Ammonia -
Zero Carbon Fuel

Ammonia is flammable gas and can form flammable or potentially explosive compounds in dry air when in gaseous state.

Additionally, ammonia is a respiratory poison that has a strong irritating and corrosive effect - in gaseous state, but mainly in liquid state.

Toxicity

Exposure to ammonia vapours can cause irritation and damage to the eyes, nose throat and lungs. In higher concentrations, ammonia can be fatal. To ensure the safety of workers, appropriate protective measures must be taken, such as gas detectors, personal protective equipment or ventilation systems.

Flammability

Ammonia is a flammable gas that can be ignited between 14% by volume (lower explosion limit) and 32.5% by volume (upper explosion limit). Spontaneous ignition occurs at 630^oC in the presence of sufficient oxygen.

Corrosion

Ammonia is corrosive as it extracts water from its surroundings, creating alkalinity at the points of contact. This can cause skin and eye irritation, chemical burns and damage to the respiratory tract.

Frostbite

Liquid ammonia is often stored in a cold or cryogenic state. Therefore, when handling ammonia, leaks or cold surfaces can lead to frostbite or cold burns. Therefore, when selecting protective equipment, particular attention must be paid to the resistance of materials such as protective clothing.

Water Solubility

Ammonia is highly soluble in water, depending on temparature and partial pressure. Ammonia water poses a long-term danger to aquatic organisms and their environment. Therefore, leaking or spilling ammonia must be avoided at all costs, especially during maritime transport.

Propagation

Ammonia is lighter that air and rises typically. However, when used as a refrigerant, crygenic NH3 tends to sink when it escapes. Humid cinditions can also lead to the formation of ammonia vapour, which is heavier than air. The optimal location of gas detection equipment must be considered case-by-case.