Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier Break-Up Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing and transporting hydrogen, such as grey hydrogen from fossil fuels, green hydrogen via electrolysis, and hydrogen carriers like ammonia and formic acid, face challenges including high energy costs, low energy density, and safety concerns during storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
A process that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into a liquid carrier, which is then mixed with water to form an aqueous ready mix. This mix is maintained at subcritical or supercritical conditions during a break-up step, producing a pressurized fuel without the need for additional pressurization, and can yield fuels like carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is liquefied for storage and transport, then storage density is improved, but significant boil-off losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) as intermediary substances that can absorb and release hydrogen. The LOHC system mediates between hydrogen production and utilization, allowing hydrogen to be stored and transported in liquid form without direct liquefaction, thereby avoiding boil-off losses while maintaining high storage density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of hydrogen storage by converting hydrogen into chemical bonds within organic carriers. Instead of storing hydrogen as liquid or gas, the system transforms it into chemically bound hydrogen in LOHCs, which can be transported at ambient conditions and released through catalytic dehydrogenation, eliminating temperature-related energy losses.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ammonia is used as a hydrogen carrier, then stability and ease of transport are improved, but energy costs of dehydrogenation become high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different types of organic hydrogen carriers with varying hydrogen binding characteristics. Instead of using a single carrier like ammonia throughout, the system employs LOHCs with tailored molecular structures that provide optimal balance between stability during transport and ease of dehydrogenation at the point of use, reducing energy costs locally at each stage.
3Quantity of substance
If formic acid is used as a hydrogen carrier, then volumetric capacity and safety are improved, but energy density becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining hydrogen with liquid organic carriers to create LOHCs. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both high volumetric capacity (from the liquid carrier density) and high energy density (from the hydrogen content), overcoming the limitations of pure formic acid while maintaining safety and transportability.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen is produced by electrolysis at renewable energy locations, then fossil fuel use is eliminated, but transport challenges arise due to low density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of hydrogen for transport by converting it from a low-density gas into chemically bound hydrogen within liquid organic carriers. This parameter transformation allows hydrogen to be transported in liquid form using existing infrastructure, eliminating the need for specialized cryogenic transport while maintaining the zero-emission benefit of electrolysis-based production.
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
The process achieves a higher energy density in the final product compared to using formic acid, ammonia, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, while also allowing for safe and efficient storage and transport using existing infrastructure, and can result in negative carbon dioxide emissions if the carbon dioxide is sequestered.
Implementation Method 1
In a conversion step carbon dioxide is reacted with hydrogen to form a liquid carrier
Implementation Method 2
Before the break-up step the liquid carrier is mixed with water to form an aqueous ready mix
Implementation Method 3
During the break-up step the temperature and the pressure of the ready mix are maintained at least at subcritical conditions, e.g., at supercritical conditions
Implementation Method 4
The sub- or supercritical water gasification process can break down organic compounds into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane or other hydrocarbon fuel gases
Implementation Method 5
hydrogen can be made by electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources
Data Source
AI summary
Process for the production of a fuel. In a conversion step carbon dioxide is reacted with hydrogen to form a liquid carrier. The carbon dioxide is for instance collected with a direct air capture system. The hydrogen can for example be generated using renewable sources. After storage and transport to a site of use, the liquid carrier is mixed with water to form a ready mix. During a break-up step, the liquid carrier is converted to a fuel while the temperature and the pressure of the ready mix are maintained at sub- or supercritical conditions.