Mixed Hydrogen Pricing by Concentration and Environmental Value

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to provide consumers with information on the manufacturing method and origin of hydrogen when it is supplied through pipelines, leading to challenges in setting prices that reflect the environmental value of mixed hydrogen with varying manufacturing methods and origins.

Innovation Solution

A gas price management system comprising a gas information management unit and a gas price determination unit that manages and determines the price of mixed gases based on the concentration information and environmental values of different gas components, using a ratio calculation and database to set prices reflecting the environmental value of each component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hydrogen from different manufacturing methods and origins is mixed and supplied through a pipeline, then the supply flexibility and versatility are improved, but the ability to manage and track the manufacturing method and origin of each hydrogen component deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply flexibilityVSAvoidtracking ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously measuring the concentration of each hydrogen component in the mixed gas supply and using this information to dynamically calculate and update pricing. The concentration measurement unit provides real-time data feedback about the composition of mixed hydrogen, enabling the system to maintain price accuracy despite the mixing of different hydrogen sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement and calculation system that acts as a mediator between the mixed hydrogen supply and the pricing mechanism. The concentration measurement unit and price calculation unit serve as intermediaries that track and quantify the components of mixed hydrogen, allowing the system to maintain information about manufacturing methods and origins even when gases are physically mixed in the pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the concentration of each gas component in mixed gas is measured and used for price calculation, then the price accuracy reflecting environmental value is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprice accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs self-service by automatically measuring concentrations, calculating ratios, and determining prices without manual intervention. The concentration measurement unit automatically detects gas component concentrations, the price calculation unit autonomously computes the mixed gas price based on measured concentrations and predetermined component prices, and the price information output unit automatically provides pricing information to consumers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex manual tracking and calculation mechanisms with automated measurement and computation systems. Instead of manually tracking hydrogen components through the pipeline and calculating prices, the system uses concentration measurement units to detect gas composition and price calculation units to automatically compute pricing based on measured data and predetermined environmental values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If the price of mixed hydrogen is set without considering the manufacturing method and origin, then the pricing simplicity is improved, but the environmental value representation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepricing simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental value
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the price of mixed hydrogen based on the concentration parameters of its components. The price calculation unit changes the pricing parameter according to the measured concentration of each hydrogen component, allowing the price to reflect the environmental value of different manufacturing methods and origins while maintaining a unified pricing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4589521A1Gas price management system and gas price management method
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 HITACHI LTD
  • EP4589521A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4589521A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4589521A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A gas price management system includes: a gas information management unit configured to manage information on feed gas including gas components having a plurality of origins with different environmental values; and a gas price determination unit configured to determine a price of the feed gas. The gas information management unit transmits concentration information of the feed gas to the gas price determination unit, and the gas price determination unit sets the price of the feed gas using a ratio of each of the gas components in the feed gas obtained from the concentration information of the feed gas and a gas price set based on the environmental value of each of the gas components. This configuration enables setting a gas price reflecting an environmental value of each of gas components constituting a mixed gas in supply of mixed gas containing the gas component different in an environmental value due to a manufacturing method or origin.