Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira
AMMONIA STORAGE &
TRANSPORT: ENSURING SAFETY
AND EFFICIENCY
Presented by:-
Bitan Mondal
UG 2nd Year
Roll no.- 328
Dept.- Industrial & Applied Chemistry
Guided by – Prof.(Dr.) Uttam Kumar Ghorai
INDEX
❑ Ammonia
❑ Manufacturing processes
❑ Methods of storage
❑ Storage tanks
❑ Transportation of Ammonia
❑ Precautions and preventive measures
❑ Merits and demerits
❑ Economic study
❑ Case study
❑ Conclusion
❑ References
❑ Acknowledgement
What is Ammonia? 1
An inorganic
chemical compound A colourless gas
of nitrogen and with a distinctive
hydrogen with the pungent smell.
formula NH3.
Source: Quora
Commercially
produced by Around 70% of
Haber-Bosch ammonia produced
process. industrially is used to
N2+3H2⇌2NH3 make fertilizers.
NH3 Manufacturing Processes 2
• N2+3H2⇌ 2NH3
• High temp and pressure required. Fe catalyst used.
Haber-Bosch • Currently main industrial procedure for the production of ammonia.
Process Responsible for approximately 1.8% of global CO2 emissions.
• Production of Hydrogen from renewable energy resources.
Renewable • Then manufacture Ammonia using the Haber-Bosch Process.
H2+Haber- • More eco-friendly than the traditional process.
Bosch Process
• Production by direct electrochemical route using electrocatalysts.
• N2+6H++6e-→ 2NH3
• Single-step process. Single metal molecular catalyst used.
Electrochemic • Occurred in normal temp and pressure. Termed as “GREEN
al Process AMMONIA”.
Methods of Storage of Ammonia 3
Pressurized storage Semi-refrigerated storage
▪ Stored at ambient temperature (25°C) ▪ Stored at 0°C and 3-4 bar of gauge
and 16-25 bar pressure required. pressure is required.
▪ Stored in two types of tanks- ▪ Normally spherical vessels are used.
Cylindrical (capacity- 150 tonnes) & (capacity- about 3000 tonnes).
Spherical (capacity- 250-1500 tonnes). ▪ Much lighter steel tanks are used.
▪ High-strength or fine-grained steels are ▪ Utilize the single-step refrigeration
used in tanks. compressor system.
▪ Suitable for storing small quantities of ▪ Less expensive and sophisticated than
NH3. low-temperature storage
Source: www.iqsdirectory.com
https://ptx-hub.org/
Low-temperature storage Solid-state storage
▪ Stored at -33.4°C and in normal ▪ To enhance safety and prevent leakage storing
atmospheric pressure. NH3 in solid form has also been developed.
▪ Cylindrical vertical storage tanks are ▪ Metal halides (MXm) absorb NH3 at room
used. (capacity- 50,000 tonnes). temperature and form solid metal ammines.
▪ Utilize a two-stage refrigeration MXm+ nNH3 ⇌ M(NH3)nXm
compressor system. ▪ Ammonia can be extracted very easily by
▪ Normalized carbon-manganese steel is desorption when heated or depressurized.
used for construction. ▪ Reversibility of reaction reduces volatility and
▪ Two types of storage tanks are used- release rate at room temperature of NH3.
Single wall steel tank & Double wall ▪ These metal ammines have a great gravimetric
steel tank. hydrogen density of about 10 wt%.
Source: https://ptx-hub.org/
Ammonia storage tanks
Nowadays for large-scale production of NH3, it has become common to store it at -33°C
under ambient atmospheric pressure.
The main types of atmospheric tanks operating at -33°C are-
Single-wall steel tanks Double-wall double-integrated(DWDI) steel tanks
Source: https://ammoniaknowhow.com/
Transportation of Ammonia
# Transport of liquid NH3 is much safer, low-risk prone and cost-
effective via pipeline.
# Requires to heat NH3 at least up to 2°C to avoid brittle fracture in
pipeline.
# Transportation should be at a minimum pressure of 20 bar to
prevent gas formation.
# Stainless steel is used in the transfer lines as it is highly corrosion-
Source: https://t8.ru/?p=11058&lang=en
resistant to NH3 but very expensive.
Pipeline transportation
➢ Ocean transportation of ammonia is done by ammonia tankers and
river and coastal transportation by barges.
➢ NH3 tankers can be semi-refrigerated (4-8 bar, -10°C) or fully
refrigerated (atmospheric pressure, -50°C to -30°C). Barges
typically carry refrigerated loads, but some are pressure vessels (17-18
bar).
➢ Semi-refrigerated carriers contain up to 15,000 m3 whereas, fully
refrigerated carriers contain 50,000 tonnes of NH3. Barges have a
loading capacity of 400-2500 tonnes. Source: https://lloydslist.com/LL1137516/Ammonia-hype-builds-in-shipping-market
➢ Shipping containers constructed of quenched and tempered steel Ocean and barge transportation
with 0.2 wt% of water.
✓ Distribution of NH3 through railways is mainly done for shorter
distances than barge and pipeline transportation.
✓ Vehicle capacity- 70-72 tonnes and some are larger, of 90 tonnes. Tanks
usually have a 1.75cm thickness and are covered with a 0.32cm jacket.
✓ NH3 is transported as a pressurized liquid at a pressure of 15-16 bar,
provided with pressure relief devices.
✓ Loading of NH3 is in between 57%-85% of the tank’s volume to avoid
thermal expansion in case of temperature increase.
✓ Generally, rail transport is more expensive, and harmful to the Source: https://www.railway.supply/en/rwe-and-vtg-organize-the-delivery-of-ammonia-by-rail/
environment than pipeline or barge per ton/km. Rail transportation
» Most expensive method of transferring NH3. Mainly used worldwide
for distances less than 150 km or where other means of
transportation are not available.
» Loading capacities range from 15-30 tonnes of NH3 in pressurized
tanks with 10-28 bar.
» One of the main applications of truck transportation is to supply retail
distribution centres or to small manufacturers of liquid fertiliser.
Source: https://dogumak3.en.ec21.com/Anhydrous_Ammonia_Transportation_%28NH3%29--10510561_10511373.html
Truck transportation
Be cautious!!
• Pungent odour of NH3 is perceptible by humans
at a shallow concentration in the air. (20 ppm).
So, small leaks can be detected easily.
• Liquid NH3, High percentage NH3 water and
highly concentrated NH3 gas will irritate human
skin and cause severe burns. Increase in
concentration leads to paralysis of respiratory
organs.
• Maximum possible conc. in a working area over
8 hrs is approximately 25 ppm.
• Terylene boiler suits should be worn with rubber
ankle or knee boots and protective gloves made
of rubber or PVC. Lightweight PVC suits are
preferable for more risky zones.
• For leak detection, soap water solution can be
applied to doubtful areas with a brush.
Formation of bubble indicates leakage. Source: https://emiri.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/221109-ammonia-transport-and-storage.pdf
• A saturated solution of SO2 or HCl on the
leaky point by cotton wad will form white
fumes.
Merits Demerits
→ 100% carbon-free. ❖ Distinctive pungent odour and highly
→ Does not emit any kind of GHG or NOx or Sulphur toxic.
during burning. ❖ Narrow flammability range of 16-25%.
→ Easily liquifiable and stored in tanks. ❖ It is highly corrosive towards metals.
→ Transport friendly. ❖ Output efficiency is much less.
→ Fed into fuel cell as H2 or directly used as fuel. ❖ Possibility of NOx formation at high
→ Auto-ignition temperature- 650°C. temperatures.
→ Energy density is ten times of a Li-ion battery. ❖ High NH3 vapour pressure is required at
→ Less technical difficulty and high economic ambient temperature.
efficiency. ❖ Use of high-quality/strength metals
→ Higher gravimetric and volumetric H2 content. (especially steel) may increase the
→ Higher volumetric energy density and significantly production cost.
higher heat of combustion.
Advancement across the globe
ThyssenKrupp Uhde provides leading
technology in the ammonia industry with
its Uhde ammonia process. It has over
100 years of experience and has built
over 2,500 chemical plants worldwide.
The first plant was built in Philadelphia
in 1932, followed by others like Chile in
1962 with a capacity of 50 metric tons
per day. ThyssenKrupp Uhde has
already constructed four electrolysis- Source: https://arena.gov.au/projects/feasibility-study-for-a-green-hydrogen-and-ammonia-project/
Source: https://www.gencellenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GenCell-
FOX-Brochure-01-2024.pdf based ammonia plants.
ARENA has granted A$2.9 million for
The GenCellFOX off-grid feasibility studies at two ammonia plants in
power solution is designed to Queensland. QNP will conduct the first study to
provide the benefits of green fuel assess renewable ammonia production at a
cell energy with an economical commercial scale. The second study will be
and easily accessible liquid-fuel carried out in Moranbah by Dyno Nobel. Both
ammonia. Operating at near studies aim to expedite the development of
atmospheric pressure, the industrial-scale electrolysis equipment and
system is designed to obtain reduce costs. The aim is to produce 20,000
sufficient fuel from two 12-ton tonnes of ammonia annually (around 20% of
tanks of ammonia to operate at Queensland’s nitrate demand).
rated power 24/7 for a full year.
Source: https://www.thyssenkrupp-uhde.com/en/products-and-technologies/green-
chemicals/green-ammonia
ACME SOARS THE TRI-COLOUR HIGH
• ACME inks land agreement to
set up Green Ammonia and
Green Hydrogen facility in
Oman in 2021. Plans
investment of $3.5 billion over
the next three years with a
Source: https://ammoniaenergy.org/articles/acme-group-ihi-to-join-forces-on-
planned capacity of 900,000 tons ammonia/
per year.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1998871#:~:text=The
• ACME and Japanese heavy industry major IHI signed one of the largest
pacts to supply Green Ammonia from India to Japan. The Green
Ammonia will be produced at ACME’s 1.2 MMTPA Green
Ammonia project being developed at Gopalpur in the state of
Odisha. Total investment for 1.2 MMT per annum plant will be 5
billion USD. The term sheet between IHI and ACME covers the supply
of 0.4 MMTPA of green ammonia from Phase 1 of the Odisha project in
Source: https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/general/scatec-acme-group-to-jointly-build-a-large-scale-
Gopalpur on a long-term basis.
green-ammonia-facility-in-oman-12760
Conclusion
Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Same in the storing and transporting of Ammonia. It can be easily
stored and transported in ambient conditions. However, it is harmful due to less stability, short explosion range and
health hazards. So, we have to handle it carefully keeping the risks in mind.
Also, research is still going on to develop
NH3 as a better alternative fuel to conventional fuels. Already many attempts have been made in the lab or
commercially to use it as fuel in vehicles or for other purposes directly or indirectly but it is still an underdeveloped
sector. But, it is a very demanding sector in the market now and soon with the view of various severe threats to the
environment and ecosystem. Proper infrastructure and market policies can surely help to grow the sector.
Source: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3062
References
❑ https://ptx-hub.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/International-PtX-Hub_202401_Ammonia-transport-and-
storage.pdf
❑ https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3062
❑ https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6192
❑ https://ammoniaknowhow.com/ammonia-storage-tanks/
❑ https://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/online/EC/24032022qftuvp51xo218669481Annexures-2.pdf
❑ https://emiri.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/221109-ammonia-transport-and-storage.pdf
❑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia_production
❑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia
❑ https://irc.wisc.edu/export.php?ID=17
❑ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1998871#:~:text=The
❑ https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/green-ammonia/green-ammonia-policy-briefing.pdf
❑ https://www.acme.in/media-release/19/acme-inks-land-agreement-to-set-up-green-ammonia-and-green-
hydrogen-facility-at-oman
Acknowledgement
Thank you for joining me for this presentation. I want to take a moment to express my
gratitude to my project guide, Dr Uttam Kumar Ghorai, for his unwavering support and
invaluable advice. I would also like to thank the other Research Scholar seniors for their
helpful suggestions that helped to improve the overall quality of this presentation.
Additionally, I would like to thank all my friends and seniors for their assistance, guidance,
and support throughout this project.
Lastly, I thank everyone in attendance for their attention and interest. If you have any
questions or concerns, you can ask.
THANK YOU!
