Blended LOHC Power Module for Net-Zero Hydrogen Electricity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen economy systems face challenges in transitioning to large-scale use due to difficulties in developing safe and cost-effective long-term delivery and storage infrastructures, and existing carbon-neutral hydrogen production methods either rely on high-pressure compression or introduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A blended liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) feed composition with a primary component containing greater than 5 wt% labile hydrogen and a secondary component sourced from carbon-neutral carbon, which is dehydrogenated to produce hydrogen and then electrochemically converted to electricity, with the carbon-neutral component matching atmospheric emissions to achieve net zero carbon oxide emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-pressure compression is used for hydrogen storage and delivery, then hydrogen can be stored and transported, but the infrastructure cost increases to hundreds of billions of dollars and safety challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) as an intermediary substance to transport hydrogen. Instead of storing and transporting compressed hydrogen gas directly, the hydrogen is chemically bound to organic liquids that can be stored and transported using existing fossil fuel infrastructure, thereby avoiding the need for high-pressure compression infrastructure while maintaining hydrogen delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical form of hydrogen from high-pressure gas to chemically-bound liquid form in LOHCs. This parameter change allows hydrogen to be stored and transported at ambient pressure and temperature using existing liquid fuel infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive high-pressure storage and delivery systems
2Ease of manufacture
If LOHC-based hydrogen production is used, then hydrogen can be delivered via existing fossil fuel infrastructure, but the process cannot operate in carbon-neutral mode without external carbon-neutral power or heat supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the LOHC system self-sufficient by using a portion of the hydrogen produced from LOHC dehydrogenation to fuel a fuel cell that generates the electricity needed for the dehydrogenation process itself. This internal energy recycling eliminates the need for external carbon-neutral power supply while maintaining carbon-neutral operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the LOHC dehydrogenation process with a fuel cell system in an integrated configuration. The fuel cell uses produced hydrogen to generate electricity that powers the dehydrogenation, creating a self-contained carbon-neutral system that merges hydrogen production and energy generation functions
3Temperature
If electrical heating element is used to generate heat for dehydrogenation, then the dehydrogenation reaction can proceed, but additional electrical storage and battery management equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own electrical power needs through a fuel cell that converts produced hydrogen into electricity. This self-generated electricity powers the electrical heating element for dehydrogenation, eliminating the need for external electrical storage and battery management equipment
4Temperature
If downstream equipment electricity is used for heating element, then heating can be provided, but the amount of electricity available for the target application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dehydrogenation to produce hydrogen, then uses a fuel cell to convert this produced hydrogen into electricity that is used to power the dehydrogenation heating process. This preliminary hydrogen production and conversion creates self-sufficient power for the heating process without reducing electricity available for the target application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the generation of electricity from low-pressure hydrogen with net zero atmospheric emissions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating reliance on high-pressure systems, while providing a stable and efficient hydrogen source for fuel cells and internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
supplying the blended LOHC feed to a dehydrogenation reactor within the power module, and generating hydrogen therefrom
Implementation Method 2
electrochemically converting at least a portion of the generated hydrogen in a fuel cell unit to electricity
Implementation Method 3
the amount of secondary component that is blended into the blended LOHC feed provides sufficient carbon-neutral sourced carbon to at least match the amount of carbon being exhausted to the atmosphere from the power module
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for generating carbon-neutral electricity using purified hydrogen as an energy source. A recyclable LOHC is provided to the process for reversible dehydrogenation. Hydrogen generated by dehydrogenation is purified and electrochemically converted to electricity. Heat for maintaining the dehydrogenation reaction temperature is derived from combustion of a portion of the liquid products from dehydrogenation, the portion combusted being less than or equal to the portion of carbon-neutral component included in the recyclable LOHC.