18184881. AMMONIA MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND AMMONIA MANUFACTURING METHOD simplified abstract (KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA)

AMMONIA MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND AMMONIA MANUFACTURING METHOD

Organization Name

KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA

Inventor(s)

Jun Tamura of Chuo Tokyo (JP)

Ryota Kitagawa of Setagaya Tokyo (JP)

Koji Mizuguchi of Kawasaki Kanagawa (JP)

Yoshitsune Sugano of Kawasaki Kanagawa (JP)

Yoshiaki Nishibayashi of Bunkyo Tokyo (JP)

Kazuya Arashiba of Bunkyo Tokyo (JP)

AMMONIA MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND AMMONIA MANUFACTURING METHOD - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18184881 titled 'AMMONIA MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND AMMONIA MANUFACTURING METHOD

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes an ammonia manufacturing apparatus that includes an electrochemical reaction cell with a reduction electrode, oxidation electrode, and diaphragm. The reduction electrode consists of a reduction catalyst, porous carbon material, and organic polymer material.

• Explanation of the patent/innovation:

- The apparatus uses electrochemical reactions to produce ammonia from gaseous nitrogen and an electrolytic solution containing water or water vapor. - The reduction electrode is designed to efficiently reduce nitrogen to produce ammonia, with the porous carbon material supporting the reduction catalyst and the organic polymer material binding them together. - The porous carbon material has specific pore sizes to optimize the reduction process.

Potential applications of this technology

- Industrial-scale production of ammonia for use in fertilizers, cleaning products, and chemical synthesis. - Sustainable ammonia production for fuel cells and energy storage applications.

Problems solved by this technology

- Traditional ammonia production methods are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful, while this electrochemical approach offers a more efficient and cleaner alternative. - The reduction electrode design enhances the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia, improving overall production efficiency.

Benefits of this technology

- Reduced energy consumption and environmental impact compared to conventional ammonia production methods. - Enhanced selectivity and yield of ammonia due to the optimized reduction electrode design.

Possible prior art

There may be prior art related to electrochemical ammonia production methods or catalyst designs for nitrogen reduction processes.

Unanswered Questions

== How does the efficiency of this electrochemical ammonia production compare to traditional methods? - Answer: The efficiency of this electrochemical ammonia production method is expected to be higher due to the optimized reduction electrode design and the use of electrochemical reactions.

== What are the potential challenges or limitations of scaling up this electrochemical ammonia manufacturing apparatus? - Answer: Scaling up the apparatus may require addressing issues such as cost, durability of materials, and system complexity to ensure efficient and reliable operation on an industrial scale.

Original Abstract Submitted

An ammonia manufacturing apparatus of an embodiment includes: an electrochemical reaction cell including: a first reaction tank in which a reduction electrode is arranged and gaseous nitrogen is supplied; a second reaction tank in which an oxidation electrode is arranged and an electrolytic solution containing water or water vapor is supplied; and a diaphragm provided between the first reaction tank and the second reaction tank. In the ammonia manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment, the reduction electrode includes a reduction catalyst that reduces nitrogen to produce ammonia, a porous carbon material that supports the reduction catalyst, and an organic polymer material that binds the porous carbon material. The porous carbon material has pores with a BET average pore size of 1 nm or more and 15 nm or less.