Hydrogen carrier production method, processing device, and program

Abstract

This hydrogen carrier production method comprises: an acquisition step for acquiring a first emission factor for a greenhouse effect gas produced when converting hydrogen into ammonia, a second emission factor for a greenhouse effect gas produced when converting hydrogen into liquid hydrogen, and a third emission factor for a greenhouse effect gas produced when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier by using hydrogen; and a determination step for determining, on the basis of the first emission factor to the third emission factor, the rate for converting the hydrogen into the ammonia, the liquid hydrogen, or the liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

Description

Method for producing hydrogen carriers, processing apparatus, and program

[0001] This invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen carriers, an apparatus for producing them, and a program.

[0002] In recent years, the use of hydrogen energy has attracted global attention as a means of achieving carbon neutrality and a decarbonized society. While hydrogen is seen as a promising energy carrier that does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when used, greenhouse gases (hereinafter also referred to as "GHGs") may be emitted during processes such as production, transportation, and conversion. For this reason, calculating and managing GHG emissions throughout the entire hydrogen supply chain is crucial.

[0003] Liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (hereinafter collectively referred to simply as "hydrogen carriers") are widely being considered as means of transporting and storing hydrogen, and the GHG emissions differ depending on the production process, adjustment or conversion process, and transportation process for each. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an operational management system that can efficiently deliver raw materials from a raw material production site to multiple dehydrogenation sites.

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-157750

[0005] Technologies utilizing "hydrogen carriers" such as ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers are promising for large-scale, long-distance transportation and storage of hydrogen. However, the processes for producing these hydrogen carriers consume various forms of energy, including electricity and fuel, which can lead to greenhouse gas emissions.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a method for producing hydrogen carriers that promotes the production of hydrogen carriers with low greenhouse gas emissions, while also adjusting the overall operation, including demand and cost, a processing apparatus used in the production method, and a program.

[0007] The hydrogen carrier manufacturing method of this disclosure includes an acquisition step of obtaining a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen, and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor.

[0008] The apparatus used for producing a hydrogen carrier according to the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen, and a determination unit that determines the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor.

[0009] The program of this disclosure causes the processing apparatus to perform an acquisition step of acquiring a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen, and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first, second, and third emission factors.

[0010] This disclosure provides a method for producing hydrogen carriers that promotes the production of hydrogen carriers with low greenhouse gas emissions while adjusting the overall operation, including demand and costs; an processing device used in said production method; and a program.

[0011] This is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen supply chain. This is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen supply chain via a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH / TL system). This is a schematic diagram showing one aspect of the system of this disclosure. This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the processing device of this disclosure. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of emission factor data. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the conversion ratio. This is a diagram showing an example of a greenhouse gas emission image. This is a diagram showing an example of process data. This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the processing device of this disclosure. This is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of this disclosure.

[0012] The present invention will be described in detail below, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence.

[0013] A. Definitions of Terms The following are definitions of the main terms used in this disclosure.

[0014] A "hydrogen carrier" refers to a medium capable of storing and transporting hydrogen, and includes ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). Among these, ammonia has a high hydrogen density, can utilize existing infrastructure for transportation and storage, and can also be used directly as fuel. Liquid hydrogen is hydrogen liquefied at extremely low temperatures and can be maintained in a highly pure state. Liquid organic hydrogen carriers can stably store hydrogen in the form of organic compounds and have the advantage of utilizing existing petroleum-based infrastructure for transportation and storage. In addition, hydrogen can also be used as a hydrogen carrier by reacting CO2 with hydrogen to produce methane or methanol, or by using hydrogen storage alloys that reversibly react with hydrogen to produce metal hydrides.

[0015] Note that "first hydrogen carrier," "second hydrogen carrier," "third hydrogen carrier," etc., are designations used to distinguish hydrogen carriers that may have different origins or types from each other, and each has associated GHG emission information.

[0016] A "liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC)" is a general term for organic compounds that can reversibly retain hydrogen. In this specification, examples include combinations of methylcyclohexane (MCH) and toluene (TL), and combinations of octadecahydrodibenzyltoluene (H18-DBT) and dibenzyltoluene (DBT). When there is no particular distinction between the hydrogenated state, such as MCH, and the dehydrogenated state, such as TL, the term "liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC)" is used, and when a distinction is made between the hydrogenated and dehydrogenated states, that fact will be clearly stated.

[0017] "Compositional analysis" refers to the act of analyzing the composition of hydrogen carriers in tanks and piping to confirm whether they meet the required purity and characteristics.

[0018] Furthermore, the definitions of other terms used in this disclosure are given below. Many of these terms and definitions conform to relevant standards published by international standardization organizations such as ISO and IEC (e.g., ISO 14040, ISO 14067, ISO 14083, ISO 14025). For definitions of terms, you may refer to the ISO Online browsing platform (https: / / www.iso.org / obp) or IEC Electropedia (https: / / www.electropedia.org / ) as needed.

[0019] Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are naturally occurring and anthropogenic atmospheric gaseous components that absorb and emit specific wavelengths within the infrared radiation spectrum emitted from the Earth's surface, atmosphere, and clouds. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) refer to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

[0020] "Greenhouse gas emissions" (hereinafter also referred to as "GHG emissions") refer to the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, etc.) emitted during processes such as hydrogen production, conversion, and transportation. Greenhouse gas emissions can be expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent. Typically, greenhouse gas emissions for a given activity can be calculated using the following formula: Emissions (kg - CO2) = Activity amount × Emission factor

[0021] An "emission factor" may be calculated by measuring the CO2 generated by a specific activity or the combustion of a fuel and deriving it from the ratio to the activity level. Standard values ​​calculated by international or governmental organizations can be used. For example, an external server can be used to refer to a server where such emission factors are recorded. (Emission factors based on energy consumption) Example: kg-CO2 / kWh (CO2 emissions per 1 kWh of electricity) Example: kg-CO2 / L (CO2 emissions per 1 liter of fuel) (Emission factors based on activity level) Example: kg-CO2 / t (CO2 emissions per ton of raw materials used) Example: kg-CO2 / km (CO2 emissions when a trailer travels 1 km)

[0022] "Activity level" refers to data that indicates the amount of activity that forms the basis for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and other emissions. Examples include fuel consumption (e.g., gasoline consumption (L), coal burned (tons)), electricity consumption (kWh), distance traveled (e.g., tanker transport distance (km)), and raw material consumption (tons).

[0023] "Greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrogen carriers" refers to the sum of greenhouse gas emissions calculated in the hydrogen production process, the hydrogen carrier adjustment or conversion process, and the hydrogen carrier transport process, i.e., the carbon footprint.

[0024] On the other hand, "greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrogen production" refers to greenhouse gas emissions calculated in the hydrogen production process. Similarly, "greenhouse gas emissions associated with adjustment or conversion to hydrogen carriers" refers to greenhouse gas emissions calculated in the adjustment or conversion process from hydrogen to hydrogen carriers. "Greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation" refers to greenhouse gas emissions calculated in the transportation process of hydrogen carriers to the point immediately preceding the mixing process in this disclosure. Furthermore, "greenhouse gas emissions associated with conversion from hydrogen carriers to hydrogen" refers to greenhouse gas emissions calculated in the adjustment or conversion process from hydrogen carriers to hydrogen.

[0025] "Carbon footprint (CFP)" refers to the sum of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in a product system, expressed in CO2 equivalent, and is evaluated based on a life cycle assessment using a single impact category: climate change.

[0026] Furthermore, "partial CFP" refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas removals in CO2 equivalent for one or more specific processes included in a product system, and is based on a selected stage or process in the life cycle.

[0027] "Conditioning" refers to changing the physical conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.) of a substance. Examples include changing the pressure of hydrogen gas, converting hydrogen gas into liquid hydrogen, and converting liquid hydrogen back into hydrogen gas.

[0028] "Conversion" refers to changing the chemical state of a substance, and in this disclosure, examples include hydrogenation processes that convert hydrogen to ammonia or LOHC, or dehydrogenation processes that convert ammonia or LOHC to hydrogen.

[0029] A "process" is a series of interconnected or interacting activities that convert input into output. "Input" refers to the product, material, or energy flow entering a single process, while "output" refers to the product, material, or energy flow leaving a single process.

[0030] A "co-product" refers to two or more products that are produced from the same unit process or product system. An example would be oxygen produced along with hydrogen in a hydrogen production process.

[0031] A "system boundary" refers to a boundary based on a set of criteria that define a single process included in the system under consideration.

[0032] "Allocation" refers to the process of distributing input or output flows in a process or product system between the product system under consideration and one or more other product systems.

[0033] "System expansion" refers to the concept of extending a product system to include additional functions related to by-products. For example, when hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water, oxygen is produced as a by-product. This oxygen can be used for medical or industrial purposes and may compete with existing oxygen supplies in the market. By subtracting the reductions from this substitution (reductions in CO2 emissions from the air separation unit) from the environmental impact of hydrogen production, the carbon footprint (CFP) of hydrogen is reduced as a result.

[0034] "Transportation" is the act of moving goods from one place to another, and is carried out by different modes of transport.

[0035] "Means of transport" refers to modes of transport used to move goods, such as inland waterways, pipelines, railways, and roads.

[0036] The term "route" refers to a path (or the travel process thereof) for moving from one point to another.

[0037] The term "delivery gate" refers to a location where the control right of a product is transferred between a purchaser and a supplier based on a contractual agreement.

[0038] The term "consumption gate" refers to the point where a product is finally delivered in the entire supply chain of the product.

[0039] The term "transport chain" refers to a series of elements related to cargo that collectively constitute the movement of cargo from the place of departure to the place of destination. Further, the term "transport chain element (TCE)" refers to a section within the transport chain where cargo is carried by a single vehicle or passes through a single hub.

[0040] The term "hub" refers to a location where cargo is transshipped from one vehicle to another.

[0041] B. Overall Configuration B1. Calculation Framework for Greenhouse Gases FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen supply chain. The greenhouse gas calculation of the present disclosure targets the well-to-consumption gate system boundary, and includes direct emissions and indirect emissions. The system boundary may be divided into three categories for consideration: hydrogen production processes, conditioning or conversion processes, and transportation processes.

[0042] The term "greenhouse gas emission (GHG emission)" refers to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Direct emissions may include GHGs directly emitted into the atmosphere by equipment / devices used in a process. Further, indirect emissions may include GHGs emitted in relation to the production / acquisition of electricity / heat or raw materials used in a process.

[0043] Greenhouse gas emissions may also be expressed as the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per functional unit. A functional unit is a unit that indicates the quantitative performance of a product system. In supply chains such as hydrogen production processes, processing or conversion processes, and transportation processes, a functional unit is recommended to be 1 kg of hydrogen or 1 kg of hydrogen carrier with properties that meet the requirements of subsequent stages.

[0044] "CO2e (CO2e)" is a unit used to compare the radiative forcing of a greenhouse gas with that of carbon dioxide, and can be calculated using the following formula. Examples of greenhouse gases considered include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). [CO2e] = [CO2] + 28 × [CH4] + 265 × [N2O]

[0045] Examples of hydrogen production processes shown in Figure 1A include hydrogen production by water electrolysis, hydrogen production by steam reforming of natural gas with CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage), hydrogen as a by-product in industrial applications, hydrogen production by coal gasification with CCS, hydrogen production from biomass, and hydrogen production by automated thermal reforming of natural gas with CCS.

[0046] Examples of hydrogen preparation or conversion processes shown in Figure 1A include ammonia production and conversion by dehydrogenation, preparation of liquid hydrogen, and conversion of liquid organic hydrogen carriers by hydrogenation / dehydrogenation. The downstream boundary of the hydrogen production process may correspond to the upstream boundary of the preparation / conversion process.

[0047] GHG emissions from electricity used for hydrogen production, adjustment, and conversion may be limited to direct emissions and some indirect emissions. Indirect emissions exclude emissions associated with the manufacture of power generation equipment. Such GHG emissions may include primary energy extraction and transport, conversion, generation, and losses in the power grid. GHG emissions from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power are considered zero.

[0048] The GHG emissions in the hydrogen carrier transport process shown in Figure 1A may be calculated by summing the GHG emissions calculated separately for each transport chain element (TCE). The calculation of GHG emissions in the transport chain (TC) may include transport operations and hub operations.

[0049] Here, a transport operation refers to the transportation of goods using means of transport, and may include, for example, fuel consumption for propulsion and onboard activities. A hub operation refers to the movement and transshipment of goods via a hub, and may include, for example, pre- and post-transport hub operations and intermediate storage that complement and connect transport operations. Means of transport include modes of transport used to transport cargo, such as inland waterways, pipelines, railways, and roads.

[0050] Furthermore, in calculating greenhouse gas emissions, emissions that meet a predetermined cutoff criterion may be excluded. Also, emissions from the construction, manufacture, and disposal of capital goods (e.g., hydrogen production equipment), travel, employee commuting, and upstream leased assets are not considered at the well-to-consumption gate system boundary. On the other hand, emissions from capital goods ("CAPEX emissions") may be reported.

[0051] B2. As an example of a hydrogen supply chain, Figure 1B shows a schematic diagram of a hydrogen supply chain via a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH / TL system). Note that Figure 1B is just an example, and the liquid organic hydrogen carrier is not limited to the MCH / TL system. A hydrogen supply chain utilizing a liquid organic hydrogen carrier typically includes a hydrogen production process, a conversion process from hydrogen to a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH), a transport process for the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH), a dehydrogenation process from the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH) to hydrogen, and a hydrogen utilization process. Furthermore, in a hydrogen supply chain utilizing a liquid organic hydrogen carrier, the dehydrogenated liquid organic hydrogen carrier (TL) is reused and rehydrogenated. Therefore, the transport process may include a transport process for transporting the dehydrogenated liquid organic hydrogen carrier (TL).

[0052] In the transport process for the reuse of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (TLs) after dehydrogenation, the addition of new dehydrogenated carriers (TLs) may be included to compensate for the amount of dehydrogenated carriers (TLs) reduced by the dehydrogenation process, etc. Dehydrogenated carriers equivalent to the loss are also called "makeup LOHCs." GHG emissions corresponding to makeup LOHCs may be included in the GHG emissions of the conversion process.

[0053] Alternatively, instead of the hydrogen production process and the hydrogen-to-liquid organic hydrogen carrier (MCH) conversion process described above, a conversion process that directly hydrogenates the dehydrogenation carrier by electrochemical reaction and converts it to a liquid organic hydrogen carrier may be used. A typical example of such a conversion process is the Direct MCH process, which uses electricity from renewable energy sources to directly convert toluene to methylcyclohexane (MCH). This conversion process is expected to simplify the process, and furthermore, because hydrogen can be stored and transported as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier without first extracting it as a gas, the need for hydrogen leakage and high-pressure management is reduced, and safety is improved.

[0054] Liquid hydrogen (LH ２ A hydrogen supply chain using this method includes a hydrogen production process, a liquid hydrogen conversion process, a liquid hydrogen transport process, and a hydrogen utilization process, and may also include a conversion process that vaporizes the liquid hydrogen before the hydrogen utilization process. The vaporization process allows hydrogen to be supplied in a form suitable for fuel cells and industrial applications, instead of directly using liquid hydrogen.

[0055] A hydrogen supply chain via ammonia may include a hydrogen production process, a hydrogen-to-ammonia conversion process, an ammonia transport process, an ammonia-to-hydrogen dehydrogenation process, and a hydrogen utilization process. Alternatively, ammonia may be used by directly burning it at the consumption gate without going through the ammonia-to-hydrogen dehydrogenation process.

[0056] C. When transporting and storing the hydrogen system described in this disclosure on a large scale and over long distances, technologies utilizing hydrogen carriers such as ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers are promising. However, the amount of energy and processes required differ depending on whether ammonia is produced, liquid hydrogen is produced, or LOHC is hydrogenated, resulting in differences in GHG emissions. Furthermore, there are upper limits to the production capacity of the facilities for producing each carrier, and storage also differs depending on the carrier; liquid hydrogen has high storage costs at low temperatures, and ammonia has high toxicity and handling risks. Moreover, even if only hydrogen carriers with low greenhouse gas emissions are produced, if the optimal ratio is not determined according to demand, the required amount will be exceeded or not, leading to problems with costs and supply balance.

[0057] Thus, in the production of hydrogen carriers, it is necessary to simultaneously consider multiple factors such as the reduction of GHG emissions, the production capacity of manufacturing facilities, storage costs, market prices, and demand, and to produce each carrier in an appropriate ratio. However, conventional technologies have not adequately established a mechanism to automatically or appropriately determine the production ratio by comprehensively combining economic, equipment, and demand perspectives while calculating GHG emissions in detail.

[0058] In this regard, the present disclosure provides a hydrogen carrier manufacturing method, an apparatus for use in the manufacturing method, and a program that enable relatively easy derivation of GHG emissions in the manufacturing processes of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers, determine the optimal conversion ratio based on these values ​​by considering factors such as equipment manufacturing capacity, storage costs, standard production volume, and market price, and dynamically control the actual manufacturing equipment to achieve both GHG emission reduction and efficient and stable supply.

[0059] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a hydrogen carrier production system in this disclosure. The production system 1 shown in Figure 2 may include a processing unit 100, a liquid organic hydrogen carrier hydrogenation unit 310, a liquid hydrogen adjustment unit 320, and an ammonia production unit 330. The processing unit 100 may be connected to the units 310, 320, and 330 via a wired or wireless network. The processing unit 100 may also be connected to an external server 200 via a network N.

[0060] The processing unit 100 may determine the conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first to third emission factors, and may directly or indirectly control the devices 310, 320, and 330. The processing unit 100 is a general-purpose computer and may consist of a single computer or multiple computers on a network N. The software and hardware configuration of the processing unit 100 will be described later.

[0061] The external server 200 is not particularly limited as long as it transmits requested information such as emission factors to the processing unit 100 via the network N, and may be, for example, a desktop, laptop, or other computer.

[0062] The hydrogenation apparatus 310 for liquid organic hydrogen carriers has the function of generating liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) by combining hydrogen with an organic compound. The hydrogenation apparatus 310 also includes a catalytic reactor for contacting hydrogen gas with the organic compound, and the catalytic reactor may be equipped with a heating device or the like for controlling the reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.). The hydrogen gas supply line may be equipped with a pressure control valve or flow meter, and the organic compound supply line may be equipped with a pump or valve, etc., and these may be configured to supply the hydrogen gas to the reactor at a predetermined flow rate and pressure. Furthermore, it may be equipped with a heat exchanger or gas-liquid separator for cooling the reaction product and separating by-products and unreacted components, and may have piping or a pump for sending the generated LOHC to a storage tank. In addition, it may have a control device for monitoring and appropriately controlling the reaction conditions, and the control unit may adjust the operating rate and production amount in real time in response to instructions from the processing apparatus 100.

[0063] The liquid hydrogen adjustment device 320 has the function of producing and adjusting liquid hydrogen by cooling hydrogen gas. The liquid hydrogen adjustment device 320 may also include a cooling stage equipped with a compressor and a multi-stage cooling system to gradually lower the temperature of gaseous hydrogen and ultimately produce liquid hydrogen. It may also be equipped with an insulated storage tank for storing liquid hydrogen, and may be provided with a vent valve and safety valve to appropriately manage the pressure inside the tank. Furthermore, a configuration with multiple stages of heat exchangers may be provided to efficiently cool the gaseous hydrogen, and heat intrusion may be suppressed by adopting an insulated structure for the liquid hydrogen transfer piping. In addition, a control device may be provided that detects temperature, pressure and flow rate with sensors and integrates their control, and automatically adjusts the required amount of liquid hydrogen according to instructions from the processing device 100.

[0064] The ammonia production apparatus 330 has the function of synthesizing ammonia by reacting hydrogen and nitrogen. The ammonia production apparatus 330 is also equipped with flow control valves and compressors for supplying nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas at predetermined pressures and flow rates, and may be configured to supply high-purity nitrogen by an air separation device or the like as needed. It may also be equipped with a synthesis reactor for synthesizing ammonia using a catalyst under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and the reactor may be configured to adjust the reaction gas to a predetermined temperature by providing a preheater and heat exchanger. Furthermore, in order to separate unreacted gas from the product, a cooling process and a separation process may be provided to return unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen to the circulation line and improve reaction efficiency, and a tank for storing the generated ammonia may also be provided. In addition, it may be equipped with a control device for monitoring temperature, pressure, catalyst activity, etc., and maintaining more suitable synthesis conditions, and may be configured to adjust the amount of ammonia produced according to instructions from the processing device 100.

[0065] Apparatus 310, 320, and 330 may have control devices as described above. The control devices are not particularly limited as long as they are configured to perform hydrogen carrier synthesis control, supply control, etc., in response to instructions from the processing device 100. For example, the control devices may instruct each of apparatus 310, 320, and 330 to use a ratio of 70% liquid organic hydrogen carrier, 20% liquid hydrogen, and 10% ammonia. The control devices may then perform operational control of each of apparatus 310, 320, and 330 in response to the instructions received. The control devices may also be terminals provided in the manufacturing system or servers connected via a network.

[0066] Next, the software and hardware configurations of the processing unit 100 will be described in detail below. The processing unit 100 is a general-purpose computer and may consist of a single computer or multiple computers on a network N.

[0067] C1. The software configuration diagram 3A of the processing unit is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the processing unit 100 of the present disclosure. The processing unit 100 includes a processor 110 and a storage 120. The processor 110 can function as an acquisition unit 111, a determination unit 112, and a control unit 113 by executing various programs stored in the storage 120.

[0068] Furthermore, the storage 120 stores various information necessary for the operation of the processing unit 100. For example, the storage 120 may have emission factor data 121 and process data 122.

[0069] The acquisition unit 111 has the function of collecting and storing information such as GHG emission factors, equipment manufacturing capacity, and storage costs, and plays a role in centrally managing the data necessary for decision-making across the entire system. Specifically, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, the second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and the third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is used to hydrogenate liquid organic hydrogen carriers. In addition, it may also acquire external market information such as the manufacturing capacity of each hydrogen carrier conversion and adjustment equipment 310, 320, and 330, the cost required for storage of each hydrogen carrier, the standard production volume of each hydrogen carrier, and carbon pricing. This makes it possible to create a system that allows the decision unit 112 and control unit 113, which will be described later, to refer to various parameters required by them.

[0070] More specifically, the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor may refer to information previously recorded in emission factor data 121, or they may be obtained from an external server 200 that records emission factors. Here, an emission factor is a coefficient used to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emitted in connection with a particular activity or fuel use. Examples include an emission factor related to electricity consumed (gCO2e / kWh) and an emission factor related to fuel used (kgCO2e / MJ).

[0071] Figure 3B shows an example of emission factor data 121. Since emission factors can change at any time, the acquisition unit 111 may acquire emission factors at any time and update the emission factor data 121. Examples include changes in the proportion of power sources in grid power, such as a change in thermal power generation from 40% to 60%, or changes in emission factors related to fuel due to an increase or decrease in natural gas extraction costs. The determination unit 112 may re-determine the conversion ratio by performing optimization calculations again when emission factors are updated or when the operating status of the equipment changes.

[0072] In the emission factor data 121, emission factors are recorded in association with each emission inventory. Emission factors are calculated by measuring the CO2 generated by the emission inventory and deriving them from the ratio to the activity level. Examples include CO2 emissions per 1 kWh of electricity (kg-CO2 / kWh), CO2 emissions per 1 liter of fuel (kg-CO2 / L), CO2 emissions per ton of raw materials used (kg-CO2 / t), and CO2 emissions when a trailer travels 1 km (kg-CO2 / km). Standard values ​​calculated by international organizations or government agencies can be used for emission factors. For example, the external server 200 can refer to a server where such emission factors are recorded.

[0073] In this disclosure, the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor are concepts that include emission factors for various activities in the adjustment or conversion of each hydrogen carrier.

[0074] For example, ammonia is typically produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which involves reacting nitrogen and hydrogen in a catalytic bed under high temperature and pressure. Therefore, information regarding the main emission sources in ammonia production using hydrogen as a raw material includes, for example, the following. An emission factor may be set for each of these emission sources, and the GHG emissions (kgCO2e / kgH2Carrier) associated with the conversion of hydrogen to ammonia may be obtained based on the activity level of each emission source and the emission factor corresponding to the emission source.

[0075] Therefore, the first emission factor in this disclosure is a concept that includes emission factors for each of the above emission sources.

[0076] Furthermore, information regarding major emission sources in liquid hydrogen production includes, for example, the following: The GHG emissions (kgCO2e / kgH2Carrier) associated with the conversion of hydrogen to liquid hydrogen may be obtained based on the activity level of each emission source and the emission factor corresponding to that source.

[0077]

[0078] Therefore, the second emission factor in this disclosure is a concept that includes emission factors for each of the above emission sources.

[0079] Furthermore, liquid organic hydrogen carriers are typically obtained by hydrogenating dehydrogenated liquid organic hydrogen carriers such as toluene (TL), benzyltoluene (BT), and dibenzyltoluene (DBT) using catalysts. The GHG emissions (kgCO2e / kgH2Carrier) associated with the hydrogenation of such liquid organic hydrogen carriers may be obtained based on the activity levels of the emission sources listed below and the emission factors corresponding to each emission source. For example, the following can be cited as information regarding the major emission sources in the hydrogenation of liquid organic hydrogen carriers.

[0080] Therefore, the third emission factor in this disclosure is a concept that includes emission factors for each of the above emission sources.

[0081] The acquisition unit 111 may, in the acquisition process, identify the amount of activity associated with the conversion or adjustment to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, and acquire a first emission factor, a second emission factor, and a third emission factor based on the emission factor corresponding to that amount of activity. The amount of activity is not particularly limited, but examples include the type of electricity, heat, or fuel consumed, and the amount used. For example, the individual emission factors may differ depending on whether the electricity used is derived from renewable energy, fossil fuels, or the power grid mix. Therefore, the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor for the entire process of conversion or adjustment to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier may differ depending on the amount of activity selected.

[0082] For example, consider a case where a certain process (such as an ammoniaization process, a liquid hydrogenation process, or a LOHC hydrogenation process) consumes multiple types of energy sources. In this case, the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) generated in the process are calculated as follows: ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓ Activity level A ｉ and the emission coefficient EF for each activity level ｉ This can be expressed as follows. Furthermore, the amount of hydrogen processed by this process, or the amount of ammonia etc. produced, can be expressed as Q.ｏｕｔｐｕｔ Then, the "emission factor for the entire process" (for example, GHG emissions per unit quantity) can be defined as follows.

[0083] Here, Q ｏｕｔｐｕｔ is defined as the amount of hydrogen (hydrogen conversion amount) contained in the hydrogen carrier produced by the process. Further, each activity amount A ｉ is used in combination with the emission factor EF ｉ corresponding to the content of said activity, and the greenhouse gas emission amount attributable to said activity is calculated from the product of the two. For example, for an activity amount indicating power consumption, an emission factor corresponding to power usage is used, and for an activity amount indicating fuel consumption, an emission factor corresponding to said fuel usage is used.

[0084] Further, the emission factor EF for electric power, etc. ｉ may be set as a value that fluctuates according to the time zone and contract form by using power system mix information disclosed by electric power companies, renewable energy certificates, and the like. Further, in the case of heat quantity obtained by directly burning fossil fuels, different emission factors EF for each fuel type (natural gas, coal, heavy oil, etc.) ｉ can be stored in a database in advance, and the emission amount can be obtained according to the fuel consumption amount input to each process.

[0085] Accordingly, in the present disclosure, it is possible to assume a situation where the emission factor fluctuates depending on whether the electric power or the like required for carrying out the process is supplied from renewable energy-derived power or fossil fuel-derived power. For example, fluctuations occur in the power system such that the ratio of renewable energy is high during the daytime when a large amount of solar and wind power generation is operating, and the ratio derived from fossil fuels is high at night and when weather is poor. In such a case, according to the present disclosure, by periodically acquiring information such as "instantaneous power generation amount of renewable energy" and "ratio of fossil fuel-derived power" received from a power system operator or a power monitoring system and reflecting the information, the overall emission factor EF ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓ can be obtained more appropriately.

[0086] Furthermore, we consider a factory environment where the reaction heating in the process can be selected from multiple types of fuels (e.g., natural gas, LPG, heavy oil, etc.). In this case, multiple boilers are installed in the factory, each with different fuel types and combustion efficiencies, and the emission factor EF ｉ They also differ. According to this disclosure, the operating rate of each boiler is optimally allocated to meet the heat required for the process. For example, when the emission factor derived from natural gas is smallest, natural gas is used as the main fuel, while LPG or heavy oil can be used in combination during peak demand or boiler load limitations, and by reflecting this, the overall emission factor EF ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓ This makes it possible to find the answer more appropriately.

[0087] The determination unit 112 determines the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor. The determination unit 112 may further consider the demand or cost of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carrier when determining the conversion ratio. This allows for more nuanced responses in situations where diverse needs are required, such as when one user needs a large amount of ammonia while another user needs only a small amount of liquid hydrogen, or when a user requests a low-cost hydrogen carrier or a high-purity hydrogen carrier.

[0088] Specifically, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the minimum required amounts of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and LOHC as presented by the consumer, as well as the manufacturing costs required for each carrierization process. Based on this information, the determination unit 112 derives a conversion ratio that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously meeting costs and demand. For example, if the hydrogen carrier with the lowest emission factor is the most expensive, the determination unit 112 may allocate only the minimum required amount of hydrogen to the production of that hydrogen carrier, and allocate the remaining hydrogen to the production of lower-cost hydrogen carriers. In this way, the determination unit 112 may produce each hydrogen carrier to meet the minimum demand, and allocate the remaining hydrogen according to arbitrary criteria such as low cost or low GHG emissions.

[0089] This allows for flexible allocation of hydrogen into three carrier forms (ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and LOHC), taking into account fluctuations in demand and costs.

[0090] Furthermore, the determination unit 112 may also consider the emission factors of greenhouse gases emitted during hydrogen production when determining the conversion ratio. While "green hydrogen" derived from renewable energy has extremely low GHG emissions, "gray hydrogen" using fossil fuels and "blue hydrogen" which partially recovers and stores GHG emissions differ. This allows the determination unit 112 to determine the conversion ratio by considering GHG emissions over a broader lifecycle, including hydrogen production.

[0091] In this case, the determination unit 112 may determine, for example, the conversion ratio for allocating multiple types of hydrogen, such as green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and gray hydrogen, which have different greenhouse gas emission factors when hydrogen is produced, to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

[0092] In determining the conversion ratio, the storage costs of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers may be further considered. This allows for consideration of future greenhouse gas emissions from distribution and storage. Information regarding storage costs is not particularly limited, but examples include not only the cost of storage, but also the amount of hydrogen carrier lost due to volatilization during storage, and the amount of greenhouse gases generated due to cooling during storage. Information regarding the storage cost per hour may be recorded in the storage 120. This allows the determination unit 112 to consider storage costs according to the storage time.

[0093] For example, when storing liquid hydrogen, greenhouse gas emissions may occur as a result of cooling the storage tank, and some of the hydrogen may evaporate and turn into gas (so-called boil-off), requiring consideration of losses. Similarly, when storing ammonia or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, GHG emissions may occur due to equipment maintenance, cooling, and the use of auxiliary energy.

[0094] This disclosure allows for the calculation of "greenhouse gas emissions during storage" by combining "storage activity" (such as boil-off rate, cooling power, and fuel consumption during steady-state operation) with corresponding emission factors for the storage processes of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers. These emissions can then be used to determine the selection and conversion ratio of hydrogen carriers. By considering GHG emissions including the storage process, it may be advantageous to select ammonia or LOHC over liquid hydrogen, which have higher boil-off rates and require greater cooling power, for applications requiring long-term storage (e.g., interseasonal energy storage). On the other hand, liquid hydrogen may be the preferred choice for applications requiring short-term storage and large volumes. This disclosure allows for the quantitative comparison and evaluation of these differences.

[0095] The baseline production volume is the production volume used as a benchmark when increasing or decreasing the conversion rate, and refers to the conventional normal production volume. Such baseline production volumes for each hydrogen carrier may be obtained from the supply chain management system as the annual production volume or as the average production volume over several years. For example, the monthly baseline production volume may be calculated from the annual supply volume of ammonia obtained from the supply chain management system.

[0096] Furthermore, the baseline production volume may be obtained from any demand forecasting system. For example, the baseline production volume for a particular month may be calculated by multiplying the average monthly production volume by coefficients for seasonal variation and annual trends.

[0097] Regarding the market price per unit amount of hydrogen carriers to be manufactured and the market price per unit amount of greenhouse gases, information published by the emissions trading exchange, such as the spot price and futures price of CO2 emission allowances, may be obtained. The various data obtained in this way may be stored in the storage 120. In addition, if the emission factors fluctuate from time to time, the storage may also record the emission factors as historical information.

[0098] The determination unit 112 determines the conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 111. Specifically, the conversion ratio to the hydrogen carrier with the lowest emission factor among the first, second, and third emission factors may be increased. This makes it possible to produce more hydrogen carriers with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

[0099] In this case, the determination unit 112 may determine the conversion ratio based on the production capacity of the liquid organic hydrogen carrier hydrogenation equipment 310, the production capacity of the liquid hydrogen adjustment equipment 320, and the production capacity of the ammonia conversion equipment 330. This can prevent hydrogen carrier production orders from being issued solely on the basis of low greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of production capacity. Furthermore, the production capacity of each piece of equipment may include not only the upper limit of production but also production efficiency according to the production scale. For example, if producing more improves production efficiency and consequently affects the greenhouse gas emission coefficient, the determination unit 112 may further consider the production volume when determining the conversion ratio.

[0100] Furthermore, the conversion rate may be the absolute amount of hydrogen carriers produced, or, as shown in Figure 3C, a relative increase or decrease. For example, the conversion rate may be a production increase or decrease rate relative to the first baseline production amount of ammonia, the second baseline production amount of liquid hydrogen, and the third baseline production amount of liquid organic hydrogen carriers. This makes it possible to suppress the acceleration of hydrogen carrier production regardless of demand, for example, simply because it has low greenhouse gas emissions, and to prioritize the production of hydrogen carriers with lower greenhouse gas emissions while taking demand into consideration.

[0101] Furthermore, the determination unit 112 may determine the conversion ratio based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during storage. As shown in Figure 1B, the hydrogen carrier is transported under predetermined storage conditions and consumed upon reaching the final consumption site. Also, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during storage differs depending on the type of hydrogen carrier. For example, ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers can utilize conventional gasoline transport and storage facilities, but liquid hydrogen needs to be stored under cooling conditions, and the amount of loss due to volatilization during transport and storage is greater than that of ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers. Therefore, if liquid hydrogen is transported and stored for a long period of time, greenhouse gas emissions will be large, and there will also be losses of the liquid hydrogen itself.

[0102] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3D, the determination unit 112 may determine the conversion ratio based not only on the first to third emission factors related to the production of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, but also on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during storage. Furthermore, since liquid organic hydrogen carriers require the generation of hydrogen through a dehydrogenation process, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during dehydrogenation may also be taken into consideration.

[0103] The determination unit 112 may determine the conversion ratio based on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, the market price per unit of hydrogen carrier to be produced, and the market price per unit of greenhouse gas. The hydrogen supply chain has the aspect of providing clean hydrogen energy with low greenhouse gas emissions, and the use of hydrogen by companies can be used for carbon offsetting by those companies. From such a perspective, the greenhouse gas emissions generated when using each hydrogen carrier and their reduction effect (= credit value for emission reduction) may be calculated, and an appropriate conversion ratio may be derived from both economic and emission reduction effect perspectives by taking into account the market price and supply costs of each hydrogen carrier.

[0104] For example, it's not simply a matter of selecting the carrier with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions; factors such as the market price per unit of the hydrogen carrier, the market price per unit of greenhouse gases in trading markets like carbon credits, or other legal incentives may also be involved. In such cases, this embodiment allows for the determination of a conversion ratio that balances minimum emissions with maximum economic benefit by considering both the value of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (market price of greenhouse gases) and the economic value and cost of the hydrogen carrier itself (market price of the carrier).

[0105] The control unit 113 may directly or indirectly control reactors for producing ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, based on the determination of the conversion ratio by the determination unit 112. Specifically, the ammonia production apparatus 330 reacts hydrogen with nitrogen, the liquid hydrogen preparation apparatus 320 liquefies hydrogen gas at cryogenic temperatures, and the liquid organic hydrogen carrier hydrogenation apparatus 310 combines organic compounds with hydrogen through a catalytic reaction. In each case, the operating conditions (temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.) are controlled according to the production ratio based on the instructions of the determination unit 112, and the amount of each carrier produced may be adjusted to the desired range.

[0106] Thus, the conversion ratio derived by the determination unit 112 is not merely a result for evaluating or displaying greenhouse gas emissions, market prices, etc., but functions as an input value for control decisions directly used by the control unit 113 for controlling the operation of the reactor. In other words, the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions and the determination of the conversion ratio based thereon in this disclosure are technical means inextricably linked to the control processing for physically operating and adjusting the manufacturing process of ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, and are not merely information processing or numerical calculations.

[0107] Furthermore, the control unit 113 may assign identification information to each hydrogen carrier production process and record the production target, emission inventory, greenhouse gas emissions, and process conditions in the process data 122 shown in Figure 3E.

[0108] C2. Referring to the hardware configuration diagram 3F of the processing unit, an example of a hardware configuration for realizing the processing unit 100 described above will be explained. Note that the functions of each device can also be realized by dividing them among multiple devices.

[0109] As shown in Figure 3F, the processing unit 100 includes a processor 110, storage 120, input / output interface 130, communication interface 140, memory 150, and a bus 160 connecting them.

[0110] The processor 110 controls various processes in the processing unit 100 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 120. For example, each functional unit of the processing unit 100 can be realized by the processor 110 executing programs stored in the storage unit 120.

[0111] The storage 120 is a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory. The storage 120 stores the operating system and various programs for realizing the above configurations. The storage medium storing these various programs may be a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium. In addition, the storage 120 can also store tables for registering various information and a database (DB) for managing these tables. Such programs and data are loaded into the storage 120 as needed and accessed by the processor 110.

[0112] The input / output interface 130 is a device for receiving input from the user. Specific examples of the input / output interface 130 include input devices such as cameras, buttons, microphones, keyboards, mice, touch panels, and various sensors, and output devices such as displays. The input / output interface 130 may be connected to the processing unit 100 via an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0113] The communication interface 140 is a device for performing data communication with an external device of the processing unit 100 via a communication network N, either wired or wirelessly. The communication interface 140 may also be located outside the processing unit 100. In that case, the communication interface 140 is connected to the processing unit 100 via an interface such as USB.

[0114] Memory 150 is a storage medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM temporarily stores program code for programs executed by the processor 110, as well as data required during program execution.

[0115] D. Manufacturing Method Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the process of the present disclosure.

[0116] In step S1, the acquisition unit 111 may identify the amount of activity associated with the conversion or adjustment to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier in the acquisition process, and acquire a first emission factor, a second emission factor, and a third emission factor based on the emission factor corresponding to that amount of activity. For example, the acquisition unit 111 may identify, as one of the amounts of activity, power consumption derived from renewable energy, fossil fuels, or the power grid mix, and acquire the corresponding emission factor.

[0117] In addition, the acquisition unit 111 may acquire at least one of the following: information on the equipment's manufacturing capacity, storage cost information, standard production volume information, and market price information corresponding to GHG emissions.

[0118] In step S2, the determination unit 112 determines the conversion ratio based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor. For example, as a basic algorithm, it performs an optimization calculation aimed at minimizing GHG emissions based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor, and at the same time, it performs a calculation that avoids production limits and efficiency reduction risks by considering the upper and lower limits of the manufacturing capacity of the acquired equipment. Alternatively, the determination unit 112 may determine the conversion ratio so as to lower the priority of carriers with high storage costs or to secure only the necessary amount.

[0119] In step S3, the control unit 113 directly or indirectly controls each device based on the conversion ratio determined by the determination unit 112. Since the emission coefficient can change at any time, the acquisition unit 111 may acquire the emission coefficient at any time and update the emission coefficient data 121. The determination unit 112 may then perform an optimization calculation again to redetermine the conversion ratio when the emission coefficient is updated by the acquisition unit 111 or when the operating status of the equipment changes.

[0120] E. Notes [1] A method for producing a hydrogen carrier, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a first emission factor of greenhouse gases when converting hydrogen to ammonia, a second emission factor of greenhouse gases when converting hydrogen to liquid hydrogen, and a third emission factor of greenhouse gases when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen; and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor. [2] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to [1], wherein in the determination step, the conversion ratio is determined by further considering the demand or cost of the ammonia, the liquid hydrogen, and the liquid organic hydrogen carrier. [3] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to [1] or [2], wherein in the acquisition step, the emission factor of greenhouse gases emitted when producing hydrogen is acquired, and in the determination step, the conversion ratio is determined by further considering the emission factor of greenhouse gases emitted when producing hydrogen. [4] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the acquisition step involves identifying the amount of activity associated with converting or adjusting the hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, and obtaining the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor based on the emission factor corresponding to the amount of activity. [5] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the conversion ratio is determined based on the production capacity of an ammonia production apparatus that converts the hydrogen to the ammonia, the production capacity of a liquid hydrogen production apparatus that adjusts the hydrogen to the liquid hydrogen, and the production capacity of a liquid organic hydrogen carrier production apparatus that converts the hydrogen to the liquid organic hydrogen carrier. [6] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the conversion ratio is determined based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated when storing the ammonia, the liquid hydrogen, or the liquid organic hydrogen carrier. [7] The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the conversion ratio represents an increase or decrease in production ratio with respect to a first standard production amount of ammonia, a second standard production amount of liquid hydrogen, and a third standard production amount of liquid organic hydrogen carrier.[8] A method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the conversion ratio is determined based on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or a liquid organic hydrogen carrier, the market price per unit amount of the hydrogen carrier to be produced, and the market price per unit amount of the greenhouse gas. [9] An apparatus for producing a hydrogen carrier, comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring a first greenhouse gas emission factor when converting hydrogen to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when converting hydrogen to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen; and a determination unit for determining a conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or a liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor.

[10] The apparatus according to [9], comprising: a reactor for producing the hydrogen carrier; and a control device for controlling the reactor according to the conversion ratio.

[11] A program that causes the processing apparatus to execute an acquisition step of acquiring a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen, and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor.

[0121] 1...Manufacturing system, 100...Processing device, 110...Processor, 111...Acquisition unit, 112...Determination unit, 113...Control unit, 120...Storage, 121...Emission coefficient data, 122...Process data, 130...Input / output interface, 140...Communication interface, 150...Memory, 160...Bus, 200...Server, 310...Hydrogenation unit, 320...Adjustment unit, 330...Ammonia production unit.

Claims

1. A method for producing a hydrogen carrier, comprising: an acquisition step of obtaining a first greenhouse gas emission factor when converting hydrogen to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when converting hydrogen to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen; and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio from hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first, second, and third emission factors.

2. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein in the determination step, the conversion ratio is determined by further considering the demand or cost of the ammonia, the liquid hydrogen, and the liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

3. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein in the acquisition step, the emission coefficient of greenhouse gases emitted when producing the hydrogen is acquired, and in the determination step, the conversion ratio is determined by further considering the emission coefficient of greenhouse gases emitted when producing the hydrogen.

4. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step involves identifying the amount of activity associated with converting or adjusting the hydrogen to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, and obtaining the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor based on the emission factor corresponding to the amount of activity.

5. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, further comprising determining the conversion ratio based on the production capacity of an ammonia production apparatus that converts hydrogen to ammonia, the production capacity of a liquid hydrogen production apparatus that adjusts liquid hydrogen from hydrogen, and the production capacity of a liquid organic hydrogen carrier production apparatus that converts hydrogen to a liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

6. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, further comprising determining the conversion ratio based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated when storing the ammonia, the liquid hydrogen, or the liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

7. The method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the conversion ratio represents a production increase or decrease ratio with respect to a first standard production amount of ammonia, a second standard production amount of liquid hydrogen, and a third standard production amount of liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

8. A method for producing a hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the conversion ratio is determined based on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier, the market price per unit amount of the hydrogen carrier to be produced, and the market price per unit amount of the greenhouse gas.

9. Apparatus for the production of a hydrogen carrier, comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen; and a determination unit for determining the conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first emission factor, the second emission factor, and the third emission factor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising: a reactor that generates the hydrogen carriers; and a control device that controls the reactor according to the conversion ratio.

11. A program that causes a processing device to execute an acquisition step of acquiring a first greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to ammonia, a second greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogen is converted to liquid hydrogen, and a third greenhouse gas emission factor when hydrogenating a liquid organic hydrogen carrier using hydrogen; and a determination step of determining the conversion ratio to ammonia, liquid hydrogen, or liquid organic hydrogen carrier based on the first, second, and third emission factors.

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