N2kWh – From pollutant to power
Nitrogen is regarded as a pollutant in aqueous environments, because it potentially leads to algae blooming. In order to avoid environmental pollution, TAN (Total Ammonia Nitrogen) must be removed from residual water streams, before the water is discharged into the aqueous environment.
So far, environmental technology innovations are mainly focused on minimizing the energy consumption for TAN removal, but none of existing projects recognize TAN as a potential energy source. This project focusses on a novel concept where TANfrom residual streams is recovered and subsequently processed (as NH3 fuel) in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), resulting in the generation of electrical and thermal energy.
The produced electrical and thermal energy can internally be used, in order to produce a suitable fuel for the SOFC. When the energy consumption of the fuel production process is lower than the energy production of the SOFC, an energy positive system to remove TAN from residual streams can be realized.
Project results can lead to a paradigm shift in which TAN in waste streams is no longer regarded as a pollutant, which demands energy for disposal, but as a resource instead. Development of in-depth knowledge on the recovery of TAN from residual streams is imperative for enabling the proposed paradigm shift. Therefore, the overall objective of the proposed research is to acquire knowledge on mechanisms that can be deployed for the recovery and utilization of TAN from residual streams.
Project partners
Delft University of Technology, University of Leuven, Bioelectric, Fiaxell, HoST, Inopsys, Royal Haskoning DHV and Waternet
Funded by
STW, IWT, and project partners
Project coordinator
University of Leuven
Period
April 2016 – April 2020