Low-Carbon Fuel Pathways for Hydrogen Without Transmission Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current low carbon intensity energy strategies face inefficiencies and increased carbon intensity due to long-distance transmission losses and indirect use of higher carbon intensity fuels in transportation and hydrogen production, particularly in the production and distribution of renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods that integrate low carbon intensity alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, into feedstock selection, transportation, refining, and distribution pathways for transportation fuels and hydrogen, reducing carbon emissions through targeted reductions across various stages of production and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If renewable energy sources are transmitted over long distances to end users, then alternative energy can be provided to consumers, but energy loss occurs during transmission and carbon intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses low carbon intensity transportation fuels as an intermediary carrier to transfer the benefits of renewable energy from generation sites to end users. Instead of directly transmitting electricity over long distances, renewable energy is used to produce low carbon intensity fuels at production sites, which then serve as the energy carrier for distribution through existing fuel infrastructure, eliminating transmission losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows end users to benefit from renewable energy through their existing fuel consumption patterns. By producing low carbon intensity fuels that can be used in conventional infrastructure, the system enables users to participate in renewable energy utilization without requiring them to change their behavior or invest in new infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electric vehicles and charging stations are deployed to use renewable power, then direct use of low carbon energy is achieved, but considerable expense is required and indirect carbon emissions from construction are overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates low carbon intensity transportation fuels that can be used in existing conventional vehicles and infrastructure, making the solution universally applicable without requiring specialized equipment. This multi-functional approach allows the same fuel to serve both conventional and emerging low carbon vehicle technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the energy source to electricity and requiring new vehicles, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the conventional fuel infrastructure and vehicles but changing the carbon intensity characteristics of the fuel itself through renewable energy integration in its production.
3Ease of operation
If conventional higher carbon intensity fuels are used in transportation and hydrogen production, then existing infrastructure can be maintained, but carbon intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the carbon intensity parameter of transportation fuels and hydrogen by integrating renewable energy sources into their production processes. By modifying the energy input parameters during production (using renewable electricity or heat instead of fossil fuels), the harmful emissions characteristic of the fuel is reduced while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) hydrogen through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and hydrogen distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the hydrogen below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the hydrogen.