Dual hydrogen source for hydrogenation reactors

Abstract

The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to facilities having hydrogenation reactors that may receive hydrogen from multiple sources. Systems and methods where a portion of the hydrogen is produced in a local power electrolysis system facility are also disclosed.

Description

DUAL HYDROGEN SOURCE FOR HYDROGENATION REACTORSCROSS - REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 536,169, filed September 1, 2023, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The present application discloses systems and methods for facilities having hydrogenation reactors that receive hydrogen from various sources for sustainable decrease of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.BACKGROUND

[0003] Biomass processing facilities are capable of producing renewable fuel with reduced net GHG emissions. GHG emissions include, for example, carbon rich molecules, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. Biomass processing facilities may provide low net GHG emissions because they sequester carbon-rich waste (e.g., lignocellulosic waste) into fuel and high value products. As a result, the facility becomes part of a renewable carbon cycle.

[0004] These biomass processing facilities often include a hydrogenation reactor to transform biooil into biofuel. The hydrogen source has an impact in the overall GHG emissions of the facility. Traditionally, hydrogen is locally produced using steam methane reformers, which have higher GHG emissions. Use of green hydrogen sources, i.e., hydrogen produced through a lower emissions process, would reduce the overall GHG emissions. However, the availability of green hydrogen can be variable over time due to seasonal changes, unreliable sources, etc. These fluctuations prevent facilities with hydrogenation reactors from using GHG.SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention relates to systems and methods for industrial facilities with hydrogenation reactors to operate using “green” hydrogen sources. For example, green hydrogen may be produced by electrolysis systems that are powered by “green” power sources. In light of the seasonal and diurnal variability of production in some of the green power sources, exclusive use of green hydrogen in hydrogenation reactors may be inadequate. As such,embodiments described herein allow for supplying hydrogenation reactors with multiple sources of hydrogen in a seamless manner.

[0006] In an embodiment, a facility comprising a hydrogenation reactor that can hydrogenate a substrate and provide a hydrogenated product is disclosed. The hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive first hydrogen from a first hydrogen source and second hydrogen from a second hydrogen source. In some embodiments, the first hydrogen source may be an electrolysis system. In some embodiments, a local power infrastructure may be used to power the electrolysis system.

[0007] In some embodiments, the electrolysis system may be controlled by a controller configured to receive the demand for hydrogen, receive the production capacity for one or more power plants, receive an energy level for the energy storage system, calculate hydrogen production capacity for an electrolysis system based on the instant electricity production, calculate hydrogen production capacity for an electrolysis system based on the energy level for the energy storage system control the one or more power plants to supply power at a first power level to the electrolysis system based on the calculated first and second hydrogen production capacities, control the one or more power plants to supply power at a second power level to the energy storage system, and control the energy storage system to supply power at a third power level to the electrolysis system.

[0008] In another embodiment, a controller for a facility having a hydrogenation reactor and an electrolysis system is described. The controller is configured to determine a demand for hydrogen from the hydrogenation reactor, receive instant electricity production for a power plant electrically coupled to the electrolysis system, calculate a hydrogen production capacity for the electrolysis system based on the instant electricity production, calculate an excess hydrogen requirement based on the demand for hydrogen and the hydrogen production capacity, supply the electrolysis facility with power from the power plant, and adjust the output of the electrolysis system based on the excess hydrogen requirement.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present inventions, including the presently preferred embodiment, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed descriptions given below, serve to explain and teach the principles of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a facility having a hydrogenation reactor that is supplied with hydrogen by multiple sources, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the arrangement of a hydrogenation reactor supplied with hydrogen from an electrolysis reactor, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a biomass processing facility having a hydrogenation reactor supplied with hydrogen by an electrolysis system, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a hydrogen supply system for a hydrogenation reactor having an external mixing valve, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a hydrogen supply system for a hydrogenation reactor having an integrated mixing valve, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a hydrogen mixing valve, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a hydrogen supply controller for a hydrogen supply system, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process to control the supply of hydrogen, in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0018] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process to control an electrolysis system, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0019] It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, unless otherwise specified, and that elements of structures or functions are generally represented by reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the various embodiments described herein. The figures do not describe every aspect of the teachings described herein and do not limit the scope of the claims.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] As discussed above, facilities with hydrogenation reactors could decrease their overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by employing green hydrogen in their process. However, the unreliability of existing sources of green hydrogen prevents their use by these facilities. The present disclosure provides embodiments, and methods of use thereof, that allow facilities with hydrogenation reactors to integrate green hydrogen sources with more reliable hydrogen sources in the supply system of the hydrogenation reactors, in a manner that is responsive to the fluctuations in availability of the green hydrogen. These embodiments, therefore, allow facilities to transition into using green hydrogen and, consequently, to reduce GHG emissions without decreasing their productivity.

[0021] In the following description, for clarity and conciseness of the description, some of the components shown in the drawings are not described exhaustively and, instead, are described in sufficient detail to provide a person of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure and practice the invention. The operation of many of the components would be understood to one skilled in the art. Moreover, for clarity and conciseness of the description, certain components that would be inherently present, as understood by one skilled in the art, are omitted from the drawings or from the descriptions.

[0022] Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed herein can be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide the present system. Representative examples utilizing many of these additional features and teachings, both separately and in combination, are described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Therefore, combinations of features disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the teachings in the broadest sense and are instead taught merely to describe particularly representative examples of the present teachings.

[0023] The various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings. In addition, all features disclosed in the description and / or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restrictingthe claimed subject matter independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and / or the claims. All value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter. The dimensions and the shapes of the components shown in the figures are designed to help understand how the present teachings are practiced but are not intended to limit the dimensions and the shapes shown in the examples.

[0024] With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 1 illustrates a facility 100 having a hydrogenation reactor 102. The hydrogenation reactor 102 may be used to hydrogenate a substrate 104 and create a product 106. Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction by which substrate 104 chemically reacts with hydrogen 108 (e.g., hydrogen molecule (H2)) to produce the hydrogenated product 106. Note that substrate 104 and product 106 may be a mixture of multiple components. Specifically, hydrogen atoms are introduced in the molecular composition of the one or more components of substrate 104 to obtain one or more components of the hydrogenated product 106. The hydrogenation process may saturate certain organic compounds (e.g., oils) and may reduce certain organic compounds (e.g., organic acids, fats).

[0025] The hydrogenation reactor 102 may include a chamber, or any other receptacle, where the substrate 104 may be mixed with the hydrogen 108. In some embodiments, the hydrogenation reactor may have a particular geometry to facilitate hydrogenation. In some embodiments, the hydrogenation reactor may have a catalyst in the mixing region to facilitate hydrogenation. In some embodiments, the hydrogenation reactor may have outlets to collect residues from the hydrogenation process (e.g., liquid water, water vapor, soot).

[0026] The facility 100 may have more than one source 110 for the hydrogen 108. As illustrated, some facilities may use hydrogen 108 produced by a steam methane reformer 112, an external green hydrogen provider 114, or an electrolysis system 116. To coordinate the supply of hydrogen 108, facility 100 may include a controller 117 to regulate the supply of hydrogen 108 for the hydrogenation reactor 102 by the multiple sources 110. The controller 117 may be communicatively coupled with sensors (e.g., thermometers, barometers, flow meters) or actuators (e.g., valves, heating / cooling systems, pressurizers) across the facility 100.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the facility 100 detailing the operation of the electrolysis system 116. The electrolysis system 116 is designed to produce green hydrogen 108A that can be used to feed the hydrogenation reactor 102. Specifically, the electrolysissystem may break down water 109 using electrical power 118, to produce oxygen (e.g., O2) and hydrogen (e.g., H2). Specifically, the electrical power 118 is used by the electrolysis system 116 to reduce the hydrogen in the water molecules. In some embodiments, certain ions may be added to the water 109 to facilitate hydrolysis.

[0028] The electrical power 118 may be sourced from an external power source 120. In some embodiments, the external power source 120 may be a renewable power source, low GHG- emissions power source, or a zero GHG emissions power source. For example, the external power source may be a wind power plant, a solar power plant, or a hydroelectric power plant connected to the facility 100 through an electricity grid.

[0029] In some embodiments, the electrical power 118 may be sourced from local electrical infrastructure 121. The local electrical infrastructure 121 may include a local power source 122 or an energy storage system 124. The local power source 122 may be a renewable power source, such as a wind power plant or a solar power plant. In some embodiments, the local power source 122 may be a low GHG emissions or a zero GHG emissions thermoelectric power plant, such as a power plant associated with a carbon sequestration facility or a power plant that employs biomass as a feedstock.

[0030] In certain embodiments that have both the local power source 122 and the energy storage system 124, the variability over time in the electricity production by the local power source 122 may be mitigated by the energy storage system 124 to facilitate reliable provision of electrical power 118 by the local electrical infrastructure 121. For example, during periods when the local power source 122 is at peak production (e.g., during the day for a solar power plant), a portion of the generated energy may be stored in the energy storage system 124. During periods when the local power source 122 is at low production (e.g., during the night for a solar power plant), the energy storage system 124 may provide some of the electrical power 118 provided to the electrolysis system. In some embodiments, the energy storage system 124 is formed by high-capacity rechargeable electrical batteries.

[0031] Similarly, the external power source 120 may be used to compensate for any reductions in the provision of electrical power 118 by the local electrical infrastructure 121. For example, if the local electrical infrastructure 121 does not have the capacity to meet the demand for the electrical power 118 by the electrolysis system 116, the external power source 120 may be usedto supplement the power requirements and keep the electrolysis system 116 operating as demanded.

[0032] Fluctuations in the production of hydrogen 108A by the electrolysis system 116 may also be compensated through a hydrogen storage system 126. The hydrogen storage system 126 may be composed of high-pressure hydrogen tanks. If the hydrogenation reactor 102 has a peak production requirement that demands an amount of hydrogen 108A that exceeds the instant capacity for production of the electrolysis system 116, the hydrogen storage system 126 may be used to regulate the amount of hydrogen 108A provided to the hydrogenation reactor 102.

[0033] The hydrogen reactor 102 may produce some water 109 as a byproduct of the hydrogenation reaction. In some embodiments, the water 109 may be recycled into the electrolysis system for production of hydrogen 108A. The amount of water 109 generated by the hydrogenation reactor will, ordinarily, be less than the amount of water demanded by the electrolysis systems and, therefore, an external water supply may be needed. In some embodiments, the efficiency of the process may allow for recycling of more than 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% of the water. This allows for a process that saves on water extracted from the vicinity of facility 100.

[0034] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a biomass processing facility 200, which may include a hydrogenation reactor 102. The biomass processing facility may be used to convert biomass feedstock 204 into higher value products, such as biofuel 224, wood vinegar 230, or biochar 206. In some embodiments, the hydrogenation reactor 102 may be used to process nonsaturated substrates (e.g., biooil 214) to generate partially saturated or fully saturated substrates (e.g., crude biofuel 220), as detailed below.

[0035] The biomass feedstock 204 is initially processed by a pyrolysis reactor 202. The pyrolysis reactor 202 may perform an accelerated degradation of the biomass feedstock 204 into smaller organic molecules. In some embodiments, the pyrolysis reactor 202 employs a high- temperature, high-pressure, anoxic chamber. The pyrolysis reactor 202 may produce from the biomass feedstock 204, biochar 206 and pyrolysis gas 208. The pyrolysis gas 208, in turn, may be processed in a biooil recovery system 212 to produce a non-condensable gas phase 210. The non-condensable gas phase 210 may be used as fuel in the pyrolysis reactor 202,which reduces the need for external heating sources and, consequently, the net amount of GHG emissions by the facility 200.

[0036] The biooil recovery system 212 may also extract biooil 214 from the pyrolysis gas 208. The biooil may be composed of unsaturated organic molecules (e.g., fatty acid chains, grease). In some embodiments, the biooil 214 may be stored in a biooil storage facility 216. In some embodiments, the biooil may undergo a separation process 228 to extract an aqueous phase, from which wood vinegar 230 may be obtained. Wood vinegar 230 is a high-value product that may be used in the industry.

[0037] Biooil 214 may also be hydrogenated by the hydrogenation reactor 102. The hydrogenation of biooil 214 may saturate the unsaturated organic molecules and generate a mixture of biofuels (e.g., crude biofuel 220). As discussed with respect to FIG. 2, the hydrogenation reactor 102 may receive hydrogen 108A produced by the electrolysis system 116. In the embodiment of the biomass processing facility 200 illustrated in FIG. 3, the electrolysis system 116 receives electrical power 118 from the local electrical infrastructure 121 with low emissions of greenhouse gases. The electrical power 118 may be used to process water 109A and produce green hydrogen 108A (i.e., low green-house gas emissions hydrogen).

[0038] In some embodiments, the biomass processing facility 200 may have a steam methane reformer 112 that may be used to supply hydrogen 108B to the hydrogenation reactor 102. The steam methane reformer may be a reactor that may produce hydrogen 108B through a reaction between water 109B and an organic gas 218. The organic gas 218 may be syngas produced by the hydrogenation reactor 102. In some embodiments, the organic gas may be pyrolysis gas 208 or non-condensable gas 210. In some embodiments, the organic gas 218 may be externally supplied natural gas. In some embodiments the organic gas 218 may be externally supplied “green methane.” Considerations of the source of the organic gas 218 employed by the steam methane reformer 112 may include the desire to decrease the net emissions of greenhouse gases from the facility 200.

[0039] Both the hydrogenation reactor 102 and the steam methane reformer 112 require water in their ordinary course of use. Part of the water used by these reactors may be provided by the hydrogenation reactor 102. This partial recycling of water allows for a reduced use of water resources near the biomass processing facility 200.

[0040] The crude biofuel 220 produced in the hydrogenation reactor 102 may be further processed through fractional distillation 222 (e.g., in a fractional distillation tower), to obtain higher-performance biofuel 224. The biofuel may be stored locally in a biofuel storage 226.

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement 300 for the hydrogenation reactor 102 to receive hydrogen from more than one source. To improve efficiency of the hydrogenation reactor 102 operating in these conditions, a hydrogen mixing valve 302 may supply hydrogen in a specific set of conditions, as further illustrated in FIG. 6. Arrangement 300 may be used in combination with any of the facilities illustrated herein. The hydrogenation reactor 102 is supplied with hydrogen from a hydrogen mixing valve 302. The hydrogen mixing valve 302 may receive hydrogen from an electrolysis reactor 116, a steam methane reformer 112, and an external green hydrogen supply 114.

[0042] The different hydrogen sources may have different purity levels and compositions. For example, hydrogen produced from an electrolysis reactor 116 may have a higher amount of inorganic salts as compared to hydrogen produced by a steam methane reformer 112. On the other hand, the hydrogen produced by the steam methane reformer 112 may have a higher amount of organic impurities as compared to hydrogen produced by the electrolysis reactor 116. To homogenize the quality of the hydrogen provided to the hydrogenation reactor, hydrogen conditioning systems may be employed. The pre-conditioning hydrogen flow 306 provided by the electrolysis reactor 116 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 304 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 308. Likewise, the pre-conditioning hydrogen flow 316 provided by the external hydrogen supply 114 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 314 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 318, and the pre-conditioning hydrogen flow 326 provided by the steam methane reformer 112 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 324 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 328.

[0043] Moreover, hydrogen flows 308, 318, and 328, received by the hydrogen mixing valve 302 may have different pressures, temperatures, or mass flows. The hydrogen mixing valve 302 may standardize the conditions of the hydrogen delivered to the hydrogenation reactor 102 to improve its efficiency.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates another arrangement 400 for the hydrogenation reactor 102 to receive hydrogen from more than one source. As in arrangement 300, illustrated in FIG. 4,arrangement 400 may improve efficiency of the hydrogenation reactor 102 operating in the multi-source conditions. In arrangement 400, however, the hydrogenation reaction 102 may have a hydrogen intake component 402 that may be used to standardize the hydrogen delivered to the hydrogenation chamber in the hydrogenation reactor 102. Arrangement 400 may also be used in combination with any of the facilities illustrated herein. The hydrogenation reactor 102 is supplied with hydrogen from multiple sources through its hydrogen intake 402. The hydrogen mixing valve may receive hydrogen from an electrolysis reactor 116, a steam methane reformer 112, and an external green hydrogen supply 114. As discussed above, hydrogen flows 308, 318, and 328, may have different pressures, temperatures, or mass flows. The hydrogen intake 402 may facilitate operation of the hydrogenation reactor by adjusting the hydrogen conditions and ensuring standardized conditions within the hydrogenation chamber.

[0045] As discussed above, the different hydrogen sources may have different purity levels and compositions. For example, hydrogen produced from an electrolysis reactor 116 may have a higher amount of inorganic salts as compared to hydrogen produced by a steam methane reformer 112. On the other hand, the hydrogen produced by the steam methane reformer 112 may have a higher amount of organic impurities as compared to hydrogen produced by an electrolysis reactor 116. To homogenize the quality of the hydrogen provided to the hydrogenation reactor, hydrogen conditioning systems may be employed. The preconditioning hydrogen flow 306 provided by the electrolysis reactor 116 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 304 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 308. Likewise, the pre-conditioning hydrogen flow 316 provided by the external hydrogen supply 114 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 314 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 318, and the pre-conditioning hydrogen flow 326 provided by the steam methane reformer 112 may be conditioned by a hydrogen conditioning device 324 to produce a post-conditioning hydrogen flow 328.

[0046] With the foregoing in mind, diagram 500 of FIG. 6 illustrates the standardization process described above, in connection to FIGS. 4 and 5. Specifically, a hydrogen mixing valve 502 (e.g., hydrogen mixing valve 302, hydrogen intake 402), may take hydrogen from multiple sources 504 that may be mixed to produce a standardize output 505. For example, a first source may provide hydrogen in a condition 506A (e.g., pressure, temperature, mass flow, volumetric flow, etc.), a second source may provide hydrogen in condition 506B, and a third source may provide hydrogen in condition 506C. Proper or efficient functioning of thehydrogenation reactor may depend on specified conditions for the hydrogen (e.g., pressure, temperature, mass flow). The hydrogen mixing valve 502 may selectively choose one or more sources to provide the amount of mass flow in the proper conditions 508.

[0047] As discussed above, the facilities described herein may include a hydrogen supply controller, which may be used to coordinate the operations of the facility in an efficient manner. FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the inputs 602 that the hydrogen supply controller may use to control the facility operations. For example, the hydrogen supply controller 117 may use one or more of the requirements of hydrogen to maintain the hydrogenation flows, the operational status of facility equipment, availability and cost of syngas or methane for the steam methane reformer, availability and cost of power for the electrolysis system, availability and cost for external green hydrogen supplies, a target for greenhouse gas emissions, or price differences between the high value products. In facilities operating in areas with carbon credit markets, the price of carbon credits may be used as an input to the hydrogen supply controller as well.

[0048] It should be understood that the hydrogen supply controller 117 may be implemented on one or more computers, each having one or more processors, and communicatively coupled with sensors and actuators around the controlled facility. In some embodiments, a dedicated hardware device may be used for communications to facilitate specialized communication operations such as implementing analog communications protocols or non-standard digital communications protocols. In some embodiments, the hydrogen supply controller 117 may be implemented as a distributed network across the entire facility, which may include a processing server that coordinates the operations of an array of smart sensors, smart actuators, local processing devices communicatively coupled to sensors and actuators, or area-wide processing devices dedicated to specific types of data. As such, the hydrogen supply controller 117 may include one or more processors, one or more memory devices, one or more transitory memory devices, integrated sensors, integrated actuators, user input interfaces (e.g., keyboard, mouse, voice controls, pedals), and user output interfaces (e.g., displays, alarms, visual alerts), which may be in a single device or distributed across multiple devices in the facility.

[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates a method 700 to control the supply of hydrogen to a hydrogenation reactor (e.g., hydrogenation reactor 102) in a facility (e.g., facility 100). The method 700 may be implemented using a controller (e.g., hydrogen supply controller 117) that may be communicatively coupled to sensors and / or actuators in the facility. The method 700 may employ inputs (e.g., inputs 602) to facilitate its operation. In a step 702, a controller maydetermine hydrogen requirements of the hydrogenation reactor. Determining the hydrogenation requirement may include a determination of the mass flow expected from the hydrogenation reactor (e.g., target amounts of substrate and / or product to be processed). In a step 704, the controller may determine the available amounts of hydrogen from local low greenhouse gas emissions sources, e.g., green hydrogen 108A from a electrolysis system 116. The amount determined in step 704 may be determined based on the amount of power and / or the amount of water in environments where the low emissions hydrogen is generated in an electrolysis facility.

[0050] In a step 706, the controller may determine the amount of supplemental hydrogen required to meet the demands of the hydrogenation reaction, which may be the demand determined in step 702. The supplemental hydrogen may be obtained from a higher GHG- emissions source, e.g., a steam methane reformer 112. In step 708, the controller may determine the total greenhouse gas emissions based on the amounts determined in steps 704 and 706. In embodiments where the higher GHG-emissions source is a steam methane reformer and the lower GHG-emissions source is an electrolysis system, parameters such as the GHG-emissions footprint of the electrolysis power supply or the GHG-emissions footprint of the steam methane reformer may be used in the determination of the total greenhouse gas emissions.

[0051] At step 710, the controller may compare the estimated GHG emissions with an emissions target for the facility. If the emissions target is met, the controller may control the facility to provide hydrogen locally, at step 712. If the emissions target is not met at step 710, the controller may determine whether the amount of stored green hydrogen available in a hydrogen storage facility may be used in place of the high GHG-emissions source, at step 714. In some situations, such as a transitory peak production demand, use of locally stored green hydrogen generated during off-peak hours may be particularly suitable. If the stored green hydrogen supply is adequate, the controller may supplement the hydrogen sources with the stored green hydrogen, at step 716.

[0052] If it is determined at step 714 that the stored green hydrogen is not sufficient to meet the GHG-emissions target, the controller may determine the availability of external green hydrogen supply, at step 718. This availability may be determined based, for example, on a pressure level or mass flow in a conditioning device (e.g., external hydrogen conditioning device 314). If the green hydrogen supply is available, the controller may employ the externalgreen hydrogen, at step 720. However, if the GHG emission target cannot be met, the controller may adjust downwards the production capacity of the hydrogenation reactor, at step 722.

[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 to manage the electricity sources (e.g., local electrical infrastructure 121) to a facility (e.g., facility 100) that may have an electrolysis system (e.g., electrolysis system 116) to a hydrogenation reactor (e.g., hydrogenation reactor 102) in a facility (e.g., facility 100). The method 900 may be implemented using a controller (e.g., hydrogen supply controller 117) that may be communicatively coupled to sensors and / or actuators in the facility. The method 900 may employ inputs (e.g., inputs 602) to facilitate its operation.

[0054] In a step 902, the controller may determine the hydrogen production demand for the electrolysis facility. The hydrogen demand may be determined from a production demand from the hydrogenation reactor, as discussed in method 700, above. The demand for production may include a range of time during which the substrate will be treated. For example, the demand may be an amount of hydrogen to be generated in the next Ihr, 2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs, 8hrs, lOhrs, 12hrs, 18hrs, or one day.

[0055] In a step 904, the controller may determine the current electricity production capacity from a local power plant, such as a local power source 122. As discussed above, the local power plant may be a low-GHG emissions power plant with diurnal or seasonal production variability, such as a solar plant or a wind plant, and, consequently, the current electricity production capacity is a variable. As such, step 904 may be facilitated using information provided to the controller by the local power plant.

[0056] In some embodiments, the current electricity capacity may be an instant electricity capacity. In some embodiments, the electricity capacity may be an estimate for production in the next Ihr, 2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs, 8hrs, lOhrs, 12hrs, 18hrs, or one day. In some embodiments, the time interval specified in step 902 may be employed. Moreover, in embodiments where there is an energy storage system (e.g., energy storage system 124) available to regularize electricity supply, the electricity production capacity at step 904 may be a time-averaged capacity. For example, a local electricity infrastructure having a solar power plant may have an average daily production of 24MWh, which is limited to daylight hours. If the energy storage system is adequately dimensioned, the local electricity infrastructure will be able to provide 1MW around the clock, and this value may be determined as the output at step 904.

[0057] In a step 906, the controller may determine the capacity of production of hydrogen in the electrolysis facility, based in part on the availability of electrical power in step 904. For example, the amount of green hydrogen to be generated may be associated with a power amount. In some embodiments, the controller may also take into account the availability of other resources (e.g., water) and the power usage requirements to support the flow of resources (e.g., power for pumping water into the electrolysis system).

[0058] If the capacity of production of hydrogen in the electrolysis facility exceeds the demand, at step 908, the controller may provide sufficient electricity from the local power infrastructure to the electrolysis system to meet that demand, at step 910. Any excess power produced at the local power plant may be stored in an energy storage system, at step 912.

[0059] If the capacity of production of hydrogen in the electrolysis facility is below the demand, the controller may obtain data from a local energy storage system regarding extra energy capacity (e.g., charge level), at step 914. At step 916, the controller may take into account the time range for production, the stored energy in the energy storage system, and the production capacity from the local power plant to determine the total available electrical power to meet the current hydrogen demand.

[0060] If the capacity of production of hydrogen in the electrolysis facility exceeds the demand at step 918 the controller may provide a combination of electricity from the lower power plant and the local energy storage system to the electrolysis system, at step 920. However, if the capacity of production of hydrogen is not met, the electrolysis system may limit its hydrogen production based on the electrical power that is available, at step 922.

[0061] While the present system has been shown and described herein in certain examples that illustrate the results and advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Thus, the forms shown and described herein are to be taken as illustrative, and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter.

[0062] Embodiments as described herein have significant advantages over previously developed implementations. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, other similar apparatus arrangements are possible within the general scope. The embodiments described above are intended to be examples and should not limit the claims, and the bounds should be determined from the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A facility comprising: a hydrogenation reactor configured to hydrogenate a substrate and to provide a hydrogenated product, wherein the hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive first hydrogen from a first hydrogen source and second hydrogen from a second hydrogen source.

2. The facility of claim 1, wherein the hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive third hydrogen from a third hydrogen source.

3. The facility of claim 1, wherein the first hydrogen comprises green hydrogen.

4. The facility of claim 1, wherein the first hydrogen source is an electrolysis system.

5. The facility of claim 4, wherein the facility comprises the electrolysis system.

6. The facility of claim 4, wherein the electrolysis system receives electric power from one or more power plants.

7. The facility of claim 6, wherein the one or more power plants comprise a solar power plant, a wind power plant, a hydroelectric power plant, or any other renewable power plant.

8. The facility of claim 6, wherein the facility comprises at least one of the one or more power plants.

9. The facility of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the one or more power plants is electrically coupled to the electrolysis system via an electrical grid external to the facility.

10. The facility of claim 6, comprising an energy storage system electrically coupled to the electrolysis system and to the one or more power plants, wherein the energy storage system comprises an electrical battery.

11. The facility of claim 10, comprising a controller for the electrolysis system configured to: receive demand for first hydrogen; receive instant electricity production for the one or more power plants; receive energy level for the energy storage system calculate first hydrogen production capacity for electrolysis system based on the instant electricity production; calculate second hydrogen production capacity for electrolysis facility based on the energy level for the energy storage system; control the one or more power plants to supply power at a first power level to the electrolysis system based on the calculated first and second hydrogen production capacities; control the one or more power plants to supply power at a second power level to the energy storage system; and control the energy storage system to supply power at a third power level to the electrolysis system.

12. The facility of claim 11, wherein the controller for the electrolysis system is configured to: calculate a demand for external power based on the demand for first hydrogen, the first hydrogen production capacity and the second hydrogen production capacity.

13. The facility of claim 1, comprising a hydrogen mixing valve configured to receive the first hydrogen at a first pressure and first temperature, the second hydrogen at a second pressure and second temperature, and to provide mixed hydrogen at a third pressure and third temperature to the hydrogenation reactor.

14. The facility of claim 13, wherein the hydrogenation reactor comprises the hydrogen mixing valve.

15. The facility of claim 1, comprising a hydrogen conditioning device configured to receive a non-conditioned hydrogen from the first hydrogen source and to provide the first hydrogen to the hydrogenation reactor.

16. The facility of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen conditioning device comprises a catalytic converter.

17. The facility of claim 1, comprising a hydrogen supply controller for the facility configured to: calculate a hydrogen requirement based on the demand for hydrogenated product; receive availability of hydrogen from the first hydrogen source; and calculate hydrogen requirement from the second hydrogen source.

18. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises a biomass processing facility and wherein the hydrogenation reactor is configured to hydrogenate biooil to produce biofuel.

19. A controller for a facility comprising a hydrogenation reactor, configured to: receive a hydrogen requirement for the hydrogen reactor; determine availability of hydrogen from a first hydrogen source; and determine hydrogen requirement from a second hydrogen source that supplements the first hydrogen source.

20. The controller of claim 18, communicatively coupled to a memory that comprises a first intrinsic metric associated with the first hydrogen source, a second intrinsic metric associated with the second hydrogen source, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine based on the availability from the first hydrogen source and the first intrinsic metric, first contribution to an aggregate value; determine based on the hydrogen requirement from the second hydrogen source and the second intrinsic metric, second contribution to the aggregate value; and adjust the hydrogenation reactor based on the aggregate value.

21. The controller of claim 20, wherein the first and second intrinsic metrics comprise CO2 emissions per kg of H2 or price per kg of H2.

22. The controller of claim 20, wherein the memory comprises a third intrinsic metric associated with an external hydrogen source, and wherein the controller is configured to determine second hydrogen requirement from the external hydrogen source.

23. A controller for a facility comprising a hydrogenation reactor and an electrolysis system configured to supply the hydrogen reactor, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a demand for hydrogen from the hydrogenation reactor;receive instant electricity production for a power plant electrically coupled to the electrolysis system; calculate a hydrogen production capacity for the electrolysis system based on the instant electricity production; calculate an excess hydrogen requirement based on the demand for hydrogen and the hydrogen production capacity; supply the electrolysis facility with power from the power plant; and adjust the output of the electrolysis system based on the excess hydrogen requirement.

24. The controller of claim 23, wherein the power plant comprises a solar power plant, a wind power plant, or a hydroelectric power plant.

25. The controller of claim 23, wherein the power plant comprises a local power plant or a nonlocal power plant electrically coupled to the electrolysis system via a public grid.

26. The controller of claim 23, wherein the facility comprises an electrical storage system electrically coupled to the electrolysis system, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine an excess power requirement for the electrolysis system based on the excess hydrogen requirement; supplement the electrolysis facility with power from the electrical storage system based on the excess power requirement.

27. The controller of claim 23, wherein the facility comprises a second hydrogen source configured to supply the hydrogen reactor, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the output of the second hydrogen source based on the excess hydrogen requirement.

28. The controller of claim 27, wherein the second hydrogen source comprises a hydrogen storage system.

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