(238d) Coupling Integral Molten Salt Reactor to Ammonia Production Via Hybrid Sulfur (Hy-S) Process

Idaho National Laboratory, Sandia, Savannah River and Southern Company are working with Terrestrial Energy USA Inc. to commercialize a Hybrid Sulfur Hydrogen process to produce a feedstock of Hydrogen to a Haber Bosch process that is cheaper, cleaner and safer than one derived from Natural Gas Steam Methane Reformation. The Hybrid Sulfur (Hy-S) Process uses a 2 step procedure to create and then decompose sulfuric acid and SO2 using the process heat and electricity from an Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) to deliver sub $2 Hydrogen to the Habor Bosch Process.

Making H2 for NH3 from Natural Gas is not an optimal process. SMR is extremely polluting and it is also un-economic at higher gas costs.

An Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) is uniquely suited to provide the very high temperatures (600C+ working temps. ) that are needed to both generate significant amounts of Hydrogen, Oxygen ( a feed for industrial oxygen uses ) and the Electricity needed for the production of completely carbon free NH3.

Studies conducted by Terrestrial Energy USA Inc and Southern Company, Sandia Labs, SRNL & Idaho Nation Laboratory (INL) have shown that this Gen4 IMSR would be the most effective system of those reviewed to ensure a Industrial Quantities of Carbon Free H2 at Scale and Base Load energy to the grid. These H2 and power demands are both be served by a carbon free source of inherently safe, clean, non-proliferating energy.

Analysis by INL and Terrestrial USA have shown that IMSR is uniquely suited to be coupled to a pure H2 production from either Hybrid Sulfur Process or High Temperature Steam Electrolysis.

The ability to immediately dispatch heat and store excess energy from renewable sources and send it to where and when it is needed is a specific trait of the IMSR.

With an unequaled, walk away safe source of compact, efficient, very high temperature process heat, coupled with the latest industrial systems, Terrestrial Energy USA Inc, working with Southern Company and National Labs, can provide an expanded NH3 Industry with the H2, O2 and power needed to make an industrial economy flourish.

Ammonia production from Terrestrial Energy USA IMSR Molten Salt Reactor:

During 2017, 30 plants produced 9.4+ million tonnes of ammonia (NH3), principally based on the Haber-Bosch reaction processes. The principal feedstock to these plants is natural gas. Three to five percent of the world's natural gas production is consumed in the Haber process (around 1–2% of the world's energy supply)

There are two outstanding opportunities for IMSR to benefit the large and growing NH3 Ammonia industry.

First, hydrogen that is produced by Hybrid Sulfur or high temperature steam electrolysis can replace the steam methane reformer. This would eliminate Vast CO2 emissions altogether. Profitable Economic considerations are calculated on the cost of steam methane reforming and the value of GHG emissions avoidance and the market value of Oxygen production for Industrial uses.

The second opportunity for IMSR is to modify an interface with either a conventional or a revised steam methane reforming plant, as bridge to a totally carbon free source of Hydrogen.

All the immense benefits of a new NH3 Economy can be expedited into existence with the Hybrid coupling of IMSR400 Process Heat and Large Scale Ammonia production.