BTX Liquid Hydrogen Carriers for Low-Contamination H2 Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LOHC technologies face challenges with low boiling points, trace organic compound contamination, high costs, and inefficient hydrogenation/dehydrogenation yields, limiting their economic viability for hydrogen storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a mixture of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) that are readily accessible and cost-effective, with optimized hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles, and optionally incorporating additives or fillers to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If toluene is used as LOHC, then hydrogen storage capacity is achieved, but traces of organic compounds contaminate the released hydrogen due to low boiling point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines toluene with high-boiling-point compounds (dibenzyltoluene and/or benzyltoluene) to create a mixed LOHC system. The high-boiling-point compounds act as carriers that prevent toluene vaporization, thereby eliminating organic contamination in released hydrogen while maintaining the hydrogen storage capacity of toluene.
Solution Approach 2:
High-boiling-point compounds serve as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrogen storage function of toluene and the contamination problem. These compounds form a thermal buffer that prevents toluene from reaching its boiling point during hydrogen release, thus acting as a protective intermediary.
2Productivity
If advanced LOHC molecules are used to improve hydrogenation/dehydrogenation yields, then hydrogen storage efficiency increases, but cost increases due to limited commercial availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the LOHC system by combining readily available toluene (from petroleum refining) with high-boiling-point compounds. This parameter change allows the system to achieve improved hydrogenation/dehydrogenation yields through synergistic effects while maintaining cost-effectiveness by using commercially abundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite LOHC material system combining toluene with dibenzyltoluene and/or benzyltoluene. This composite approach leverages the low cost and availability of toluene while incorporating high-boiling-point compounds that enhance thermal stability and reaction yields, achieving both economic and performance goals.
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles are repeated for large-scale hydrogen transportation, then hydrogen storage capacity is maintained, but performance degradation occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The high-boiling-point compounds provide beforehand cushioning by creating a thermal buffer that protects the toluene component from excessive temperature fluctuations during repeated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles. This thermal cushioning prevents degradation of the LOHC molecules, maintaining performance stability over multiple cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition temperature differences between toluene (low boiling point) and the high-boiling-point compounds to create a stable system. The high-boiling-point compounds remain in liquid phase during hydrogen release operations, preventing vaporization and maintaining system integrity through controlled phase behavior.
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
BTX mixtures offer competitive and economical hydrogen storage and transportation solutions with improved yields and reduced operating costs, maintaining high theoretical gravimetric storage capacity and minimizing organic compound contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The fixation of hydrogen is generally carried out in a stage of hydrogenation of the support molecule
Implementation Method 2
The fixed hydrogen can subsequently be released, most often close to the site of consumption, in a stage of dehydrogenation of the hydrogenated support molecule
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the use of a formulation which is liquid at ambient temperature comprising at least a mixture of benzene, toluene and xylene for the fixing and the release of hydrogen in at least one hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycle of said formulation.The invention also relates to the use of said formulation for the transportation and the handling of hydrogen resulting from the steam cracking of petroleum products, of inevitable hydrogen resulting from chemical reactions, such as the electrolysis of salt, or of hydrogen resulting from the electrolysis of water.