Hydrogen Plant Control for Smaller Buffer Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for storing hydrogen produced from variable renewable energy, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, primarily rely on compression to increase storage efficiency, lacking alternative solutions to optimize spatial efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A plant control method that includes a first production device for hydrogen production via water electrolysis, a storage device for temporary hydrogen storage, and a second production device using hydrogen as a raw material, with a plant control device calculating reference amounts to optimize hydrogen supply based on initial and final storage levels within predetermined ranges, thereby adjusting hydrogen consumption to maintain efficient storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If hydrogen is compressed to increase storage efficiency, then the storage density improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen storage densityVSAvoidcompression device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the state parameter of hydrogen from gaseous to liquid form through cooling, achieving high storage density without compression. The hydrogen production device includes a cooling unit that cools the produced hydrogen to its boiling point or lower, transforming it into liquid hydrogen for efficient storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical compression system with a thermal cooling system. Instead of using compressors and pressure vessels, the invention uses cooling units and heat exchangers to achieve phase change from gas to liquid, simplifying the overall system structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If hydrogen is compressed to increase storage efficiency, then the storage space utilization improves, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen storage densityVSAvoidenergy consumption for hydrogen storage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the state parameter of hydrogen from gaseous to liquid form through cooling, achieving high storage density without compression. The hydrogen production device includes a cooling unit that cools the produced hydrogen to its boiling point or lower, transforming it into liquid hydrogen for efficient storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen from gas to liquid through cooling. By cooling the hydrogen to its boiling point or lower, the hydrogen condenses into liquid form, dramatically increasing storage density without requiring compression energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Reliability

If a large storage device is used to store sufficient hydrogen, then the hydrogen supply reliability improves, but the space requirements and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen supply reliabilityVSAvoidstorage device volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the state parameter of hydrogen from gaseous to liquid form through cooling, achieving high storage density without compression. The hydrogen production device includes a cooling unit that cools the produced hydrogen to its boiling point or lower, transforming it into liquid hydrogen for efficient storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen from gas to liquid through cooling. By cooling the hydrogen to its boiling point or lower, the hydrogen condenses into liquid form, dramatically increasing storage density without requiring compression energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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

This approach minimizes the scale of the storage device, reducing costs and space requirements while maintaining efficient hydrogen storage and utilization.

Implementation Method 1

a first production device for producing hydrogen by water electrolysis using electric power generated from variable renewable energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS11578416B2Plant control method, plant control device, program, and plant

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 JGC CORP

AI summary

The plant control method includes the following. Calculating a first reference amount to be supplied for an amount of hydrogen to be supplied to a second production device (40). Making a decision on whether or not the amount of remaining hydrogen in a storage device (20) at the beginning of a subject term falls within a reference range.