The state graduate program “Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivative Ammonia” is funded by the state of Lower Saxony and the VolkswagenStiftung. The graduate program aims to shed light on economic, ecological, systemic, safety-relevant, and social issues along the hydrogen derivative ammonia utilization chain as an energy storage medium. Explicit consideration will be given to the synthesis and direct utilization of ammonia and hydrogen recovery. The advantages and disadvantages compared to other hydrogen derivatives will be analyzed accordingly. As one of the six research platforms in the research network “Transformation of the Energy System of Lower Saxony (TEN.efzn)”, energy research in the state of Lower Saxony is significantly promoted to develop sustainable solutions for the technological and social challenges of the energy transition and to establish the state of Lower Saxony as a sustainable location in the fields of energy, education and innovation.

Subproject I.1: Dynamics and Operation of Cooled Ammonia Synthesis Reactors

The research in this subproject of the state graduate program “Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivative Ammonia” focuses on ammonia synthesis, considering its current challenges as an energy source. The established Haber-Bosch process is not flexible enough to optimally process the dynamic load changes resulting from the fluctuating energy supply of renewable energies. Preliminary work has shown that this problem can be addressed using cooled reactors. Therefore, novel polytropic (cooled) reactor designs are required that offer clear advantages for load-flexible and dynamic operation. A systematic analysis of these reactors ' static and dynamic behavior is carried out with the help of detailed, multiscale reactor models that can simulate both adiabatic and polytropic reactors. The graduate program also offers excellent opportunities for collaborative research, especially with regard to suitable catalysts and integrated reactor design for combustion as a direct utilization path.