The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for synthesizing ammonia and an apparatus for the method. The method for synthesizing ammonia according to the present invention comprises: a step of melting a metal containing at least an alkali metal; and a step of supplying a hydrogen gas and a nitrogen gas to the molten metal.

An energy harvesting apparatus may include a thermoelectric device, a heat exchanger coupled to the thermoelectric device, a thermal capacitor container, and a thermal capacitor generation device. The thermal capacitor generation device may be configured to generate a thermal capacitor fluid, to be contained in the thermal capacitor container. An electrical energy storage device may be electrically connected to the thermoelectric device, to store electricity generated by the thermoelectric device.

An energy harvesting apparatus may include a thermoelectric device, a heat exchanger coupled to the thermoelectric device, a thermal capacitor container, and a thermal capacitor generation device. The thermal capacitor generation device may be configured to generate a thermal capacitor fluid, to be contained in the thermal capacitor container. An electrical energy storage device may be electrically connected to the thermoelectric device, to store electricity generated by the thermoelectric device.

Chemical production systems which allow for an optimized carbon footprint are presented. Plasma-based reforming systems may provide a viable alternative to standard chemical production techniques, such systems can reduce the carbon footprint of the chemicals produced. Example systems include the production of synthesis gas (syngas), hydrogen, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, ammonia, and urea. Reducing the carbon footprint of chemicals such as these is of vital importance to reducing the environmental impact of industries such as transportation and agriculture. In many of the embodiments a secondary product is produced, the sale of this secondary product may make the primary low-carbon footprint chemical more economical. In many cases the secondary product is carbon, methods of sequestering this carbon via reverse mining and enhanced oil and gas recovery are presented.

The invention provides a method of producing a metal oxyhydride, capable of synthesizing the metal oxyhydride under reaction conditions close to atmospheric pressure, and excellent in productivity and cost. The method of producing a metal oxyhydride of the present invention includes reacting an oxide with a metal hydride in a hydrogen atmosphere. A non-oxygen element constituting the oxide comprises only one kind of non-oxygen element. A pressure condition of the reaction is 0.1 to 0.9 MPa, and a temperature of the reaction is 500 to 1000° C.

A method of direct reduction of iron (DRI) is disclosed, the method comprising generating metallic iron by removing oxygen from iron ore using a reducing gaseous mixture with excess carbon monoxide that produces an excess CO.sub.2 by-product is provided. CO.sub.2 by-product is optionally sequestered. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

A method of direct reduction of iron (DRI) is disclosed, the method comprising generating metallic iron by removing oxygen from iron ore using a reducing gaseous mixture with excess carbon monoxide that produces an excess CO.sub.2 by-product is provided. CO.sub.2 by-product is optionally sequestered. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of plants that use a gas turbine engine to power a process air compressor are disclosed. Examples of such plants include ammonia production plants, wherein a gas turbine engine is used to power a process air compressor and wherein exhaust gas from the gas turbine engine is provided as combustion gas to a reformer furnace. The increase in efficiency is provided using a booster compressor to enhance the performance of the gas turbine engine. According to some embodiments, the booster compressor may also be used to reduce the power consumption of the process air compressor. According to some embodiments, a side stream from the booster compressor may be provided to the furnace to supplement the combustion gas provided by the gas turbine engine exhaust gas. The disclosed methods and systems increase the efficiency of the plant while maintaining the duty balance between the furnace and the process air compressor-driven process.

Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of plants that use a gas turbine engine to power a process air compressor are disclosed. Examples of such plants include ammonia production plants, wherein a gas turbine engine is used to power a process air compressor and wherein exhaust gas from the gas turbine engine is provided as combustion gas to a reformer furnace. The increase in efficiency is provided using a booster compressor to enhance the performance of the gas turbine engine. According to some embodiments, the booster compressor may also be used to reduce the power consumption of the process air compressor. According to some embodiments, a side stream from the booster compressor may be provided to the furnace to supplement the combustion gas provided by the gas turbine engine exhaust gas. The disclosed methods and systems increase the efficiency of the plant while maintaining the duty balance between the furnace and the process air compressor-driven process.

Disclosed is a process whereby completed catalysts can be produced from the iron oxides, and these catalysts can be activated and employed directly after activation for ammonia synthesis from synthesis gas, comprising for example a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. A process is also disclosed to produce pre-reduced catalyst precursors, which are first reduced under controlled conditions and subsequently passivated in an oxidizing atmosphere, before they are used in ammonia synthesis as catalysts. These pre-reduced catalysts can be activated significantly more quickly and under milder conditions than the iron oxides.