Japan
Public Acceptance for the Implementation of Hydrogen Self-refueling Stations
Sep 2021
Publication
The utilization of hydrogen energy is important for achieving a low-carbon society. Japan has set ambitious goals for hydrogen stations and fuel cell vehicles focusing on the introduction and dissemination of self-refuelling systems. This paper evaluates public trust in the fuel equipment and self-handling technology related to self-refuelling hydrogen stations and compares it with that for widespread gasoline stations. To this end the results of an online survey of 300 people with Japanese driver licenses are reported and analyzed. The results show that trust in the equipment and self-handling is more important for the user than trust in the fuel. In addition to introduce and disseminate new technology such as hydrogen stations users must be made aware of the risk of using the technology until it becomes as familiar as existing gasoline station technology.
Environmental and Energy Life Cycle Analyses of Passenger Vehicle Systems Using Fossil Fuel-derived Hydrogen
Sep 2021
Publication
Hydrogen energy utilization is expected due to its environmental and energy efficiencies. However many issues remain to be solved in the social implementation of hydrogen energy through water electrolysis. This analyzes and compares the energy consumption and GHG emissions of fossil fuel-derived hydrogen and gasoline energy systems over their entire life cycle. The results demonstrate that for similar vehicle weights the hydrogen energy system consumes 1.8 MJ/km less energy and emits 0.15 kg-CO 2 eq./km fewer GHG emissions than those of the gasoline energy system. Hydrogen derived from fossil fuels may contribute to future energy systems due to its stable energy supply and economic efficiency. Lowering the power source carbon content also improved the environmental and energy efficiencies of hydrogen energy derived from fossil fuels.
The Impact of Operating Conditions on the Performance of a CH4 Dry Reforming Membrane Reactor for H2 Production
May 2020
Publication
Biogas is a promising resource for the production of H2 since it liberates energy by recycling waste along with the reduction of CO2. In this paper the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor is proposed to produce H2 for use in fuel cells. Pd/Cu alloy membrane is used to enhance the performance of the biogas dry reforming reactor. This study aims at understanding the effect of operating parameters such as feed ratio of sweep gas pressure in the reactor and reaction temperature on the performance of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor. The effect of the molar ratio of the supplied CH4:CO2 feed ratio of the sweep gas and the valve located at the outlet of the reaction chamber on the performance of biogas dry reforming are investigated. Besides the thermal efficiency of the proposed reactor is also evaluated. The results show that the concentration of H2 in the closed valve condition is higher than that of the open valve and the optimum feed ratio of the sweep gas to produce H2 is 1 irrespective of the molar ratio of supplied CH4:CO2. Also H2 selectivity and CO selectivity increases and decreases respectively when the reaction temperature increases irrespective of the molar ratio of supplied CH4:CO2. Therefore the thermal efficiency of the closed valve is higher than that of the opened valve. Also the thermal efficiency is the maximum when the feed ratio of the sweep gas is 1 due to high H2 production performance.
Energy Modeling Approach to the Global Energy-mineral Nexus: Exploring Metal Requirements and the Well-below 2 °C Target with 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Jun 2018
Publication
Detailed analysis of pathways to future sustainable energy systems is important in order to identify and overcome potential constraints and negative impacts and to increase the utility and speed of this transition. A key aspect of a shift to renewable energy technologies is their relatively higher metal intensities. In this study a bottom-up cost-minimizing energy model is used to calculate aggregate metal requirements in different energy technology including hydrogen and climate policy scenarios and under a range of assumptions reflecting uncertainty in future metal intensities recycling rate and life time of energy technologies. Metal requirements are then compared to current production rates and resource estimates to identify potentially “critical” metals. Three technology pathways are investigated: 100 percent renewables coal & nuclear and gas & renewables each under the two different climate policies: net zero emissions satisfying the well-below 2 °C target and business as usual without carbon constraints resulting together in six scenarios. The results suggest that the three different technology pathways lead to an almost identical degree of warming without any climate policy while emissions peaks within a few decades with a 2 °C policy. The amount of metals required varies significantly in the different scenarios and under the various uncertainty assumptions. However some can be deemed “critical” in all outcomes including Vanadium. The originality of this study lies in the specific findings and in the employment of an energy model for the energy-mineral nexus study to provide better understanding for decision making and policy development.
Role of Hydrogen-Charging on Nucleation and Growth of Ductile Damage in Austenitic Stainless Steels
May 2019
Publication
Hydrogen energy is a possible solution for storage in the future. The resistance of packaging materials such as stainless steels has to be guaranteed for a possible use of these materials as containers for highly pressurized hydrogen. The effect of hydrogen charging on the nucleation and growth of microdamage in two different austenitic stainless steels AISI316 and AISI316L was studied using in situ tensile tests in synchrotron X-ray tomography. Information about damage nucleation void growth and void shape were obtained. AISI316 was found to be more sensitive to hydrogen compared to AISI316L in terms of ductility loss. It was measured that void nucleation and growth are not affected by hydrogen charging. The effect of hydrogen was however found to change the morphology of nucleated voids from spherical cavities to micro-cracks being oriented perpendicular to the tensile axis.
Environmental and Socio-Economic Analysis of Naphtha Reforming Hydrogen Energy Using Input-Output Tables: A Case Study from Japan
Aug 2017
Publication
Comprehensive risk assessment across multiple fields is required to assess the potential utility of hydrogen energy technology. In this research we analyzed environmental and socio-economic effects during the entire life cycle of a hydrogen energy system using input-output tables. The target system included hydrogen production by naphtha reforming transportation to hydrogen stations and FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) refilling. The results indicated that 31% 44% and 9% of the production employment and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission effects respectively during the manufacturing and construction stages were temporary. During the continuous operation and maintenance stages these values were found to be 69% 56% and 91% respectively. The effect of naphtha reforming was dominant in GHG emissions and the effect of electrical power input on the entire system was significant. Production and employment had notable effects in both the direct and indirect sectors including manufacturing (pumps compressors and chemical machinery) and services (equipment maintenance and trade). This study used data to introduce a life cycle perspective to environmental and socio-economic analysis of hydrogen energy systems and the results will contribute to their comprehensive risk assessment in the future.
Charge Carrier Mapping for Z-scheme Photocatalytic Water-splitting Sheet via Categorization of Microscopic Time-resolved Image Sequences
Jun 2021
Publication
Photocatalytic water splitting system using particulate semiconductor materials is a promising strategy for converting solar energy into hydrogen and oxygen. In particular visible-light-driven ‘Z-scheme’ printable photocatalyst sheets are cost-effective and scalable. However little is known about the fundamental photophysical processes which are key to explaining and promoting the photoactivity. Here we applied the pattern-illumination time-resolved phase microscopy for a photocatalyst sheet composed of Mo-doped BiVO4 and Rh-doped SrTiO3 with indium tin oxide as the electron mediator to investigate photo-generated charge carrier dynamics. Using this method we successfully observed the position- and structure-dependent charge carrier behavior and visualized the active/inactive sites in the sheets under the light irradiation via the time sequence images and the clustering analysis. This combination methodology could provide the material/synthesis optimization methods for the maximum performance of the photocatalyst sheets.
Model of Local Hydrogen Permeability in Stainless Steel with Two Coexisting Structures
Apr 2021
Publication
The dynamics of hydrogen in metals with mixed grain structure is not well understood at a microscopic scale. One of the biggest issues facing the hydrogen economy is “hydrogen embrittlement” of metal induced by hydrogen entering and diffusing into the material. Hydrogen diffusion in metallic materials is difficult to grasp owing to the non-uniform compositions and structures of metal. Here a time-resolved “operando hydrogen microscope” was used to interpret local diffusion behaviour of hydrogen in the microstructure of a stainless steel with austenite and martensite structures. The martensite/austenite ratios differed in each local region of the sample. The path of hydrogen permeation was inferred from the time evolution of hydrogen permeation in several regions. We proposed a model of hydrogen diffusion in a dual-structure material and verified the validity of the model by simulations that took into account the transfer of hydrogen at the interfaces.
Simulation of a Multi-Functional Energy System for Cogeneration of Steam, Power and Hydrogen in a Coke Making Plant
Mar 2013
Publication
In this paper a multifunctional energy system (MES) is proposed for recovering energy from the extra of coke oven gas (COG) which is usually flared or vented out as a waste stream in coke making plants. The proposed system consists of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit for extracting some of the hydrogen from COG a gas turbine for producing heat and power from PSA offgas and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) for generating the steam required by the plant's processes. o assess the performance of the system practically simulations are carried out on the basis of the design and operational conditions of Zarand Coke Making Plant in Iran. The results indicate that by utilizing about 4.39 tons of COG per hour 6.5 MW of net electric power can be approximately produced by the gas turbine which can supply the coke making plant's total electrical power demand. Furthermore through recovering heat from gas turbine's exhaust close to 57% of the plant's steam demand can be supplied by the HRSG unit. It is also found that around 350 kilograms per hour of nearly pure hydrogen (99.9% purity) at 200 bar can be produced by the PSA unit. According to the sensitivity analysis results if the hydrogen content of the coke oven gas decreases by about 10% the gross power output of the gas turbine also declines by around 5.2% due to the reduction of LHV of the PSA offgas. Moreover economic evaluation of the system shows that the payback period of the investment which is estimated at 36.1 M$ is about 5.5 years. The net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return on investment (ROI) are calculated to be 17.6% and 43.3 M$ respectively.
Assessing Uncertainties of Life-Cycle CO2 Emissions Using Hydrogen Energy for Power Generation
Oct 2021
Publication
Hydrogen and its energy carriers such as liquid hydrogen (LH2) methylcyclohexane (MCH) and ammonia (NH3) are essential components of low-carbon energy systems. To utilize hydrogen energy the complete environmental merits of its supply chain should be evaluated. To understand the expected environmental benefit under the uncertainty of hydrogen technology development we conducted life-cycle inventory analysis and calculated CO2 emissions and their uncertainties attributed to the entire supply chain of hydrogen and NH3 power generation (co-firing and mono-firing) in Japan. Hydrogen was assumed to be produced from overseas renewable energy sources with LH2/MCH as the carrier and NH3 from natural gas or renewable energy sources. The Japanese life-cycle inventory database was used to calculate emissions. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate emission uncertainty and mitigation factors using hydrogen energy. For LH2 CO2 emission uncertainty during hydrogen liquefaction can be reduced by using low-carbon fuel. For MCH CO2 emissions were not significantly affected by power consumption of overseas processes; however it can be reduced by implementing low-carbon fuel and waste-heat utilization during MCH dehydrogenation. Low-carbon NH3 production processes significantly affected power generation whereas carbon capture and storage during NH3 production showed the greatest reduction in CO2 emission. In conclusion reducing CO2 emissions during the production of hydrogen and NH3 is key to realize low-carbon hydrogen energy systems.
Novel Biofuel Cell Using Hydrogen Generation of Photosynthesis
Nov 2020
Publication
Energies based on biomaterials attract a lot of interest as next-generation energy because biomaterials are environmentally friendly materials and abundant in nature. Fuel cells are also known as the clean and important next-generation source of energy. In the present study to develop the fuel cell based on biomaterials a novel biofuel cell which consists of collagen electrolyte and the hydrogen fuel generated from photochemical system II (PSII) in photosynthesis has been fabricated and its property has been investigated. It was found that the PSII solution in which PSII was extracted from the thylakoid membrane using a surfactant generates hydrogen by the irradiation of light. The typical hydrogen-generating rate is approximately 7.41 × 1014 molecules/s for the light intensity of 0.5 mW/cm2 for the PSII solution of 5 mL. The biofuel cell using the PSII solution as the fuel exhibited approximately 0.12 mW/cm2 . This result indicates that the fuel cell using the collagen electrolyte and the hydrogen fuel generated from PSII solution becomes the new type of biofuel cell and will lead to the development of the next-generation energy
A Historical Analysis of Hydrogen Economy Research, Development, and Expectations, 1972 to 2020
Jan 2023
Publication
Global climate change concerns have pushed international governmental actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting cleaner technologies hoping to transition to a more sustainable society. The hydrogen economy is one potential long-term option for enabling deep decarbonization for the future energy landscape. Progress towards an operating hydrogen economy is discouragingly slow despite global efforts to accelerate it. There are major mismatches between the present situation surrounding the hydrogen economy and previous proposed milestones that are far from being reached. The overall aim of this study is to understand whether there has been significant real progress in the achievement of a hydrogen economy or whether the current interest is overly exaggerated (hype). This study uses bibliometric analysis and content analysis to historically map the hydrogen economy’s development from 1972 to 2020 by quantifying and analyzing three sets of interconnected data. Findings indicate that interest in the hydrogen economy has significantly progressed over the past five decades based on the growing numbers of academic publications media coverage and projects. However various endogenous and exogenous factors have influenced the development of the hydrogen economy and created hype at different points in time. The consolidated results explore the changing trends and how specific events or actors have influenced the development of the hydrogen economy with their agendas the emergence of hype cycles and the expectations of a future hydrogen economy.
CFD Simulation of Pressure Reduction Inside Large-scale Liquefied Hydrogen Tank
Sep 2021
Publication
Building the international hydrogen supply chain requires the large-scale liquefied hydrogen(LH2) carrier. During shipping LH2 with LH2 Carrier the tank is pressurized by LH2 evaporation due to heat ingress from outside. Before unloading LH2 at the receiving terminal reducing the tank pressure is essential for the safe tank operation. However pressure reduction might cause flashing leading to rapid vaporization of liquefied hydrogen liquid leakage. Moreover it was considered that pressure recovery phenomenon which was not preferred in terms of tank pressure management occurred at the beginning of pressure reduction. Hence the purpose of our research is to clarify the phenomenon inside the cargo tank during pressure reduction. The CFD analysis of the pressure reduction phenomenon was conducted with the VOF based in-house CFD code utilizing the C-CUP scheme combined with the hybrid Level Set and MARS method. In our previous research the pressure reduction experiments with the 30 m³ LH2 tank were simulated and the results showed that the pressure recovery was caused by the boiling delay and the tank pressure followed the saturation pressure after the liquid was fully stirred. In this paper the results were re-evaluated in terms of temperature. While pressure reduction was dominant the temperature of vapor-liquid interface decreased. Once the boiling bubble stirred the interface its temperature reached the saturation temperature after pressure recovery occurred. Moreover it was found that the liquid temperature during pressure reduction could not be measured because of the boiling from the wall of the thermometer. The CFD analysis on pressure reduction of 1250 m³ tank for the LH2 Carrier was also very could occur in the case of the 1250 m³ tank in a certain condition. These results provide new insight into the development of the LH2 carrier.
Solid-State Hydrogen Fuel by PSII–Chitin Composite and Application to Biofuel Cell
Dec 2021
Publication
Biomaterials attract a lot of attention as next-generation materials. Especially in the energy field fuel cells based on biomaterials can further develop clean next-generation energy and are focused on with great interest. In this study solid-state hydrogen fuel (PSII–chitin composite) composed of the photosystem II (PSII) and hydrated chitin composite was successfully created. Moreover a biofuel cell consisting of the electrolyte of chitin and the hydrogen fuel using the PSII– chitin composite was fabricated and its characteristic feature was investigated. We found that proton conductivity in the PSII–chitin composite increases by light irradiation. This result indicates that protons generate in the PSII–chitin composite by light irradiation. It was also found that the biofuel cell using the PSII–chitin composite hydrogen fuel and the chitin electrolyte exhibits the maximum power density of 0.19 mW/cm2 . In addition this biofuel cell can drive an LED lamp. These results indicate that the solid-state biofuel cell based on the bioelectrolyte “chitin” and biofuel “the PSII–chitin composite” can be realized. This novel solid-state fuel cell will be helpful to the fabrication of next-generation energy.
Numerical Study of Hydrogen Addition Effects on Aluminum Particle Combustion
Sep 2021
Publication
In this study the combustion of submicron-sized Al particles in air was studied numerically with a particular focus on the effect of hydrogen addition. Oxidation of the Al particles and the interaction with hydrogen-related intermediates were considered by regarding them as liquid-phase molecules initially. Zero- and One-dimensional numerical simulations were then carried out to investigate the effect of the hydrogen addition on fundamental combustion characteristics of the Al flame by calculating properties such as ignition delay time and flame speed. Our attention was paid to how the hydrogen chemistry is coupled with the Al oxidation process. Numerical results show that the hydrogen addition generally reduces the reactivity of Al such that the flame speed and temperature decrease while it can greatly shorten ignition delay times of the Al flame depending on initial temperatures.
Characterization of Hydrogen Transport Accidents in Japan Based on Network Theory
Sep 2019
Publication
Realizing the hydrogen economy in Japan entails a risk assessment of its domestic hydrogen supply especially hydrogen transport by road. The first step of the risk assessment is to characterize the hydrogen transport accidents from different energy carriers. However it is difficult to characterize the accidents because hydrogen transport systems have not been fully implemented in Japan. The aim of this study is to characterize the hydrogen transport accidents from different energy carriers in Japan. We studied three major energy carriers namely compressed hydrogen liquefied hydrogen and liquid organic hydride. The accident networks based on network theory were constructed to capture the comprehensive accident processes and quantitatively characterized the hydrogen transport accidents from different energy carriers. The results clarified the differences and similarities in the accident process amongst the energy carriers. Furthermore key accident events were identified. This study contributes to the development of comprehensive hydrogen transport accident scenarios for risk assessment.
Comparison of Regulations Codes and Standards for Hydrogen Refueling Stations in Japan and France
Sep 2019
Publication
The states of Regulations Codes and Standards (RCS) of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) in Japan and France are compared and specified items to understand correspondence and differences among each RCSs for realizing harmonization in RCS. Japan has been trying to reform its RCSs to reduce HRS installation and operation costs as a governmental target. Specific crucial regulatory items such as safety distances mitigation means materials for hydrogen storage and certification of anti-explosion proof equipments are compared in order to identify the origins of the current obstacles for disseminating HRS.
Techno-economic Analysis on Renewable Energy Via Hydrogen, Views from Macro and Micro Scopes
Mar 2019
Publication
This paper addresses from both macro- and micro- areal coverage in introducing hydrogen system in terms of cost and performance where the produced hydrogen from surplus photovoltaic (PV) power is stored. Feed-in tariff in Japan had successful achievement for great expansion of renewable energy systems (RES) causing problematic operation due to excess power by overcapacity of RES. One of the candidate approaches to overcome this surplus energy by RES is Power to gas (P2G) system using electrolysis cells (ECs) fuel cells (FCs) or co-firing in gas turbines both for energy conversion as well as power balancing. Numerous studies had been investigated on P2G however within our knowledge no study had been addressed the system from both coverages with different capacity and scales. We investigate micro level (zero emission building in our university) and macro level (Kyushu one of big regions in Japan). We describe for macro side preliminary result on economic analysis of using surplus power of RES via production and storage of hydrogen while for micro side research design.
A Review for Consistent Analysis of Hydrogen Permeability through Dense Metallic Membranes
Jun 2020
Publication
The hydrogen permeation coefficient (ϕ) is generally used as a measure to show hydrogen permeation ability through dense metallic membranes which is the product of the Fick’s diffusion coefficient (D) and the Sieverts’ solubility constant (K). However the hydrogen permeability of metal membranes cannot be analyzed consistently with this conventional description. In this paper various methods for consistent analysis of hydrogen permeability are reviewed. The derivations of the descriptions are explained in detail and four applications of the consistent descriptions of hydrogen permeability are introduced: (1) prediction of hydrogen flux under given conditions (2) comparability of hydrogen permeability (3) understanding of the anomalous temperature dependence of hydrogen permeability of Pd-Ag alloy membrane and (4) design of alloy composition of non-Pd-based alloy membranes to satisfy both high hydrogen permeability together with strong resistance to hydrogen embrittlement.
The Effect of Graphite Size on Hydrogen Absorption and Tensile Properties of Ferritic Ductile Cast Iron
Jun 2019
Publication
Ductile cast iron (DCI) is one of prospective materials used for the hydrogen equipment because of low-cost good workability and formability. The wide range of mechanical properties of DCI is obtained by controlling microstructural factors such as graphite size volume fraction of graphite matrix structure and so on. Therefore it is important to find out an optimal microstructural condition that is less susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. In this study the effects of graphite size on the hydrogen absorption capability and the hydrogen-induced ductility loss of ferritic DCI were investigated.<br/>Several kinds of ferritic DCIs with a different graphite diameter of about 10 µm - 30 µm were used for the tensile test and the hydrogen content measurement. Hydrogen charging was performed prior to the tensile test by exposing a specimen to high-pressure hydrogen gas. Then the tensile test was performed in air at room temperature. The hydrogen content of a specimen was measured by a thermal desorption analyzer.<br/>It was found that the amount of hydrogen stored in DCI was dependent on the graphite size. As the graphite diameter increased the hydrogen content sharply increased at a certain graphite diameter and then it became nearly constant irrespective of increase in graphite diameter. In other words there was the critical graphite diameter that significantly changed the hydrogen absorption capability. The ductility was decreased by hydrogen and the hydrogen-induced ductility loss was dependent on the hydrogen content. Therefore the hydrogen embrittlement of DCI became remarkable when the graphite size was larger than the critical value.
The Study on Permissible Value of Hydrogen Gas Concentration in Purge Gas of Fuel Cell Vehicles
Sep 2019
Publication
Ignition conditions and risks of ignition on a permissible value of hydrogen concentration in purge gas prescribed by HFCV-GTR were reevaluated. Experiments were conducted to investigate burning behavior and thermal influence of continuous evacuation of hydrogen under continuous purge of air / hydrogen premixed gas which is close to an actual purge condition of FCV and thermal evacuation of hydrogen. As a result of the re-evaluation it was shown from the viewpoint of safety that the permissible value of hydrogen concentration in purge gas prescribed by the current HFCV GTR is appropriate.
Marked Degradation of Tensile Properties Induced by Plastic Deformation after Interactions between Strain-Induced Martensite Transformation and Hydrogen for Type 316L Stainless Steel
Jul 2020
Publication
Marked degradation of tensile properties induced by plastic deformation after dynamic interactions between strain-induced martensite transformation and hydrogen has been investigated for type 316L stainless steel by hydrogen thermal desorption analysis. Upon modified hydrogen charging reported previously the amount of hydrogen desorbed in the low temperature range increases; the degradation of tensile properties induced by interactions between plastic deformation and hydrogen at 25 °C or induced by interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen at −196 °C occurs even for the stainless steel with high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogen thermal desorption behavior is changed by each interaction suggesting changes in hydrogen states. For specimen fractured at 25 °C the facet-like morphology and transgranular fracture are observed on the outer part of the fracture surface. At −196 °C a quasi-cleave fracture is observed at the initiation area. Modified hydrogen charging significantly interacts both plastic deformation and martensite transformation eventually enhancing the degradation of tensile properties. Upon plastic deformation at 25° C after the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen by straining to 0.2 at −196 °C cracks nucleate in association with martensite formed by the interactions at −196 °C and marked degradation of tensile properties occurs. It is likely that the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen induce damage directly related to the degradation thereby affecting subsequent deformation. Upon dehydrogenation after the interactions between the martensite transformation and hydrogen no degradation of tensile properties is observed. The damage induced by the interactions between martensite transformation and hydrogen probably changes to harmless defects during dehydrogenation.
Monitoring H2 Bubbles by Real Time H2 Sensor
Sep 2017
Publication
Portable H2 sensor was made by using mass spectrometer for the outside monitoring experiment: the leak test the replacement test of gas pipe line the combustion test the explosion experiment the H2 diffusion experiment and the recent issue of the exhaust gas of Fuel Cell Vehicle. In order to check the real time concentration of H2 in various conditions even in the highly humid condition the system volume of the sampling route was minimized with attaching the humidifier. Also to calibrate H2 concentration automatically the specific concentration H2 small cylinder was mounted in the system. In the experiment when H2 gas was introduced in the N2 flow or air in the tube or the high-pressure bottle highly concentrated H2 phases were observed by this sensor without diffusion. This H2 sensor can provide the real time information of the hydrogen molecules and the clouds. The basic characterization of this sensor showed 0-100% H2 concentrations within 2ms. Our observation showed the size of the high concentration phase of H2 and the low concentration phase after mixing process. The mixed and unmixed H2 unintended concentration of cloud gas the high speed small cluster of hydrogen molecules in purged gas were explored by this real time monitoring system.
Comparison of Liquid Hydrogen, Methylcyclohexane and Ammonia on Energy Efficiency and Economy
Mar 2019
Publication
Among several candidates of hydrogen storage liquid hydrogen methylcyclohexane (MCH) and ammonia are considered as potential hydrogen carriers in terms of their characteristics application feasibility and economic performance. In addition as a main motor in the hydrogen introduction Japan has focused and summarized the storage methods for hydrogen into these three methods. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages compared to each other. This study focuses on the effort to analyze and clarify the potential of these three hydrogen storages especially in terms of physical characteristics energy efficiency and economic cost. Liquid hydrogen faces challenges in huge energy consumption during liquefaction and boil-off during storage. MCH has main obstacles in largely required energy in dehydrogenation. Lastly ammonia encounters high energy demand in both synthesis and decomposition (if required). In terms of energy efficiency ammonia is predicted to have the highest total energy efficiency (34–37%) followed by liquid hydrogen (30–33%) and MCH (about 25%). In addition from cost calculation ammonia with direct utilization (without decomposition) is considered to have the highest feasibility for being massively adopted as it shows the lowest cost (20–22 JPY/Nm3-H2 in 2050). However in case that highly pure hydrogen (such as for fuel cell) is demanded liquid hydrogen looks to be promising (24–25 JPY/Nm3-H2 in 2050) compared to MCH and ammonia with decomposition and purification.
Update on Regulation Review for HRS Construction and Operations in Japan
Oct 2015
Publication
In 2005 the Japanese High-pressure Gas Safety Act the Fire Service Act and the Building Standards Act were revised to establish the requirements for 35 MPa hydrogen stations. And in 2012-2014 revisions were made to the High-pressure Gas Safety Act and the Fire Service Act to provide the regulatory requirements for 70 MPa hydrogen stations. We conducted a study on materials that may contribute to prepare technical standards concerning the major 4 items 12 additional items and 13 new items which may affect the costs from the point of view of promoting the hydrogen infrastructure.
Hazid for CO2-free Hydrogen Supply Chain Feed (Front End Engineering Design)
Oct 2015
Publication
We at Kawasaki have proposed a “CO2 free H2 chain” using the abundant brown coal of Australia as a hydrogen source. We developed the basic design package and finished the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) in 2014. There are not only the hazards of the processing plant system but also the characteristic hazards of a hydrogen plant system. We considered and carried out Hazard Identification (HAZID) as the most appropriate approach for safety design in this stage. This paper describes the safety design and HAZID which we practiced for the CO2-Free Hydrogen Supply Chain FEED.
Freeze of Nozzle & Receptacle During Hydrogen Fueling
Oct 2015
Publication
We conducted a fuelling test with hydrogen gas for a safety evaluation of the nozzle/receptacle at a controlled temperature and humidity. Test results confirmed that the nozzle/receptacle froze under specific conditions. However freezing did not cause apparatus damage nor hydrogen leakage. The nozzle/receptacle is thus able to fuel safely even if the nozzle/receptacle is stuck due to ice. In addition we quantified the water volume that causes freezing.
A Fully Renewable and Efficient Backup Power System with a Hydrogen-biodiesel-fueled IC Engine
Jan 2019
Publication
Renewable energy is free abundant clean and could contribute towards a significant reduction of the global warming emissions. It is massively introduced as a source of electricity production across the globe and is expected to become the primary source of energy within the following decades. However despite the naturally replenished energy the supply is not always available. For this reason it is necessary at times of excess energy any surplus quantity to be sufficiently captured stored and later used when a deficit occurs. In this paper an overview of a backup power system operating with a hydrogen-biodiesel dual-fuel internal combustion engine is provided. The system is utilizing the organic chemical hydride method for safe hydrogen storage and transportation. The high energy content of hydrogen stored in the form of an organic hydride under ambient conditions makes it an ideal energy backup medium for large-scale and long-term applications. The research work focusses on the operation and emissions output of the dual-fuel internal combustion engine running on fully renewable fuels and the results are compared with the conventional petroleum-derived diesel engine. Biodiesel-hydrogen operation shows significant benefits in the reduction of carbon and soot emissions but deteriorates the NOx formation compared to the conventional diesel-powered engines. The operation of the engine at high loads can provide high exhaust thermal energy while alternative combustion strategies are necessary to be implemented at low load conditions for the optimum operation of the backup power system.
Future Swiss Energy Economy: The Challenge of Storing Renewable Energy
Feb 2022
Publication
Fossil fuels and materials on Earth are a finite resource and the disposal of waste into the air on land and into water has an impact on our environment on a global level. Using Switzerland as an example the energy demand and the technical challenges and the economic feasibility of a transition to an energy economy based entirely on renewable energy were analyzed. Three approaches for the complete substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy from photovoltaics called energy systems (ES) were considered i.e. a purely electric system with battery storage (ELC) hydrogen (HYS) and synthetic hydrocarbons (HCR). ELC is the most energy efficient solution; however it requires seasonal electricity storage to meet year-round energy needs. Meeting this need through batteries has a significant capital cost and is not feasible at current rates of battery production and expanding pumped hydropower to the extent necessary will have a big impact on the environment. The HYS allows underground hydrogen storage to balance seasonal demand but requires building of a hydrogen infrastructure and applications working with hydrogen. Finally the HCR requires the largest photovoltaic (PV) field but the infrastructure and the applications already exist. The model for Switzerland can be applied to other countries adapting the solar irradiation the energy demand and the storage options.
Life-cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Utilization in Power Generation: A Systematic Review of Technological and Methodological Choices
Jul 2022
Publication
Interest in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from conventional power generation has increased the focus on the potential use of hydrogen to produce electricity. Numerous life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies of hydrogen-based power generation have been published. This study reviews the technological and methodological choices made in hydrogen-based power generation LCAs. A systematic review was chosen as the research method to achieve a comprehensive and minimally biased overview of hydrogen-based power generation LCAs. Relevant articles published between 2004 and 2021 were identified by searching the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Electrolysis from renewable energy resources was the most widely considered type of hydrogen production in the LCAs analyzed. Fuel cell technology was the most common conversion equipment used in hydrogen-based electricity LCAs. A significant number of scenarios examine the use of hydrogen for energy storage and co-generation purposes. Based on qualitative analysis the methodological choices of LCAs vary between studies in terms of the functional units allocations system boundaries and life-cycle impact assessment methods chosen. These discrepancies were likely to influence the value of the environmental impact results. The findings of the reviewed LCAs could provide an environmental profile of hydrogen-based electricity systems identify hotspots drive future research define performance goals and establish a baseline for their large-scale deployment.
A Systematic Review of the Techno-economic Assessment of Various Hydrogen Production Methods of Power Generation
Oct 2022
Publication
Hydrogen is a low or zero-carbon energy source that is considered the most promising and potential energy carrier of the future. In this study the energy sources feedstocks and various methods of hydrogen production from power generation are comparatively investigated in detail. In addition this study presents an economic assessment to evaluate cost-effectiveness based on different economic indicators including sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFCs) technology has the most potential to be developed compared to several other technologies. PEMFCs have been widely used in various fields and have advantages (i.e. start-up zero-emissions high power density). Among the various sources of uncertainty in the sensitivity analysis the cost estimation method shows inflationary deviations from the proposed cost of capital. This is due to the selection process and untested technology. In addition the cost of electricity and raw materials as the main factors that are unpredictable.
Fundamentals, Materials, and Machine Learning of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Technology
Jun 2020
Publication
Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are electrochemical devices that directly convert the chemical energy stored in fuel into electrical energy with a practical conversion efficiency as high as 65%. In the past years significant progress has been made in PEM fuel cell commercialization. By 2019 there were over 19000 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and 340 hydrogen refueling stations (HRF) in the U.S. (~8000 and 44 respectively) Japan (~3600 and 112 respectively) South Korea (~5000 and 34 respectively) Europe (~2500 and 140 respectively) and China (~110 and 12 respectively). Japan South Korea and China plan to build approximately 3000 HRF stations by 2030. In 2019 Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai accounted for approximately 63% and 32% of the total sales with a driving range of 380 and 312 miles and a mile per gallon (MPGe) of 65 and 67 respectively. Fundamentals of PEM fuel cells play a crucial role in the technological advancement to improve fuel cell performance/durability and reduce cost. Several key aspects for fuel cell design operational control and material development such as durability electrocatalyst materials water and thermal management dynamic operation and cold start are briefly explained in this work. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have received increasing attention in material/energy development. This review also discusses their applications and potential in the development of fundamental knowledge and correlations material selection and improvement cell design and optimization system control power management and monitoring of operation health for PEM fuel cells along with main physics in PEM fuel cells for physics-informed machine learning. The objective of this review is three fold: (1) to present the most recent status of PEM fuel cell applications in the portable stationary and transportation sectors; (2) to describe the important fundamentals for the further advancement of fuel cell technology in terms of design and control optimization cost reduction and durability improvement; and (3) to explain machine learning physics-informed deep learning and AI methods and describe their significant potentials in PEM fuel cell research and development (R&D).
Novel Ways for Hydrogen Production Based on Methane Steam and Dry Reforming Integrated with Carbon Capture
Sep 2022
Publication
The combination of methane steam reforming technology and CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technology has great potential to reduce carbon emissions in the process of hydrogen production. Different from the traditional idea of capturing CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the exhaust gas with high work consumption this study simultaneously focuses on CO2 separation from fuel gas and recycling. A new hydrogen production system is developed by methane steam reforming coupled with carbon capture. Separated and captured high-purity carbon dioxide could be recycled for methane dry reforming; on this basis a new methane-dry-reforming-driven hydrogen production system with a carbon dioxide reinjection unit is innovatively proposed. In this study the energy flow and irreversible loss in the two newly developed systems are analyzed in detail through energy and exergy balance analysis. The advantages are explored from the perspective of hydrogen production rate natural gas consumption and work consumption. In addition in consideration of the integrated performance an optimal design analysis was conducted. In terms of hydrogen production the new system based on dry reforming is better with an advantage of 2.41%; however it is worth noting that the comprehensive thermal performance of the new steam reforming system is better reaching 10.95%. This study provides new ideas for hydrogen production from a low carbon emission perspective and also offers a new direction for future distributed energy system integration.
Study of Heat Loss Mechanism in Argon-circulated Hydrogen Engine Combustion Chamber Wall Surface Conditions
Jul 2022
Publication
Hydrogen fuel in internal combustion engine gives a very big advantage to the transportation sector especially in solving the greenhouse emission problem. However there are only few research discovered the ability of argon as a working gas in hydrogen combustion in internal combustion engine. The high temperature rises from the argon compression tend to result in heat loss problem. This research aims to study the heat loss mechanism on wall surface condition in the combustion chamber. Experiments were conducted to study the effects of different heat flux sensor locations and the effect of ignition delay on heat flux. Local heat flux measurement was collected and images were observed using high speed shadowgraph images. The ignition delay that occurred near the combustion wall will result in larger heat loss throughout the combustion process. Higher ambient pressure results in a bigger amount of heat flux value. Other fundamental characteristics were obtained and discussed which may help in contributing the local heat loss data of an argon-circulated hydrogen engine in future engine operation.
Effect of Flow Speed on Ignition Characteristics of Hydrogen/air Mixtures
Sep 2021
Publication
A fuel cell vehicle has a purging system for exhausting contaminated hydrogen gas. Notwithstanding the allowable hydrogen emissions levels in the purging system are regulated by the GTR a further research on the safety requirement of emissions concentrations is therefore needed for the vehicle design into a more rational system. In the present study the effects of flow speed concentration humidity on ignition characteristics of hydrogen/air mixtures were experimentally investigated. The results demonstrate that the value of Lower Flammable Limit increased with an increase in the velocity of hydrogen/air mixtures and slightly increased with a decrease in oxygen concentration.
Quantitive Risk Assessment of the Model Representing Latest Japanese Hydrogen Refuelling Stations
Sep 2021
Publication
Current safety codes and technical standards related to Japanese hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) have been established based on qualitative risk assessment and quantitative effectiveness validation of safety measures for more than ten years. In the last decade there has been significant development in the technologies and significant increment in operational experience related to HRSs. We performed a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of the HRS model representing Japanese HRSs with the latest information in the previous study. The QRA results were obtained by summing risk contours derived from each process unit. They showed that the risk contours of 10-3 and 10-4 per year were confined within the HRS boundaries whereas those of 10-5 and 10-6 per year are still present outside the HRS boundaries. Therefore we analyzed the summation of risk contours derived from each unit and identified the largest risk scenarios outside the station. The HRS model in the previous study did not consider fire and blast protection walls which could reduce the risks outside the station. Therefore we conducted a detailed risk analysis of the identified scenarios using 3D structure modeling. The heat radiation and temperature rise of jet fire scenarios that pose the greatest risk to the physical surroundings in the HRS model were estimated in detail based on computational fluid dynamics with 3D structures including fire protection walls. Results show that the risks spreading outside the north- west- and east-side station boundaries are expected to be acceptable by incorporating the fire protection wall into the Japanese HRS model.
Renewable Energy Pathways toward Accelerating Hydrogen Fuel Production: Evidence from Global Hydrogen Modeling
Dec 2022
Publication
Fossil fuel consumption has triggered worries about energy security and climate change; this has promoted hydrogen as a viable option to aid in decarbonizing global energy systems. Hydrogen could substitute for fossil fuels in the future due to the economic political and environmental concerns related to energy production using fossil fuels. However currently the majority of hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels particularly natural gas which is not a renewable source of energy. It is therefore crucial to increase the efforts to produce hydrogen from renewable sources rather from the existing fossil-based approaches. Thus this study investigates how renewable energy can accelerate the production of hydrogen fuel in the future under three hydrogen economy-related energy regimes including nuclear restrictions hydrogen and city gas blending and in the scenarios which consider the geographic distribution of carbon reduction targets. A random effects regression model has been utilized employing panel data from a global energy system which optimizes for cost and carbon targets. The results of this study demonstrate that an increase in renewable energy sources has the potential to significantly accelerate the growth of future hydrogen production under all the considered policy regimes. The policy implications of this paper suggest that promoting renewable energy investments in line with a fairer allocation of carbon reduction efforts will help to ensure a future hydrogen economy which engenders a sustainable low carbon society.
Feasibility Study of "CO2 Free Hydrogen Chain" Utilizing Australian Brown Coal Linked with CCS
Nov 2012
Publication
We had investigated feasible measures to reduce CO2 emission and came to conclusion that introduction of new fuel such as hydrogen with near zero CO2 emission is required for achieving Japan’s commitment of 80% CO2 reduction by 2050. Under this background we are proposing and aiming to realize “CO2 free hydrogen chain” utilizing Australian brown coal linked with CCS. In this chain hydrogen produced from brown coal is liquefied and transported to Japan by liquid hydrogen carrier. We have conducted feasibility study of commercial scale “CO2 free hydrogen chain” whose result shows the chain is technically and economically feasible.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar Thermal Hydrogen Production in the United Arab Emirates
Oct 2022
Publication
Solar thermal technology can provide the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region with abundant clean electricity to mitigate the rising levels of carbon dioxide and satisfy future demand. Hydrogen can play a key role in the large-scale application of solar thermal technologies such as concentrated solar plants in the region by storing the surplus electricity and exporting it to needed countries for profit placing the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates as major future green hydrogen suppliers. However a hydrogen supply chain comparison between hydrogen from CSP and other renewable under the UAE’s technical and economic conditions for hydrogen export is yet to be fully considered. Therefore in this study we provide a techno-economic analysis for well-to-ship solar hydrogen supply chain that compares CSP and PV technologies with a solid oxide water electrolyzer for hydrogen production assuming four different hydrogen delivery pathways based on the location of electrolyzer and source of electricity assuming the SOEC can be coupled to the CSP plant when placed at the same site or provided with electric heaters when placed at PV plant site or port sites. The results show that the PV plant achieves a lower levelized cost of electricity than that of the CSP plant with 5.08 ¢/kWh and 8.6 ¢/kWh respectively. Hydrogen production results show that the scenario where SOEC is coupled to the CSP plant is the most competitive scenario as it achieves the payback period in the shortest period compared to the other scenarios and also provides higher revenues and a cheaper LCOH of 7.85 $/kgH2.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Hydrogen Utilization as Alternative Fuel in Cement Production
Jul 2022
Publication
Growing attention to the environmental aspect has urged the effort to reduce CO2 emission as one of the greenhouse gases. The cement industry is one of the biggest CO2 emitters in this world. Alternative fuel is one of the challenging issues in cement production due to the limited fossil fuel resources and environmental concerns. Meanwhile hydrogen (H2) has been reported as a promising non-carbon fuel with ammonia (NH3) as the main candidate for chemical storage methods. In this work an integrated system of cement production with an alternative H2-based fuel is proposed consisting of the dehydrogenation process of NH3 and the H2 combustion to provide the required thermal energy for clinker production. Different catalysts are employed and evaluated to analyze the specific energy input (SEI). The result shows that the conversion rate strongly determines the SEI with minimum SEI (3829.8 MJ t-clinker-1 ) achieved by Ni-Pt-based catalyst at a reaction temperature of 600 ºC. Compared to the conventional fuel of coal the H2-based integrated cement production system shows a significant decrease of 44% in CO2 emission due to carbon-free combustion using H2 as the fuel. The current study on the proposed integrated system of H2-based cement production also provides an initial thermodynamic analysis and basic observation for the adoption of non-carbon-based H2 including the storage system of NH3 in the cement production process.
Determining the Spanish Public’s Intention to Adopt Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles
Aug 2025
Publication
Understanding what people think about hydrogen energy and how this influences their acceptance of the associated technology is a critical area of research. The public’s willingness to adopt practical applications of hydrogen energy such as hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) is a key factor in their deployment. To analyse the direct and indirect effects of key attitudinal variables that could influence the intention to use HFCVs in Spain an online questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of the Spanish population (N = 1000). A path analysis Structural Equation Model (SEM) was applied to determine the effect of different attitudinal variables. A high intention to adopt HFCVs in Spain was found (3.8 out of 5) assuming their wider availability in the future. The path analysis results indicated that general acceptance of hydrogen technology and perception of its benefits had the greatest effect on the public’s intention to adopt HFCVs. Regarding indirect effects the role of trust in hydrogen technology was notable having significant mediating effects not only through general acceptance of hydrogen energy and local acceptance of hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) but also through positive and negative emotions and benefits perception. The findings will assist in focusing the future hydrogen communication strategies of both the government and the private (business) sector.
Analysis of Hydrogen Value Chain Events: Implications for Hydrogen Refueling Stations’ Safety
Apr 2024
Publication
Renewable hydrogen is emerging as the key to a sustainable energy transition with multiple applications and uses. In the field of transport in addition to fuel cell vehicles it is necessary to develop an extensive network of hydrogen refueling stations (hereafter HRSs). The characteristics and properties of hydrogen make ensuring the safe operation of these facilities a crucial element for their successful deployment and implementation. This paper shows the outcomes of an analysis of hydrogen incidents and accidents considering their potential application to HRSs. For this purpose the HIAD 2.0 was reviewed and a total of 224 events that could be repeated in any of the major industrial processes related to hydrogen refueling stations were analyzed. This analysis was carried out using a mixed methodology of quantitative and qualitative techniques considering the following hydrogen value chain: production storage delivery and industrial use. The results provide general information segmented by event frequency damage classes and failure typology. The analysis shows the main processes of the value chain allow the identification of key aspects for the safety management of refueling facilities.
Advancing Renewable Energy: Strategic Modeling and Optimization of Flywheel and Hydrogen-based Energy System
Sep 2024
Publication
This study introduces a hybrid energy storage system that combines advanced flywheel technology with hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers to address the variability inherent in renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Flywheels provide quick energy dispatch to meet peak demand while hydrogen fuel cells offer sustained power over extended periods. The research explores the strategic integration of these technologies within a hybrid photovoltaic (PV)-flywheel‑hydrogen framework aiming to stabilize the power supply. To evaluate the impact of flywheel integration on system sizing and load fluctuations simulations were conducted both before and after the flywheel integration. The inclusion of the flywheel resulted in a more balanced energy production and consumption profile across different seasons notably reducing the required fuel cell capacity from 100 kW to 30 kW. Additionally the integration significantly enhanced system stability enabling the fuel cell and electrolyzer to operate at consistent power during load fluctuations. The system achieved efficiencies of 71.42 % for the PEM electrolyzer and 62.14 % for the PEM fuel cell. However the introduction of the flywheel requires a higher capacity of PV modules and a larger electrolyzer. The overall flywheel's efficiency was impacted by parasitic energy losses resulting in an overall efficiency of 46.41 %. The minimum efficiency observed across various scenarios of the model studied was 3.14 % highlighting the importance of considering these losses in the overall system design. Despite these challenges the hybrid model demonstrated a substantial improvement in the reliability and stability of renewable energy systems effectively bridging short-term and long-term energy storage solutions.
High-pressure Gaseous Hydrogen Permeation Test Method - Property of Polymeric Materials for High-pressure Hydrogen Devices
Aug 2020
Publication
Polymeric materials are widely used in hydrogen energy system such as FCEV and hydrogen refueling stations under high-pressure condition. The permeation property (coefficients of permeation diffusion and solubility) of polymers under high-pressure hydrogen condition should be discussed as parameters to develop those devices. Also the property should be determined to understand influence of the compression by the pressure on polymer materials. A device which can measure gas permeation property of polymer materials accurately in equilibrium state under high-pressure environment is developed and the reliability of the measurements is ensured. High-pressure hydrogen gas permeability characteristics up to 100 MPa are measured for high-density polyethylene. An advantage of the method is discussed comparing with the non-equilibrium state method focusing on the hydrostatic pressure effect. Deterioration of hydrogen permeability is observed along with the decrease of diffusion coefficient which is supposedly affected by hydrostatic compression effect with the increase of environment pressure.
The Current Status of Hydrogen Energy: An Overview
Sep 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is the most environmentally friendly and cleanest fuel that has the potential to supply most of the world's energy in the future replacing the present fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Hydrogen is expected to solve the problem of energy shortages in the near future especially in complex geographical areas (hills arid plateaus etc.) and harsh climates (desert ice etc.). Thus in this report we present a current status of achievable hydrogen fuel based on various scopes including production methods storage and transportation techniques the global market and the future outlook. Its objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of various hydrogen generation processes and their effects on the economy society and environment. These techniques are contrasted in terms of their effects on the environment manufacturing costs energy use and energy efficiency. In addition hydrogen energy market trends over the next decade are also discussed. According to numerous encouraging recent advancements in the field this review offers an overview of hydrogen as the ideal renewable energy for the future society its production methods the most recent storage technologies and transportation strategies which suggest a potential breakthrough towards a hydrogen economy. All these changes show that this is really a profound revolution in the development process of human society and has been assessed as having the same significance as the previous industrial revolution.
The Effect of Carbon Taxonomy on Renewable Hydrogen Production: A Techno-economic and Environmental Assessment
Dec 2024
Publication
From navigating the rainbow of colours to the lack of consensus in establishing a common taxonomy the labelling and definition of green or renewable hydrogen presents a growing challenge. In this context carbon taxonomy is understood through five critical aspects: carbon intensity temporal and geographical correlation additionality of renewable energy generation and different system boundaries in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This study examines the effect of carbon taxonomy on the design and operation of Power-to-Gas (PtG) systems for renewable hydrogen production including the electricity supply portfolio via Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and grid-connected electrolysis. To this end an optimisation model combining energy system modelling and LCA is developed and then applied to a case study in the Japanese context. The importance of the PPA portfolio in securing cheap and low-carbon electricity to produce hydrogen is addressed. To support this evaluation process an eco-efficiency metric is introduced and proved to be a comprehensive tool for evaluating renewable hydrogen production. Regarding carbon taxonomies the findings emphasize additionality as the key determinant factor followed by temporal correlation and the definition of carbon intensity thresholds. The application of a cradle-togate LCA boundary influenced the cabron intensity accounting playing an unexpected role on the design and optimal PtG dispatch strategy.
Economic and Environmental Analyses of an Integrated Power and Hydrogen Production Systems Based on Solar Thermal Energy
Aug 2024
Publication
This study introduces a novel hybrid solar–biomass cogeneration power plant that efficiently produces heat electricity carbon dioxide and hydrogen using concentrated solar power and syngas from cotton stalk biomass. Detailed exergy-based thermodynamic economic and environmental analyses demonstrate that the optimized system achieves an exergy efficiency of 48.67% and an exergoeconomic factor of 80.65% and produces 51.5 MW of electricity 23.3 MW of heat and 8334.4 kg/h of hydrogen from 87156.4 kg/h of biomass. The study explores four scenarios for green hydrogen production pathways including chemical looping reforming and supercritical water gasification highlighting significant improvements in levelized costs and the environmental impact compared with other solar-based hybrid systems. Systems 2 and 3 exhibit superior performance with levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) of 49.2 USD/MWh and 55.4 USD/MWh and levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) of between 10.7 and 19.5 USD/MWh. The exergoenvironmental impact factor ranges from 66.2% to 73.9% with an environmental impact rate of 5.4–7.1 Pts/MWh. Despite high irreversibility challenges the integration of solar energy significantly enhances the system’s exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental performance making it a promising alternative as fossil fuel reserves decline. To improve competitiveness addressing process efficiency and cost reduction in solar concentrators and receivers is crucial.
Economic Performance of Combined Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with Carbon Capture and Storage with Methanolation and Methanation by Green Hydrogen
Feb 2025
Publication
In addition to the promotion of pumped storage and electricity storage batteries the minimum use of inexpensive thermal power generation for the regulation of power in Japan and other countries is being considered as a supply-demand stabilization device with the expected widespread introduction of renewable energy by 2050. Therefore this study analyzed the economics related to the introduction of solid oxide fuel cell combined cycle using liquefied natural gas as a regulating power. The commercialization of recovered CO2 has been investigated for reducing the overall system operating costs. This study investigated a combined solid oxide fuel cell CO2 utilization system that employed green hydrogen methanolation and methanation to facilitate the use of the CO2 captured by the system. CO2 was separated from the exhaust gas of the system captured stored and used through methanation and methanolation. Consequently the synthesized methane was used for solid oxide fuel cell power generation and the synthesized methanol was sold. The discounted cash flow method was employed to evaluate the economic performance of the proposed system. At a unit price of 0.7–0.9 USD/kWh for electricity sold rated outputs of 1250 and 390 MW for solid oxide fuel cell combined cycle and photovoltaics respectively carbon capture and storage equipment cost of 800 USD/kWh and discount rate of 0.3 % the simple integrated payback period was obtained as 9 years whereas the dynamic payback period was 11–30 years. Consequently the economic feasibility of the proposed system was demonstrated.
Integrated Home Energy Management with Hybrid Backup Storage and Vehicle-to-Home Systems for Enhanced Resilience, Efficiency, and Energy Independence in Green Buildings
Sep 2024
Publication
This study presents an innovative home energy management system (HEMS) that incorporates PV WTs and hybrid backup storage systems including a hydrogen storage system (HSS) a battery energy storage system (BESS) and electric vehicles (EVs) with vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology. The research conducted in Liaoning Province China evaluates the performance of the HEMS under various demand response (DR) scenarios aiming to enhance resilience efficiency and energy independence in green buildings. Four DR scenarios were analyzed: No DR 20% DR 30% DR and 40% DR. The findings indicate that implementing DR programs significantly reduces peak load and operating costs. The 40% DR scenario achieved the lowest cumulative operating cost of $749.09 reflecting a 2.34% reduction compared with the $767.07 cost in the No DR scenario. The integration of backup systems particularly batteries and fuel cells (FCs) effectively managed energy supply ensuring continuous power availability. The system maintained a low loss of power supply probability (LPSP) indicating high reliability. Advanced optimization techniques particularly the reptile search algorithm (RSA) are crucial in enhancing system performance and efficiency. These results underscore the potential of hybrid backup storage systems with V2H technology to enhance energy independence and sustainability in residential energy management.
Hydrogen Refueling Method for Heavy-duty FCV with Pressure Loss Compensation
Apr 2024
Publication
Current hydrogen stations are using a constant dispenser pressure ramp rate method. When a flow rate increases for heavy duty vehicle a large pressure loss occurs and it slows down refueling. This study developed a new method (cTPR method) that has the constant pressure ramp rate in the tank by compensating for the tube pressure loss without any feedback from the vehicle. A refueling simulation confirmed that a refueling was shortened − 49s with a lower ending gas temperature. Testing confirmed that the cTPR method can be realized simply by changing the control without any hardware modification.
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