Subsurface Hydrogen Storage Using Liquid Organic Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The low volumetric energy density and high energy intensity of compressing hydrogen make it impractical for storage and transportation using existing infrastructure, necessitating alternative methods for scalable hydrogen storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
The use of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) for subsurface hydrogen storage, where LOHCs are injected into suitable subsurface formations for storage, and later recovered and dehydrogenated to produce hydrogen, while also potentially enhancing oil recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is compressed for storage and transportation, then volumetric energy density is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) as an intermediary substance to transport and store hydrogen. Instead of compressing and transporting hydrogen directly, the hydrogen is chemically bound to organic liquids (such as methylcyclohexane or dibenzyltoluene), which then serve as the transport medium. This mediator approach allows hydrogen to be transported in liquid form at ambient conditions, eliminating the need for high-pressure compression infrastructure and significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high volumetric energy density.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is compressed for storage, then storage capacity is improved, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the physical and chemical parameters of hydrogen storage by transitioning from gaseous compressed hydrogen to liquid organic hydrogen carriers. The hydrogen is stored in liquid form at ambient temperature and pressure conditions, rather than as compressed gas requiring high pressure (350-700 bar). This parameter change enables the use of existing liquid hydrocarbon storage and transportation infrastructure (tanks, pipelines, pumps) without requiring specialized high-pressure equipment, thereby reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining storage capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing infrastructure is used for hydrogen storage, then cost is reduced, but adaptability to hydrogen properties is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes hydrogen's physical state and chemical form to match existing infrastructure requirements. By converting hydrogen into liquid organic carrier compounds, the system adapts hydrogen properties to align with conventional liquid hydrocarbon infrastructure rather than requiring new hydrogen-specific infrastructure. This allows existing oil and gas storage tanks, pipelines, and handling equipment to be used for hydrogen storage and transport, reducing costs while maintaining adaptability through chemical modification of the hydrogen carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The LOHC acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between hydrogen's unique properties and existing hydrocarbon infrastructure. The organic liquid carrier has properties (liquid state at ambient conditions, compatibility with existing pipelines and storage tanks) that match existing infrastructure requirements, while still enabling hydrogen storage and transport functionality. This intermediary approach allows cost-effective utilization of existing infrastructure without requiring extensive modification or new specialized facilities.
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 method provides a more energy-efficient and volumetrically scalable approach to hydrogen storage compared to compressed hydrogen, allowing for safe transportation using existing infrastructure and reducing carbon footprint through reversible dehydrogenation processes.
Implementation Method 1
The LOHC is then dehydrogenated to form a H2 product and dehydrogenated LOHCs in a dehydrogenation unit process
Implementation Method 2
injection of water/brine to flood the subsurface formation is used for recovery of the mixture of oil/gas and LOHCs from storage
Implementation Method 3
The recovered water/brine, off gas and LOHCs from the subsurface formation are then separated, using a separator to produce a stream of recovered LOHCs
Data Source
AI summary
A method for subsurface hydrogen storage and hydrogen retrieval. The method includes identifying a subsurface formation, wherein the subsurface formation is selected from one or more of a depleted wet reservoir, depleted dry reservoir, salt cavern, excavated cavern, natural formation, isolated aquifer, or a reservoir designated as a contingency or marginal field. The method further includes selecting a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) feed compatible with the subsurface formation. The LOHC feed includes a mixture of one or more completely or partially hydrogenated LOHCs. The LOHC feed is injected into the subsurface formation for storage. Later, when needed, the LOHCs are recovered from storage, optionally separating a recovered water/brine phase and off gas from the LOHCs from storage in a separator configured to produce a stream of recovered LOHCs. The LOHC is then dehydrogenated to form a H2 product and dehydrogenated LOHCs in a dehydrogenation unit process.