First in Japan to use ammonia combustion as fuel for a commercial naphtha cracking furnace - Achieving over 20% fuel conversion and reducing CO₂ emissions in the chemical industry -

We are working on provide for society of next-generation energy sources such as ammonia fuel in order to realize carbon neutrality society in 2050. In April 2023, we were selected for the "Oil Supply Structure Advanced Project Subsidy (Fossil Fuel Supply Business Reconstruction Support Project, part of the Transition Promotion Project for the Stable Supply of Next-Generation Fuels)" and have been working with IHI Corporation and IHI Corporation to install intermediate supply facilities such as ammonia storage tanks and piping, as well as ammonia combustion equipment for naphtha cracking furnaces, at our Tokuyama Tokuyama Complex. The equipment was completed in February of this year, and in the same month, we conducted the first demonstration of ammonia combustion in Japan.

Ammonia, which does not emit CO₂ when burned, is attracting attention as an energy carrier and new fuel for power generation and industrial boilers in order to realize a decarbonized society. However, ammonia has a lower calorific value than fossil fuels, and is said to have poor flammability due to its poor ignitability. It is also necessary to work on suppressing nitrogen oxides generated during combustion, and in Japan, ammonia combustion technology has been developed in test equipment.
On the other hand, ammonia combustion has never been carried out in large-scale chemical plants in operation, such as factories, due to the risks to operations and the need for large investments in equipment maintenance. .

This time, we conducted an ammonia combustion demonstration using an operating plant in a naphtha cracking furnace that is not equipped with denitrification equipment to reduce nitrogen oxides in combustion exhaust gas, and adopted a dedicated ammonia burner and combustion control. We confirmed that nitrogen oxides were below environmental regulation values. We also confirmed that the combustibility is comparable to fossil fuels, and that there is no impact on operations.

The results obtained in the demonstration are expected to make a significant contribution to application to naphtha cracking furnaces, which account for the majority of CO₂ emissions from the domestic chemical industry. Going forward, we will continue to utilize this facility to accumulate data and know-how for the practical application of ammonia fuel, and aim to provide solutions for converting ammonia fuel to industrial heating furnaces in the chemical field and other areas.

We are working with various stakeholders to develop a supply chain for clean ammonia, from production and procurement to supply. Through this initiative, we will contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality society.