(101d) Ammonia Ignition Probability

Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the United States. About 80% of the ammonia produced in industry is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Ammonia has recently been explored as a promising energy carrier because it can effectively store and transport large amounts of hydrogen energy, making it a potential clean fuel source which contributes to the lower carbon future. However, ammonia poses certain process safety risks that requires rigorous control and management. NH3 is a toxic gas which can cause significant threat to humans upon exposure. However, little is known/mentioned about its ignition probabilities in the literature. Ignition probability is a key parameter used in various process safety studies such as QRA, LOPA to assess the impact of fire and explosion upon release of flammable materials. To accurately assess the overall risks associated with ammonia, which is both toxic and flammable, the understanding of its ignition probabilities is essential. This discussion provides a literature review conducted on the ignition probabilities and incidents associated with ammonia.