Management device, management method, and management system

A container system enables simultaneous transportation of raw materials and dehydrogenation products, addressing inefficiencies in hydrogen supply systems by reducing the need for multiple vehicles, thus lowering costs.

JP7875230B2Active Publication Date: 2026-06-17ENEOS CORP

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
ENEOS CORP
Filing Date
2024-04-24
Publication Date
2026-06-17

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Abstract

To provide a container which can reduce the transportation frequency of a mobile unit transporting raw material and a dehydrogenation product and a method of transportation.SOLUTION: A container 50 can accommodate MCH and toluene together in an interior space. For example, when a mobile unit 60 supplies a portion of MCH in the container 50 at a certain dehydrogenation base 210, a space is generated in the interior space of the container 50 for the amount of MCH supplied. The container 50 can accommodate the toluene stored in the dehydrogenation base 210 in such a vacant interior space. In this case, the mobile unit 60 can distribute MCH to multiple dehydrogenation bases 210 while also collecting toluene. Thus, it is no longer necessary to separately prepare a mobile unit 60 dedicated to toluene recovery in addition to the mobile unit 60 dedicated to MCH distribution.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container and a transportation method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a system using a raw material containing a hydride capable of obtaining a hydrogen-containing gas by dehydrogenation reaction, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The hydrogen supply system of Patent Document 1 includes a tank for storing a hydride of an aromatic hydrocarbon as a raw material, a dehydrogenation reaction unit for obtaining hydrogen by subjecting the raw material supplied from the tank to a dehydrogenation reaction, a gas-liquid separation unit for gas-liquid separating the hydrogen obtained in the dehydrogenation reaction unit, and a hydrogen purification unit for purifying the gas-liquid separated hydrogen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a dehydrogenation base equipped with a system as described above, a raw material transported by a tank truck or the like is used. That is, a moving body such as a tank truck stores the raw material in a container at a raw material production base for producing the raw material and transports it to the dehydrogenation base. Here, when supplying the raw material from one raw material production base to a plurality of dehydrogenation bases, the tank truck circulates through the plurality of dehydrogenation bases, returns to the raw material production base when the container becomes empty, stores the raw material in the container again, and circulates. On the other hand, each dehydrogenation base has a tank for storing a dehydrogenation product. Therefore, a dedicated tank truck for recovering the dehydrogenation product circulates through the plurality of dehydrogenation bases in a state where the container is empty and returns to the raw material production base. However, such a transportation method has a problem that the transportation frequency of a moving body such as a tank truck increases, resulting in an increase in transportation cost and ultimately an increase in the cost of hydrogen.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and aims to provide a container and a transport method that can reduce the transport frequency of mobile transporters for raw materials and dehydrogenation products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Accordingly, the container according to the present invention is a container for containing a raw material that includes a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by dehydrogenation reaction, and the raw material and the dehydrogenation product produced together with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction can be mixed in the internal space.

[0007] When a mobile vehicle transports a predetermined raw material in a container, it is generally not practiced to contain other substances simultaneously in the same container in order to avoid contamination. That is, it is common practice to prepare a dedicated container for the raw material and a dedicated container for other substances for transportation. However, the inventors of the present invention have made the following discovery as a result of diligent research. Specifically, the inventors of the present invention have found that when transporting a raw material containing a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by dehydrogenation reaction, there is no problem in simultaneously containing the dehydrogenation product in the container that contains the raw material. Therefore, the container according to the present invention can contain both the raw material and the dehydrogenation product in its internal space. For example, if a mobile vehicle supplies a portion of the raw material in its container at a dehydrogenation site, an empty space will be created in the internal space of the container by the amount supplied. The container can then contain the dehydrogenation product stored at the dehydrogenation site in this empty internal space. In this case, the mobile vehicle can distribute the raw material to multiple dehydrogenation sites while simultaneously recovering the dehydrogenation product. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to prepare a separate mobile vehicle specifically for dehydrogenated products, in addition to the mobile vehicle dedicated to raw materials. As a result, the frequency of transporting both raw materials and dehydrogenated products can be reduced.

[0008] The internal space may be divided into multiple storage compartments by partition members. This makes it possible to easily create multiple storage compartments within the internal space of the storage unit.

[0009] The transport method according to the present invention is a transport method for transporting raw materials using the above-described container, comprising the steps of: storing the raw materials in the container at a raw material manufacturing site where the raw materials are manufactured; distributing the raw materials from the container at a plurality of dehydrogenation sites where a dehydrogenation reaction is carried out using the raw materials; and storing the dehydrogenation products in the spaces formed by the distribution of the raw materials at the plurality of dehydrogenation sites.

[0010] This transportation method allows for the same effects and benefits as those of the aforementioned containment body to be obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention provides a container and a transport method that can reduce the transport frequency of mobile transporters carrying raw materials and dehydrogenated products. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a transport system using a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows the configuration of the hydrogen supply system at each dehydrogenation site. [Figure 3] (a) is a side view showing the containment mounted on a mobile vehicle, and (b) is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the containment's use. [Figure 4] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a transportation method. [Figure 5] This is a conceptual diagram showing a transportation method for modified parts. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram that schematically shows the flow of energy and raw materials in a transportation system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the hydrogen supply system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a transport system 200 using a container 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transport system 200 is a system in which a mobile unit 60 equipped with a container 50 transports and distributes raw materials to a plurality of dehydrogenation stations 210 (dehydrogenation stations A to C are shown here as examples). First, with reference to Figure 2, how hydrogen is produced at each dehydrogenation station 210 will be explained. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen supply system 100 provided at each dehydrogenation station 210.

[0015] The hydrogen supply system 100 uses organic compounds (liquid at room temperature) as raw materials. In the hydrogen purification process, dehydrogenation products (organic compounds (liquid at room temperature)) obtained by dehydrogenating the raw material organic compounds (liquid at room temperature) are removed. Examples of organic compounds used as raw materials include organic hydrides. Suitable examples of organic hydrides are hydrides produced by reacting hydrogen, which is produced in large quantities at oil refineries, with aromatic hydrocarbons. Organic hydrides are not limited to aromatic hydrogenated compounds; there are also systems such as 2-propanol (which produces hydrogen and acetone). Organic hydrides can be transported to the hydrogen supply system 100 as a liquid fuel, similar to gasoline, by a mobile vehicle 60 such as a tank truck. In this embodiment, methylcyclohexane (hereinafter referred to as MCH) is used as the organic hydride. In addition, hydrides of aromatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, dimethylcyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane, decalin, methyldecalin, dimethyldecalin, and ethyldecalin can be used as organic hydrides (aromatic compounds are particularly suitable examples due to their high hydrogen content). The hydrogen supply system 100 can supply hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen engine vehicles. It can also be applied when producing hydrogen from natural gas mainly composed of methane, LPG mainly composed of propane, or liquid hydrocarbon raw materials such as gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, and diesel fuel.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the hydrogen supply system 100 according to this embodiment includes a liquid transfer pump 1, a heat exchange unit 2, a dehydrogenation reaction unit 3, a heating unit 4, a gas-liquid separation unit 6, a compression unit 7, and a hydrogen purification unit 8. Of these, the liquid transfer pump 1, the heat exchange unit 2, and the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 belong to the hydrogen production unit 10, which produces hydrogen-containing gas. The gas-liquid separation unit 6, the compression unit 7, and the hydrogen purification unit 8 belong to the hydrogen purity adjustment unit 11, which increases the purity of hydrogen. The hydrogen supply system 100 also includes lines L1 to L12. In this embodiment, MCH is used as the raw material, and the case in which toluene is removed during the hydrogen purification process is described as an example. In reality, not only toluene but also unreacted MCH, small amounts of by-products, and impurities are present, but in this embodiment, they behave the same as toluene when mixed with it. Therefore, in the following description, "toluene" includes unreacted MCH and by-products.

[0017] Lines L1 to L12 are pathways through which MCH, toluene, hydrogen-containing gas, off-gas, high-purity hydrogen, or a heating medium passes. Line L1 is the line through which the liquid transfer pump 1 pumps MCH from the MCH tank 21, and connects the liquid transfer pump 1 to the MCH tank 21. Line L2 connects the liquid transfer pump 1 to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3. Line L3 connects the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 to the gas-liquid separation unit 6. Line L4 connects the gas-liquid separation unit 6 to the toluene tank 22. Line L5 connects the gas-liquid separation unit 6 to the compression unit 7. Line L6 connects the compression unit 7 to the hydrogen purification unit 8. Line L7 connects the hydrogen purification unit 8 to the off-gas supply destination. Line L8 connects the hydrogen purification unit 8 to a purified gas supply device (not shown). Lines L11 and L12 connect the heating unit 4 to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3. Lines L11 and L12 circulate the heat transfer medium.

[0018] The liquid transfer pump 1 supplies MCH as a raw material to the dehydrogenation reaction section 3. Note that the MCH transported from the outside by a moving body 60 such as a tank truck is stored in the MCH tank 21. The MCH stored in the MCH tank 21 is supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 via lines L1 and L2 by the liquid transfer pump 1.

[0019] The heat exchange section 2 performs heat exchange between the MCH flowing through line L2 and the hydrogen-containing gas flowing through line L3. The hydrogen-containing gas coming out of the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 is at a higher temperature than the MCH. Therefore, in the heat exchange section 2, the MCH is heated by the heat of the hydrogen-containing gas. As a result, the MCH is supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 in a state where its temperature has risen. Note that the MCH is supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 together with the off-gas supplied from the hydrogen purification section 8 via line L7.

[0020] The dehydrogenation reaction section 3 is a device that obtains hydrogen by dehydrogenating MCH. That is, the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 is a device that extracts hydrogen from MCH by a dehydrogenation reaction using a dehydrogenation catalyst. The dehydrogenation catalyst is not particularly limited, and for example, it is selected from a platinum catalyst, a palladium catalyst, and a nickel catalyst. These catalysts may be supported on a carrier such as alumina, silica, and titania. The reaction of organic hydrides is a reversible reaction, and the direction of the reaction changes (subject to chemical equilibrium constraints) depending on the reaction conditions (temperature, pressure). On the other hand, the dehydrogenation reaction is always an endothermic reaction in which the number of molecules increases. Therefore, high temperature and low pressure conditions are advantageous. Since the dehydrogenation reaction is an endothermic reaction, the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 is supplied with heat via a heat medium circulating through lines L11 and L12 from the heating section 4. The dehydrogenation reaction section 3 has a mechanism capable of heat exchange between the MCH flowing through the dehydrogenation catalyst and the heat medium from the heating section 4. The hydrogen-containing gas taken out in the dehydrogenation reaction section 3 is supplied to the gas-liquid separation section 6 via line L3. The hydrogen-containing gas in line L3 is supplied to the gas-liquid separation section 6 in a state containing liquid toluene as a mixture.

[0021] The heating unit 4 heats the heat medium and supplies the heat medium to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 via the line L11. The heated heat medium is returned to the heating unit 4 via the line L12. The heat medium is not particularly limited, and oil or the like may be employed. Note that any heating unit 4 may be adopted as long as it can heat the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3. For example, the heating unit 4 may directly heat the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3, or may heat the MCH supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 by heating the line L2. Further, the heating unit 4 may heat both the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 and the MCH supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3. For example, a burner or an engine can be adopted as the heating unit 4.

[0022] The gas-liquid separation unit 6 is a tank that separates toluene from the hydrogen-containing gas. The gas-liquid separation unit 6 stores the hydrogen-containing gas containing toluene as a mixture, thereby performing gas-liquid separation between hydrogen as a gas and toluene as a liquid. Further, the hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the gas-liquid separation unit 6 is cooled in the heat exchange unit 2. Note that the gas-liquid separation unit 6 may be cooled by a cooling medium from a cold heat source. In this case, the gas-liquid separation unit 6 has a mechanism capable of heat exchange between the hydrogen-containing gas in the gas-liquid separation unit 6 and the cooling medium from the cold heat source. The toluene separated in the gas-liquid separation unit 6 is supplied to the toluene tank 22 via the line L4. Further, the toluene in the toluene tank 22 is recovered by a moving body 60 such as a tank truck. The hydrogen-containing gas separated in the gas-liquid separation unit 6 is supplied to the hydrogen purification unit 8 via the lines L5 and L6 by the pressure of the compression unit 7. Note that when the hydrogen-containing gas is cooled, a part (toluene) of the gas is liquefied, and the gas-liquid separation unit 6 can separate the non-liquefied gas (hydrogen). The separation efficiency improves when the gas is at a lower temperature, and the liquefaction of toluene further progresses when the pressure is increased.

[0023] The hydrogen purification unit 8 removes dehydrogenation products (toluene in this embodiment) from the hydrogen-containing gas obtained in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 and separated into gas-liquid and gas-liquid gases in the gas-liquid separation unit 6. In this way, the hydrogen purification unit 8 purifies the hydrogen-containing gas to obtain high-purity hydrogen (purified gas). The obtained purified gas is supplied to line L8. The off-gas generated in the hydrogen purification unit 8 is supplied to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 3 via line L7.

[0024] The hydrogen purification section 8 varies depending on the hydrogen purification method used. Specifically, when membrane separation is used as the hydrogen purification method, it is a hydrogen separation device equipped with a hydrogen separation membrane. When the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) method or TSA (Temperature Swing Adsorption) method is used, it is an adsorption removal device equipped with multiple adsorption towers that store adsorbents for adsorbing impurities.

[0025] In this example, a hydrogen station for FVC was used as an illustration of a hydrogen supply system, but it could also be a hydrogen supply system for distributed power sources such as regular power sources or emergency power sources.

[0026] Returning to Figure 1, the configuration of the transport system 200 will be described in detail. The transport system 200 comprises an MCH production site 201 that produces the raw material MCH, a dehydrogenation site 210 having the hydrogen supply system 100 described above, a mobile unit 60 that transports the raw material and dehydrogenation products in a container 50, and a control device 250 that manages the entire system. Although only one mobile unit 60 is shown in Figure 1, transport is carried out by a number of mobile units 60.

[0027] MCH production site 201 is a site equipped with a production system for producing MCH, the raw material. MCH production site 201 can produce MCH by subjecting toluene, a dehydrogenation product recovered from each dehydrogenation site 210, to a predetermined treatment and adding hydrogen. MCH production site 201 is equipped with an MCH tank 202 and a toluene tank 203. Therefore, at MCH production site 201, the produced MCH is stored in MCH tank 202. Then, at the required timing, the MCH in MCH tank 202 is stored in the container 50 of the mobile unit 60. Toluene tank 203 stores toluene recovered from each dehydrogenation site 210. At the time of MCH production, a predetermined amount of toluene is taken out of toluene tank 203 at MCH production site 201.

[0028] The control device 250 is a device that manages the entire transport system 200. The control device 250 can communicate information between the MCH production site 201, the dehydrogenation site 210, and the mobile unit 60 via wireless communication means. The control device 250 receives the amount of MCH stored in the MCH tank 21 and the amount of toluene stored in the toluene tank 22 at the dehydrogenation site 210. Based on these amounts of MCH and toluene at the dehydrogenation site 210, the control device 250 plans how much MCH needs to be produced and what route the MCH distribution and toluene recovery should be carried out. The control device 250 transmits this information to the MCH production site 201 and the mobile unit 60.

[0029] Next, with reference to Figure 3, the container 50 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. Figure 3(a) is a side view showing the container 50 mounted on the mobile body 60. Figure 3(b) is a conceptual diagram showing an example of use of the container 50. The container 50 can contain MCH and toluene mixed in its internal space. Mixing means, for example, as shown in the center diagram of Figure 3(b), that MCH and toluene are contained simultaneously in one container 50. As shown in Figure 3(a), the container 50 according to this embodiment is a tank for a tank truck and has a substantially cylindrical shape with its longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. The internal space is the space surrounded by the rear wall 50a, the front wall 50b, and the circumferential wall 50c of the container 50. The container 50 is positioned in the loading section at the rear of the mobile body 60.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3(a), the internal space of the housing 50 is divided into multiple storage chambers 52 by partition members 51. The partition members 51 are fixed around the entire circumference to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 50c at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50. This allows the partition members 51 to partition the internal space of the housing 50 in the front-rear direction. The multiple partition members 51 are arranged facing each other in the front-rear direction and spaced apart from each other. As a result, storage chambers 52 are formed between the rear wall 50a of the housing 50 and the partition members 51, between a pair of partition members 51, and between the front wall 50b of the housing 50 and the partition members 51. Watertightness is ensured between one storage chamber 52 and the other storage chambers 52. Therefore, liquid contained in one storage chamber 52 does not leak into the other storage chambers 52.

[0031] Next, an example of a transport method using the container 50 will be described with reference to Figures 3(b) and 4. Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a transport method. The transport method comprises an MCH containment step, an MCH distribution step, a toluene containment step, and a toluene return step.

[0032] The MCH storage process is the process of storing MCH in the storage unit 50 at the MCH manufacturing plant 201. At this time, the storage unit 50 is full of MCH, and all storage compartments 52 are filled with MCH (see the left diagram in Figure 3(b)). The mobile unit 60 loads the storage unit 50 in this state and departs from the MCH manufacturing plant 201.

[0033] The MCH distribution process is the process of distributing MCH to designated dehydrogenation sites. The mobile unit 60 distributes part or all of the MCH contained in the container 50 to the dehydrogenation sites 210 to be distributed. The toluene containment process is the process of containing toluene in the space created by distributing the MCH. The mobile unit 60 recovers toluene from the target dehydrogenation sites 210.

[0034] In the example shown in Figure 4, the mobile unit 60 distributes MCH to "Dehydrogenation Station A" of the dehydrogenation stations 210. Next, the mobile unit 60 recovers toluene from "Dehydrogenation Station B" of the dehydrogenation stations 210. At this time, since some of the containment chambers 52 become empty when MCH is distributed at "Dehydrogenation Station A", toluene is placed in the containment chambers 52 at "Dehydrogenation Station B" (see the central diagram in Figure 3(b)). Note that a small amount of MCH remains in the containment chambers 52 after the distribution of MCH. However, it is not necessary to wash the containment chambers 52, and toluene may be placed in the containment chambers 52 even with the MCH remaining.

[0035] Similarly, the mobile unit 60 distributes MCH to "Dehydrogenation Station C" of the dehydrogenation stations 210. Next, the mobile unit 60 recovers toluene from "Dehydrogenation Station D" of the dehydrogenation stations 210. As a result, all containment chambers 52 are filled with toluene, and the containment unit 50 is full of toluene (see the right-hand diagram in Figure 3(b)). Next, the mobile unit 60 performs the toluene return process.

[0036] The toluene return process involves returning the toluene recovered from each dehydrogenation site 210 to the toluene tank 203 at the MCH production site 201. This empties the container 50, allowing the process to be repeated from the MCH storage process. A small amount of toluene remains in the storage chamber 52 after the toluene has been returned. However, there is no need to clean the storage chamber 52, and MCH may be stored in the storage chamber 52 even with the toluene still present.

[0037] Furthermore, the toluene return process does not necessarily have to be performed when the container 50 is full of toluene. For example, the mobile unit 60 may return to the MCH production site 201 and return the toluene even when the toluene is not full or when there is still MCH remaining that could not be distributed. Also, the above-mentioned patterns of MCH distribution and toluene recovery can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the mobile unit 60 may recover toluene directly from the dehydrogenation site 210 where the MCH was distributed.

[0038] Next, the operation and effects of the containment body 50 and the transport method according to this embodiment will be described.

[0039] First, the container and transport method related to the comparative example will be described. The container related to the comparative example cannot carry both MCH and toluene. Furthermore, in the transport method using this container, when supplying raw materials from one MCH production site 201 to multiple dehydrogenation sites 210, a mobile vehicle dedicated to MCH transport is prepared. This mobile vehicle dedicated to MCH transport circulates among the multiple dehydrogenation sites 210, and when the container is empty, it returns to the MCH production site 201, where the raw materials are refilled, and then it circulates again. Meanwhile, a mobile vehicle dedicated to toluene recovery is prepared. This mobile vehicle dedicated to toluene recovery circulates among the multiple dehydrogenation sites 210 with an empty container and returns to the MCH production site 201. However, this transport method related to the comparative example has the problem that the frequency of transport of mobile vehicles such as tankers increases, resulting in higher transport costs and ultimately an increase in the cost of hydrogen.

[0040] In contrast, the container 50 according to this embodiment is a container 50 that contains a raw material including a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by dehydrogenation reaction, and can contain MCH (raw material) and toluene (dehydrogenation product) produced together with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction in its internal space.

[0041] Generally, when a mobile vehicle transports a predetermined raw material in a container, it is not common practice to transport the raw material and other substances simultaneously in the same container in order to avoid contamination. That is, as in the comparative example above, it is common practice to prepare a dedicated container for the raw material and a dedicated container for other substances for transportation.

[0042] However, as a result of diligent research, the inventors of the present invention have come to the following conclusions. Specifically, the inventors have found that when transporting raw materials such as MCH containing hydrides from which hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by dehydrogenation reaction, there is no problem in simultaneously containing dehydrogenation products such as toluene in the container 50 that contains the MCH. Toluene is a substance obtained by removing hydrogen from MCH. Therefore, even if a small amount of toluene is mixed into the MCH, toluene will be produced in the reaction of the dehydrogenation reaction section, so there is no adverse effect such as deterioration of the dehydrogenation catalyst due to such mixing. Also, even if a small amount of MCH is mixed into the toluene, the toluene will ultimately become MCH through the hydrogenation process, so there is no adverse effect such as a decrease in processing efficiency due to such mixing.

[0043] Therefore, the container 50 according to this embodiment can carry both MCH and toluene in its internal space. For example, if the mobile unit 60 receives a portion of the MCH from the container 50 at a certain dehydrogenation station 210, the internal space of the container 50 will become empty by the amount of the supplied MCH. The container 50 can then store the toluene stored at the dehydrogenation station 210 in this empty internal space. In this case, the mobile unit 60 can distribute MCH to multiple dehydrogenation stations 210 while also recovering toluene. Therefore, there is no need to prepare a separate mobile unit 60 dedicated to toluene recovery in addition to the mobile unit 60 dedicated to MCH distribution. As a result, the frequency of transporting the mobile unit 60 that transports MCH and toluene can be reduced.

[0044] The internal space may be divided into multiple storage compartments 52 by partition members 51. This makes it possible to easily form multiple storage compartments 52 within the internal space of the storage body 50.

[0045] The transport method according to this embodiment is a transport method for transporting MCH using the above-described container 50, comprising the steps of: storing MCH in the container 50 at an MCH manufacturing site 201 where MCH is manufactured; distributing the MCH from the container 50 at a plurality of dehydrogenation sites 210 where a dehydrogenation reaction is carried out using MCH; and storing toluene in the spaces formed by the distribution of MCH at the plurality of dehydrogenation sites 210.

[0046] This transport method allows for the same effects and benefits as those of the aforementioned containment body 50 to be obtained.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, a transportation method as shown in Figure 5 may be employed. Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a modified transportation method. As shown in Figure 5, if the MCH production site 201 and the dehydrogenation sites 210 (dehydrogenation sites C, D) are far apart and long-distance transportation (e.g., 600 km) is required, an intermediate site 221 (e.g., at the 300 km mark) equipped with an MCH tank 222 and a toluene tank 223 may be provided. For example, when the mobile unit 60 distributes MCH and recovers toluene to the dehydrogenation sites 210 (dehydrogenation sites A, B) located in section A, which can be handled by short-distance transportation, the MCH production site 201 stores the MCH and returns the toluene. On the other hand, when the mobile unit 60 distributes MCH and recovers toluene to the dehydrogenation sites 210 (dehydrogenation sites C, D) located in section B, which requires long-distance transportation, the intermediate site 221 stores the MCH and returns the toluene.

[0048] As an example of a mobile vehicle used for land transport as described above, a tank truck was used. However, the mobile vehicle may also be other mobile vehicles used for land transport, such as trains. Furthermore, the mobile vehicle may not only be a vehicle used for land transport, but also a vessel capable of transporting goods by river and sea. In the case of transporting goods by river or sea, an intermediate base 221 as shown in Figure 5 may also be established.

[0049] The shape of the containment body 50 is not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the manner in which the internal space is partitioned by the partition members can also be modified as appropriate.

[0050] Referring to Figure 6, the flow of energy and raw materials in the transport system 300 will be explained. As shown in Figure 6, the transport system 300 comprises an MCH unit 301 that produces MCH, a dehydrogenation unit 302 that produces hydrogen by a dehydrogenation reaction, and a hydrogen station 303 that supplies hydrogen. The MCH unit 301 is supplied with by-product hydrogen from a by-product hydrogen supply unit 306 such as a factory, and hydrogen produced by a water electrolysis unit 312 using renewable energy from a renewable energy supply unit 307. The MCH unit 301 is also supplied with toluene recovered from each dehydrogenation unit 302. As a result, the MCH unit 301 produces MCH. The MCH unit 301 stores toluene in a toluene tank 311. The MCH unit 301 stores MCH in an MCH tank 313. The MCH in the MCH tank 313 is stored in an MCH tank 314 on the dehydrogenation unit 302 side. In addition, the toluene produced in the dehydrogenation unit 302 is stored in a toluene tank 316. Hydrogen station 303 is supplied with hydrogen from dehydrogenation unit 302. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 50...container, 51...partition member, 52...container chamber, 60...mobile unit, 201...MCH manufacturing site (raw material manufacturing site), 210...dehydrogenation site.

Claims

1. A control device for managing a mobile body containing a raw material containing a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by a dehydrogenation reaction, and a dehydrogenation product generated together with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction, The mobile body comprises a plurality of storage chambers for each of the raw materials or the dehydrogenated products, The aforementioned control device is The amount of the raw material stored and the amount of the dehydrogenated product stored at multiple dehydrogenation sites where the dehydrogenation reaction of the raw material is carried out are received. A management device that, based on the received storage amount, circulates the mobile body from the raw material production site to the multiple dehydrogenation sites with the raw material contained in the multiple storage chambers, plans a transport route for distributing the raw material to each dehydrogenation site, and for storing the dehydrogenation products recovered from the dehydrogenation sites in the storage chambers that become vacant as a result of the distribution of the raw material.

2. The control device according to claim 1, which plans the amount of raw materials to be produced at the manufacturing site based on the received amount of storage.

3. The management device according to claim 1, which plans the distribution of the raw materials from the manufacturing site to the plurality of dehydrogenation sites based on the received storage amount.

4. The control device according to claim 3, which determines whether to distribute the raw materials at an intermediate facility located between the raw material production site and the dehydrogenation site, and whether to contain the dehydrogenation product, based on the distance between the raw material production site and the dehydrogenation site.

5. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile body includes a plurality of mobile bodies, and the device plans the transport route for each mobile body based on the storage amount.

6. The management device according to claim 1, which plans the transport route via an intermediate station located between the raw material manufacturing site and the dehydrogenation site, based on the distance between the raw material manufacturing site and the dehydrogenation site.

7. The control device according to claim 1, which plans the transport route in the mobile body based on the amount of raw material stored in the mobile body and the amount of dehydrogenated product stored in the mobile body.

8. The control device according to claim 7, which plans the transport route in the mobile body based on the amount of raw material stored at the raw material manufacturing site and the amount of dehydrogenated product stored.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the raw material is an organic hydride produced based on hydrogen produced using renewable energy, and the device plans a transport route for the organic hydride and the dehydrogenation product toluene contained in the mobile body.

10. A method for managing a mobile body containing a raw material containing a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by a dehydrogenation reaction, and a dehydrogenation product generated together with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction, The mobile body comprises a plurality of storage chambers for each of the raw materials or the dehydrogenated products, A step of receiving the amount of the raw material stored and the amount of the dehydrogenated product stored at a plurality of dehydrogenation sites where the dehydrogenation reaction of the raw material is carried out. A management method comprising the steps of: planning a transport route for transporting the raw materials from a raw material production site to a plurality of dehydrogenation sites with the raw materials contained in a plurality of storage chambers of the mobile body based on the received storage amount; distributing the raw materials to each dehydrogenation site; and storing the dehydrogenation products recovered from the dehydrogenation sites in the storage chambers that have become vacant due to the distribution of the raw materials.

11. A mobile body containing a raw material containing a hydride from which a hydrogen-containing gas can be obtained by dehydrogenation reaction, and a dehydrogenation product produced together with the hydrogen-containing gas by the dehydrogenation reaction. A management system comprising a management device for managing the aforementioned mobile body, The mobile body comprises a plurality of storage chambers for each of the raw materials or the dehydrogenated products, The aforementioned control device is The amount of the raw material stored and the amount of the dehydrogenated product stored at multiple dehydrogenation sites where the dehydrogenation reaction of the raw material is carried out are received. A management system that, based on the received storage amount, plans a transport route for a mobile vehicle to travel from a raw material production site to a plurality of dehydrogenation sites with the raw material contained in a plurality of storage chambers, for distributing the raw material to each dehydrogenation site, and for storing the dehydrogenation products recovered from the dehydrogenation sites in the storage chambers that become vacant as a result of the distribution of the raw material.