Technology Type

The Haber Process, also called the Haber–Bosch Process, is an artificial Nitrogen Fixation Process and is the main industrial procedure for the Production of Ammonia today.

It is named after its inventors, the German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, who developed it in the first decade of the 20th century.

The Process converts Atmospheric Nitrogen (N₂) to Ammonia (NH₃) by a Reaction with Hydrogen (H₂) using a Metal Catalyst under high temperatures and pressures according to the chemical equation:

N₂ + 3 H₂ → 2 NH₃ ΔH^° = - 91.8 kJ/mol

This Conversion is typically conducted at pressures above 10 MPa (100 bar; 1,450 psi) and between 400 and 500 °C (752 and 932 °F), as the gases (Nitrogen and Hydrogen) are passed over four Beds of Catalyst, with Cooling between each pass for maintaining a reasonable equilibrium constant. On each pass only about 15% conversion occurs, but any unreacted Gases are recycled, and eventually an overall conversion of 97% is achieved.

The Steam Reforming, Shift Conversion, Carbon Dioxide removal, and Methanation Steps each operate at pressures of about 2.5–3.5 MPa (25–35 bar; 360–510 psi), and the Ammonia Synthesis Loop operates at pressures ranging from 6 to 18 MPa (60 to 180 bar; 870 to 2,610 psi), depending upon which proprietary Process is used.

Modern Ammonia Plants produce more than 3,000 tons per day in one Production Line.