A method for converting excess liquid oxygen into liquid nitrogen, including introducing a gaseous nitrogen stream into a main heat exchanger, therein exchanging heat with a vaporized oxygen stream, a vapor phase nitrogen steam, and a waste liquid nitrogen stream; thereby producing a cold gaseous nitrogen stream, an oxygen vent stream, a nitrogen vent steam, and a gaseous nitrogen waste stream, introducing the cold gaseous nitrogen stream into a secondary heat exchanger, therein exchanging heat with a liquid oxygen stream; thereby producing the vaporized oxygen stream and a cold liquid nitrogen stream, introducing the cold liquid nitrogen stream into a nitrogen pressure reduction valve thereby producing a two-phase nitrogen stream, introducing the two-phase nitrogen stream into a nitrogen flash vessel thereby producing a liquid phase nitrogen stream and the vapor phase nitrogen stream, wherein the method is performed in the absence of refrigerant turbo-expanders, refrigerant expansion turbines, or refrigerant compressors.

An apparatus for converting excess liquid oxygen into liquid nitrogen, including a main heat exchanger to exchange heat between a gaseous nitrogen stream, a vaporized oxygen stream, a vapor phase nitrogen steam, and a waste liquid nitrogen stream; thereby producing a cold gaseous nitrogen stream, an oxygen vent stream, a nitrogen vent steam, and a gaseous nitrogen waste stream, a secondary heat exchanger to exchange heat between a liquid oxygen stream and the cold gaseous nitrogen stream; thereby producing the vaporized oxygen stream and a cold liquid nitrogen stream, a nitrogen pressure reduction valve to reduce the pressure of the cold liquid nitrogen stream; thereby producing a two-phase nitrogen stream, a nitrogen flash vessel to receive the two-phase nitrogen stream, and to generate a liquid phase nitrogen stream and a vapor phase nitrogen stream, wherein the apparatus does not include any refrigerant turbo-expanders, refrigerant expansion turbines, or refrigerant compressors.

A method for nitrous decomposition can include: expanding liquid nitrous into gaseous nitrous in a decomposition chamber; injecting heated nitrogen gas into the decomposition chamber so as to mix with the gaseous nitrous, wherein the heated nitrogen gas is at a nitrous decomposition temperature; heating the gaseous nitrous with the heated nitrogen gas to the nitrous decomposition temperature; and decomposing the gaseous nitrous into nitrogen and oxygen. The method can include: heating the nitrogen to at least the nitrous decomposition temperature; heating the liquid nitrous prior to expansion into the decomposition chamber; and performing the decomposition without a catalyst or heating element in the decomposition chamber. A swirling device can be positioned at an inlet to the decomposition chamber. A swirling nozzle can be positioned at an inlet to the decomposition chamber.

A method for nitrous decomposition can include: expanding liquid nitrous into gaseous nitrous in a decomposition chamber; injecting heated nitrogen gas into the decomposition chamber so as to mix with the gaseous nitrous, wherein the heated nitrogen gas is at a nitrous decomposition temperature; heating the gaseous nitrous with the heated nitrogen gas to the nitrous decomposition temperature; and decomposing the gaseous nitrous into nitrogen and oxygen. The method can include: heating the nitrogen to at least the nitrous decomposition temperature; heating the liquid nitrous prior to expansion into the decomposition chamber; and performing the decomposition without a catalyst or heating element in the decomposition chamber. A swirling device can be positioned at an inlet to the decomposition chamber. A swirling nozzle can be positioned at an inlet to the decomposition chamber.

An apparatus and a method for producing carbon, oxygen and optionally nitrogen from treated flue gases are provided. The apparatus provides a thermo-dielectric-electric field that splits molecules of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into carbon and oxygen and nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen. The carbon is recovered in a variety of solid forms, and oxygen and nitrogen are recovered as gases.

An apparatus and a method for producing carbon, oxygen and optionally nitrogen from treated flue gases are provided. The apparatus provides a thermo-dielectric-electric field that splits molecules of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into carbon and oxygen and nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen. The carbon is recovered in a variety of solid forms, and oxygen and nitrogen are recovered as gases.

A method for ammonia decomposition to produce hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of introducing an ammonia stream to a reactor, wherein the ammonia stream comprises ammonia, wherein the reactor comprises a cobalt-based catalyst, the cobalt-based catalyst comprising 15 wt % and 70 wt % of cobalt, 5 wt % and 45 wt % of cerium, and 0.4 wt % and 0.5 wt % barium, wherein a remainder of weight of the cobalt-based catalyst is oxygen; contacting the ammonia in the ammonia stream with the cobalt-based catalyst, wherein the cobalt-based catalyst is operable to catalyze an ammonia decomposition reaction; catalyzing the ammonia decomposition reaction to cause the ammonia decomposition in the presence of the cobalt-based catalyst to produce hydrogen; and withdrawing a product stream from the reactor, the product stream comprising hydrogen.

The present invention is directed at the conversion of ammonium nitrate and related compounds upon reaction with methane into compounds such as ethyl acetate, ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen. The reaction may proceed within a fluid-solid type reactor. The reaction may be facilitated in the presence of inert or catalytic solids.

The present invention is directed at the conversion of ammonium nitrate and related compounds upon reaction with methane into compounds such as ethyl acetate, ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen. The reaction may proceed within a fluid-solid type reactor. The reaction may be facilitated in the presence of inert or catalytic solids.

The present disclosure is directed to renewable pathways to nitrogen production and ammonia (NH.sub.3) synthesis that utilize renewable heat as process heat instead of fossil fuels and operates at low to medium pressures (from 0.2-3 MPa). The renewable pathways result in both a decrease or elimination of greenhouse gas emissions as well as avoid the cost, complexity and safety issues inherent in high-pressure processes. Renewable thermochemical looping technology is used that produces nitrogen from air for the subsequent production of ammonia via an advanced two-stage process.