Blue Ammonia
Towards a sustainable, reduced carbon economy
What is Blue Ammonia?
Ammonia is manufactured by converting gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen (“synthesis gas” or “syngas”) at the right
temperature and pressure, and in the presence of a catalyst. Syngas can be produced from hydrocarbon feedstock
and fuel or from renewable sources. Almost all ammonia is currently produced from hydrocarbon feedstock and fuel,
accounting for around 1.8% of global CO2 emissions1.
Blue ammonia is produced from hydrocarbons where the CO2 emitted during production is sequestrated via carbon
capture utilization & storage (CCUS) technology.
KBR offers blue ammonia technology for grassroot or existing plant revamping projects to achieve significant reductions
of CO2 generated per ton ammonia and effective CCUS.
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE, REDUCED CARBON ECONOMY
With over 100 years of history providing innovative High energy density
solutions and 50+% market share in commercial
Feedstock widely available
ammonia synthesis plants, KBR offers its technology
solutions to produce Blue Ammonia. Low carbon fuel
Ammonia has various advantages as a carbon-free Infrastructure for storage and delivery technologies
in place
fuel and as a medium for storage and transportation
of energy. Can be used directly in fuel cells and thermal engines
2 | Blue Ammonia
MINIMIZING AND OPTIMIZING CO₂ GENERATION
KBR’s ammonia technology offers various technical options to minimize and optimize CO2
generation and distribution in ammonia production process
■ Thanks to KBR’s inherent high energy efficient PurifierPlus™ technology, total CO2 produced per
ton of NH3 is reduced about 15% in comparison with that of the conventional SMR process
■ Almost 80% of the total CO2 produced is recovered at higher pressure (process side) vs. less than
70% in a conventional SMR process
■ KBR can also cost-effectively offer over 80% or even 100% CO2 recovery with further integration,
depending on project/client requirements
■ Alternatively, KBR can offer its PurifierASM technology based on Air Liquide’s well proven
Autothermal (ATR) Reforming technology. The ATR and ammonia loop are integrated to reach
very low carbon intensity without the need of post combustion carbon capture
KBR’S BLUE AMMONIA PROCESS
KBR’s offers two different layouts for blue ammonia production PurifierPlus and PurifierA layouts. KBR’s PurifierPlus™
technology, which offers advantages including:
■ Highest energy efficiency and low CO2 generation ■ Highest Reliability
■ Lowest CAPEX ■ Well-proven technology
■ Single train design ■ Mild (low temperature) primary reformer
■ Reduced equipment count ■ Secondary reformer with no metallic burner
■ 60% smaller primary reformer ■ Purifier stabilizes entire plant operation
■ No purge gas recovery unit ■ Simple and precise control of H2/N2 ratio
■ No ASU — inherently simpler ■ Cold wall horizontal ammonia converter
■ Lowest OPEX ■ Maintain production despite catalyst deactivation
■ Most energy efficient technology ■ 13 days more online time per year on average
■ Less CH4 consumption means less CO2 production
Steam Air
KRESTM CO2 Usage
Storage
Recycle Purge
Primary Secondary WHB, SHIFT Methanation NH3
Reformer Reformer & CO2 REM & Dryers PURIFIERTM Compression NH3
Synthesis
H2/N2 < 3 H2/N2 = 3
To Fuel High efficiency synthesis loop
due to high purity syngas
Natural
Gas
Blue Ammonia | 3
KBR PURIFIERPLUS™ TECHNOLOGY
KBR PurifierPlus™ technology combines:
■ KBR’s cryogenic Purifier™ syngas technology, the most cost-effective route to high purity synthesis gas in ammonia
manufacturing plants, which simultaneously removes impurities (i.e. methane, argon) from syngas by stripping it with
excess nitrogen while adjusting the hydrogen to nitrogen (H2/N2) ratio to 3
■ KBR’s Reforming Exchanger System (KRES™), which offers the potential for reforming up to 30% of the total natural
gas fed to the plant by using high temperature process waste heat exiting the secondary reformer (or auto-thermal
reformer) instead of burning fuel
FEED GAS
& STREAM
KRES™
KBR’s proprietary Reforming Exchanger System features:
■ Effluent gas from the ATR/secondary reformer COMBINED
REFORMED GAS
provides heat for driving the reforming reaction
occurring inside the catalyst-filled reforming tubes CATALYST
FILLED
■ Tubes are open-ended and hang from a single REFORMER
tube sheet at the inlet cold end to minimize TUBES
AUTOTHERMAL
expansion problems REFORMER
EFFLUENT
■ Easy load through a removable top head
KBR PurifierA SM TECHNOLOGY
KBR’s Blue Ammonia PurifierA process technology, based on Air Liquide’s well proven ATR-Reformer Technology with
over 30 references, of which 10 are in the 6,000 MTPD ammonia equivalent size offers benefits such as:
■ Unique integration between reforming and ammonia sections to minimize carbon intensity and capture upto 99% CO2
without post combustion capture unit
■ Several carbon capture technologies in addition to the amine based process are offered
ASU
90 -> 98% of Total CO₂
CO₂
HP GAN
HP LIN HP LIN HP GAN
Flue Gas
PRE- REFORMING CO₂ Capture Ammonia
ATR WHB & SHIFT Methanation Purifier/NWU NH3
& HEATING 1st stage Synthesis
Feed
Natural Gas
Syngas Recycle as Fuel Waste Gas
4 | Blue Ammonia
CARBON CAPTURE UTILIZATION & STORAGE (CCUS)
KBR offers a unique value proposition in CCUS application to fertilizer and processing industries thanks to its extensive
technical and commercial knowledge across the CCUS value chain having been involved in a number of notable CCUS
projects in recent years spanning from feasibility studies to engineering (sample references: Statoil‘s Northern lights, JX
Nippon, Gorgon LNG). KBR has specific experience with CO2 capture, use and/or sequestration from NH3 production
facilities (sample references: Ras Laffan, Woodside and Jianfeng).
KBR is experienced in green and blue hydrogen development and its derivatives, e.g. ammonia (sample references:
Singapore Government, Sunshot Energy); KBR has vast experience on carbon capture and Natural Gas Processing
Activities utilizing CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and long-term storage (sample references: Browse
FLNG, Confidential UAE study).
KBR can help with investment strategy in CCUS including deal sourcing, feasibility studies, transaction advisory,
market/regulation support, technical support, asset performance, asset design/commissioning and more.
KBR EXPERIENCE IN CCS PROJECTS
ADNOC SHAH GAS CCS PROJECT NORTHERN LIGHTS PROJECT
Project: 2.3 MTPA of carbon capture utilization Project: 1.5 MTPA onshore CO2 receiving and storage
and storage at ADNOC’s Shah ultra-sour gas terminal, offshore pipeline and CO2 injection and
production facilities subsea storage
Location: Shah, Abu Dhabi, UAE Location: Eastern Norway
Year: 2019 Year: 2017
Client: ADNOC Client: Equinor
KBR’s Scope: FEED aims to assess the project techno- KBR’s Scope: Feasibility study, front-end engineering
economic feasibility design for onshore CO2 storage terminal, import jetty
topside, CO2 injection lines and associated utilities
QUEST CCS PROJECT GORGON PROJECT
Project: 1.1 MTPA carbon capture facility installed Project: One of the world’s largest CCS project capable
at the stream methane reformer for Shell’s Scotford of injecting 3.4-4.0 MTPA of CO2 extracted from gas
complex. CO2 is sent 80km from the facility to a 2,300m production and liquefaction operations. CO2 is injected
underground storage facility and stored 2.3km underground into a saline aquifer via a
Location: Fort Saskachewan, Canada 7km pipeline.
Year: 2013 Location: Barrow Island, Western Australia
Client: Shell, Canada Year: 2005
KBR’s Scope: Off-site modularization and pipe Client: Gorgon Joint Venture
fabrication, off-site testing and commissioning services KBR’s Scope: FEED, EPCm and commissioning of 3x5.2
MTPA LNG plants including CCS facility
Blue Ammonia | 5
BLUE-GREEN AMMONIA COMBINATION
For Purifier based layouts, depending on the client need, KBR offers Blue-Green ammonia combination as a feasible
near-term solution.
■ Low-cost add-on electrolyzer unit to any existing ammonia plant with no ASU required to co-produce
some green ammonia
■ Ammonia from renewable energy sources can be increased incrementally
KBR also offers K-GreeN®, a green ammonia technology, which consists of a fully integrated solution from the electrolysis
of water, separation of air to produce green hydrogen and nitrogen to the synthesis of green ammonia.
Green ammonia is emerging as the preferred energy carrier to store and transport renewable energy for use either as
energy or feedstock.
Steam
KRESTM CO2 Usage
Storage
Recycle Purge
Natural Primary Secondary WHB, SHIFT Methanation
PURIFIERTM
Gas Reformer Reformer & CO2 REM & Dryers
H2/N2 < 3
To Fuel
Air
H2/N2 = 3
O2
Compression
H2O Electrolysis H2
NH3
Synthesis
Renewable
Power
High efficiency synthesis loop due
to high purity syngas NH3
6 | Blue Ammonia
KBR AMMONIA EXPERIENCE
Licensed, designed KBR has licensed, designed and/or Experience with
and/or built more than 250 plants built plants from 300-6000 MTPD wide variety of feeds
Reliable plants Highest on-stream days Maximum production rates
AMMONIA TECHNOLOGY — WORLD RECORDS
Largest plant Most energy Most
with single converter efficient plant reliable plant
In addition to providing technology, equipment and services for Blue Ammonia, KBR Technology Solutions provides an
optimal mix of domain expertise with technology across its businesses, including;
■ Advisory Consulting services for M&A, financial advisory, CAPEX evaluation, human performance and energy
transition advisory
■ Technology-Led Industrial Solutions including digital solutions for operating facilities, improved production,
maximized reliability and optimized energy consumption at reduced OPEX
■ Asset Solutions covering digitally enabled front-end engineering, detailed engineering, procurement services,
construction management services and program management
Blue Ammonia | 7
ABOUT KBR, INC.
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approximately 33,000 people performing diverse, complex and mission-critical roles in 33 countries.
At KBR, We Deliver.
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