Patent ID: 7094384

Claim:
A method for the production of ammonia comprising the steps of: a) selecting a single reaction chamber having a hydrogen permeable structure separating an upper reaction cavity from a lower reaction cavity containing a third inner cavity functioning as an oxidation structure; b) supplying air and natural gas to the oxidation structure in the lower reaction cavity; c) exothermically burning natural gas and air supplied to the oxidation structure thereby decomposing air to release nitrogen; d) supplying a gaseous hydrocarbon to the lower reaction cavity containing the oxidation structure; e) thermally decomposing the gaseous hydrocarbon in the lower reaction chamber to produce hydrogen; f) transferring the nitrogen from the oxidation structure in the lower reaction cavity to the upper reaction cavity; g) allowing the hydrogen from step c) to move from the lower reaction cavity through the hydrogen permeable member into the upper reaction cavity; h) reacting the hydrogen from step e) and the nitrogen from step c) in a catalytic reaction to produce ammonia and exothermic energy; i) producing ammonia that is removed from the upper reaction cavity; and j) allowing the exothermic energy produced in the upper reaction cavity to move via thermal conduction to the lower reaction cavity, thereby reducing the need for additional reaction energy to be supplied from external sources.