Multi-stage, adiabatic fixed-bed reactors with intermediate cooling are the technically predominant solution for large-scale ammonia synthesis. However, the reactors respond sensitively to load changes and changes in operation, which can lead to considerable temperature fluctuations in the reactor and thus to total failure of the entire system. By means of detailed, multi-scale reactor models, which depict both adiabatic and new polytropic (cooled) reactor concepts, a systematic analysis of the static and dynamic behavior of these ammonia reactors will be carried out.

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) enables a single-stage and energy-saving synthesis of ammonia based on renewable energies. As existing electrocatalysts only achieve very low production quantities that are not relevant for large-scale applications, new types of metal-nitrogen-carbons (M-N-Cs) with NRR selectivity are being developed and tested with regard to competing hydrogen generation while largely avoiding critical raw materials.