A novel process for synthesis gas generation comprises treating a hydrocarbon feed in a primary reformer (PR), compressing at least part of the flue gas from the primary reformer in a compressor (C1), and feeding the compressed flue gas to a secondary reformer (SR) together with the primary reformer effluent. In the process, enriched air (EA) is added either to the primary reformer, to the secondary reformer or both. The process is especially suited for co-production of ammonia and methanol or for production of either ammonia or methanol. The total CO.sub.2 emission is lowered considerably by using the process of the invention.

Reactor/separator elements for performing the generation and/or separation of hydrogen gas with improved efficiency have a central core and a separation layer that, in combination, define at least one spiral gas flow channel extending from one end of the central core to the opposite end of the central core. In use, the reactor/separator element may be placed in a housing which constrains gas on the outside of the reactor/separator element into the spiral channel defined by the outside of the separation layer.

A method for the control of pressure in a loop for the preparation of ammonia or methanol by using an anti-surge control valve of a compressor and/or a compressor flow regulation valve for the recirculation of loop recirculation gas at variating flow supply of fresh synthesis gas.

A catalytic bed for a chemical reactor, said catalytic bed having an annular-cylindrical geometry and comprising at least one collector made with a gas-permeable cylindrical wall, containing at least a first catalyst and a second catalyst, wherein the second catalyst has a finer particle size than the first catalyst, and wherein the first catalyst forms a layer of catalyst adjacent to and in contact with said collector.

This invention relates to system for the production of ammonia synthesis gas, comprising: one or more electrically driven air separation unit(s) configured to separate nitrogen from air; and one or more solid oxide electrolysis cell(s) configured to produce hydrogen by solid oxide electrolysis of steam in thermoneutral or endothermal mode. By configuring the electrically driven air separation unit(s) and the solid oxide electrolysis cell(s) so that heat emanating from the one or more electrically driven air separation unit(s) is transferred to the one or more solid oxide electrolysis cell(s), nitrogen production may be integrated while enabling high current density, the use of large SOEC stacks and improved reactant conversion. In addition, ammonia production plants comprising the above system as well as related methods are described.

An ammonia synthesis catalyst having high activity is obtained by having a two-dimensional electride compound having a lamellar crystal structure such as Ca.sub.2N support a transition metal. However, since the two-dimensional electride compound is unstable, the stability of the catalyst is low. In addition, in cases where a two-dimensional electride compound is used as a catalyst support, it is difficult to shape the catalyst depending on reactions since the two-dimensional electride compound has poor processability. A composite which includes a transition metal, a support and a metal amide compound, wherein the support is a metal oxide or a carbonaceous support; and the metal amide compound is a metal amide compound represented by general formula (1). M(NH.sub.2).sub.x . . . (1) (In general formula (1), M represents at least one metal atom selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Eu; and x represents the valence of M.)

A method of ammonia synthesis is described that includes contacting a nitrogen gas-containing plasma with an aqueous solution, thereby forming ammonia from the nitrogen gas and water. The nitrogen gas-containing plasma is present in an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a container including an acidic liquid electrolyte. The electrochemical cell also includes a source of nitrogen gas, a metal electrode at least partially immersed in the electrolyte, a metal tube electrode spaced apart from a surface of the electrolyte by a predetermined spacing. The electrochemical cell is configured to provide a plasma spanning the predetermined space from the metal tube electrode to contact the surface of the electrolyte when power is applied to the metal tube electrode.

The present invention provides a method for producing ammonia by means of energy irradiation, the method comprises contacting a nanostructure catalyst with at least one nitrogen-containing source and at least one hydrogen-containing source, and irradiating the nanostructure catalyst, the nitrogen-containing source and the hydrogen-containing source with energy, to produce ammonia.

The present invention provides a method for producing ammonia by means of energy irradiation, the method comprises contacting a nanostructure catalyst with at least one nitrogen-containing source and at least one hydrogen-containing source, and irradiating the nanostructure catalyst, the nitrogen-containing source and the hydrogen-containing source with energy, to produce ammonia.

Methods and systems for ammonia production are provided. An exemplary method includes electrolyzing water to form H.sub.2 and O.sub.2; contacting a reformer feed stream including hydrocarbons, O.sub.2 from electrolysis, and an oxidant stream including O.sub.2 and N.sub.2 to form a reformed stream including H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, and N.sub.2; contacting the reformed stream with a water-gas shift catalyst to form a shifted stream including H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, and N.sub.2; separating the shifted stream to form a captured stream including CO.sub.2 and an ammonia production feed stream including H.sub.2 and N.sub.2; and reacting the ammonia production feed stream, and optionally H.sub.2 from electrolysis, to form ammonia.