Can I get some clarification on what kind of ammonia exactly your proposing we burn and what kind are you proposing we store?
You bet!!
I ask because it sounds like your describing storing and transporting anhydrous liquid ammonia and burning it as anhydrous ammonia? Is that a correct statement about what your proposing?
Yes, anhydrous ammonia (NH3). Not aqueous ammonia (NH3 in water) or any of the ammonia salts. Only "dry" anhydrous ammonia has the energy density (52% of the energy density of gasoline by virtue of its 18 weight % hydrogen content) to be an effective fuel. Since, as you know because you work with it, it is a liquid at moderate pressures (125 psi at room temperature) and can (and is) stored and transported efficiently, and it huge volumes.
I guess my skeptism on this is based not on my chemical knowledge, which is limited, but rather on my practical experience with ammonia. I work in the plant that is the second largest consumer of ammonia in the world. It's used because it's one of the best refrigeration liquids in the known universe, allowing you to take the temp down to what ever you want and it holds that temp easily. The main and in my mind lethal problem is the toxciity. I don't know anything about the ammonia type that the person a couple posts previous posted about, but anhydrous liquid ammonia is just about the most dangerous thing short of something radioactive I can think of for a living being to be around. Yes we use it in industrial things all the time. Ever heard the term industrial accident? It's termed that way because industry is supposed to be dangerous, and your hence warned about it.
If I am exposed to a tank of gas, probably worst case senario is I smell like gas, maybe I die because I didn't get enough oxygen. If anhydrous liquid ammonia get's out of it's coolant tank, and manages to get into the air out of even the smallest hole, it will literally go for the nearest water. If there is a human being that is closer than a puddle, that human being has about 20 seconds of pain followed by death. I kid you not, the last time we had a semi serious leak at the plant, one guy had his eyes burnt out of his head and the other guy just plain died, he didn't hold his breath fast enough. I am going to go talk to the powerplant (plant term, they handle all the really dangerous electrical and ammonia storage stuff on the plant) guys about this idea tommorrow, because I'm really curious about it.
It is no secret that ammonia has safety issues. All fuels do. Gasoline is carcinogenic, methanol is a nerve poison, pressurized hydrogen has dangerous pressure and explosiveness... and so on. Believe it or not, ammonia is NOT poisonous in the same way say arsenic is. Ammonia's safety issue comes from its desire to combine with water, including of course the water in mucous membranes such as in the lungs and eyes. You sound like you have a healthy respect of the dangers of handling ammonia, and that's a good thing.
But a few more thoughts--
* Ammonia doesn't corrode or embrittle steel and aluminum (copper and brass are a problem though), so it is easy to contain, and most leaks can be eliminated, even at transfer joints, without exotic construction materials.
* It would be straightforward to have something like a water jacket around an ammonia vessel. A kg of water will suck up 530 grams of ammonia at room temperature. Once the ammonia is in the water, it won't get out easily.
* A simple water fogger will "grab" released ammonia, and can act as a safety device.
* Ammonia is lighter than air once it heats up to room temperature. Out of a leak/release, of course it comes out cold because it is a compressed liquid. In an open area it rises into the atmosphere after reaching the temperature of the surrounding air. (Ammonia is not a greenhouse gas, and does not attack the ozone layer)
* Standard safety equipment (principally gloves and masks) are commonplace, as are extensive safety and handling procedures, both from the ferilizer industry and the refrigeration industry.
* Over 5 million tons of liquid anhydrous ammonia are stored, transported, and handled in the midwest as fertilizer every year. Iowa alone has 800 ammonia "filliing" stations.
But from my experence of being around liquid ammonia, I would say the anhydrous stuff, you couldn't pay me money to buy a car that was supposed to run on that. Walking in a room where I know ammonia is used gives me the same feelings as walking in a nuclear powerplant does, actually, I would rather walk in the nuke plant. They are alot safer.
After all that, I'm still curious about it's possiblity of use as a fuel, as I have no idea if there are other ammonia types that could be used. I'm going to see what the guys at my plant think.
As I said earlier, a healthy respect for the safety issues of any fuel are a good thing. And, I understand your feelings about ammonia as a fuel on board a car. But, I'll leave you with a few other thoughts about ammonia fuel--
* Ammonia is not explosive (but it will burn inside a spark-ignited engine). Compare this to say a rear end collision with a Pinto. Also, ammonia fumes are not going to be ignited with static electricity.
* An ammonia "spill" onto dry pavement or soil will rise into the air after it heats and not pollute the soil or groundwater.
* Ammonia is the only fuel other than hydrogen that can be used in an engine or a fuel cell and produce only non-greenhouse gases (water vapor and nitrogen) as combustion products.
* Scientists are working on "safeing" ammonia by using it harmless storage forms such as urea.
A-f