Development of a next generation AMmONia FC system

AMON project aims at developing a novel system for the utilization and conversion of ammonia into electric power at high efficiency using a solid oxide fuel cell.

High temperature electrolysers have demonstrated in several activities the capacity to outreach high performances in lab scale prototypes and validation tests.

The project will deal with the design of the basic components of the system including the fuel cell, the ammonia cracker, the ammonia burner and an anode gas recirculation, the engineering of the whole Balance of Plants, and the validation of the compliance with ammonia use for all the specific parts and components.

For the development of the solid oxide fuel cell, a G8X cell from SOLIDpower will be utilized, first validated in a laboratory at the level of single cells, for electrochemical properties, degradation and post mortem analysis, at the level of single repeating units for the validation of interconnects and sealing components, and at the level of stacks and stack modules.

An overall Ammonia fuel cell system will be engineered and manufactured to be tested in a relevant environment in a port area. The final system will be in the size of 8 kW stack module, with an ammonia cracker and a heat management system. It will aim at a overall electrical efficiency in the range of 70%.

AMON will be supported alongside the engineering by horizontal strategic support on critical and open issues involving use of ammonia with fuel cells, such as safety assessment, on techno-econmic analysis, on modelling at a multiscale and multiphysic levels, to consolidate, confirm and direct the engineering of the technology.

Despite the small pilot demostration scale, AMON will propose a scaled engineering for a system suitable to be applied in end uses such as ports, interports, maritime environment, besides autonomous power systems.AMON will promote the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, to enhance the flexibility of the energy system.