecule, z is the number of anions per salt molecule, and n is the coordination number of 2 to 12;

(c) irradiating said ammonia containing material with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength or wavelengths in the infrared region between 1 and 15 micrometers for photon-activated release of ammonia to the gas phase, wherein the wavelength spectrum of said radiation is chosen to match one or several absorption peaks of said ammonia containing material; and

wherein the released ammonia is used in selective catalytic reduction of NOx in exhaust gases from combustion processes.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ammonia containing material is saturated with ammonia.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ionic salt is MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂ or mixtures thereof.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ammonia containing material is compacted to a dense block, rod, cylinder ring or a cube.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is emitted from one end of an elongated container.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is emitted from a cylindrical source inside the container surrounded by ammonia storage material.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is emitted from several surfaces of the container.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the release of ammonia is controlled by valves.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the released ammonia is used in NOx emission reduction from stationary or mobile combustion engines fuelled by fossil fuels.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fossil fuel is selected from diesel, petrol, and natural gas.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the released ammonia is used in NOx emission reduction from stationary or mobile combustion engines fuelled by synthetic fuels.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the synthetic fuel is selected from methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, methane, or ethane.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the released ammonia is used in NOx emission reduction from stationary or mobile power plants fuelled by fossil fuels.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fossil fuel is selected from coal or natural gas oil.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the released ammonia is used in NOx emission reduction from stationary or mobile power plants fuelled by synthetic fuels.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the synthetic fuel is selected from methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, methane or ethane.