Publications
A Comprehensive Review on Liquid Hydrogen Transfer Operations and Safety Considerations for Mobile Applications
Dec 2024
Publication
The adoption of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as an energy carrier presents significant opportunities for distributing large quantities of hydrogen efficiently. However ensuring safety of LH2 transfer operations requires the evo lution of suitable technologies and regulatory framework. This study offers an extensive overview of technical considerations and safety aspects pertaining to liquid hydrogen installations and mobile applications. A signif icant lack of regulations specifically tailored for LH2 transfer operations is highlighted. Additionally experi mental findings and outcomes of the modelling activities carried out in previous research are presented shedding light on the combustion and ignition behaviour of liquid hydrogen during accident scenarios. The identification of research gaps and ongoing research projects underscores the importance of continued investigation and development of this critical area.
Simulation and Modelling of Hydrogen Production from Waste Plastics: Technoeconomic Analysis
May 2022
Publication
The global energy demand is expected to increase by 30% within the next two decades. Plastic thermochemical recycling is a potential alternative to meet this tremendous demand because of its availability and high heating value. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are considered in this study because of their substantial worldwide availability in the category of plastic wastes. Two cases were modeled to produce hydrogen from the waste plastics using Aspen Plus®. Case 1 is the base design containing three main processes (plastic gasification syngas conversion and acid gas removal) where the results were validated with the literature. On the other hand case 2 integrates the plastic gasification with steam methane reforming (SMR) to enhance the overall hydrogen production. The two cases were then analyzed in terms of syngas heating values hydrogen production rates energy efficiency greenhouse gas emissions and process economics. The results reveal that case 2 produces 5.6% more hydrogen than case 1. The overall process efficiency was enhanced by 4.13%. Case 2 reduces the CO2 specific emissions by 4.0% and lowers the hydrogen production cost by 29%. This substantial reduction in the H2 production cost confirms the dominance of the integrated model over the standalone plastic gasification model.
Investigation of a New Holistic Energy System for a Sustainable Airport with Green Hydrogen Fuels
Jun 2024
Publication
The advancement of sustainable solutions through renewable energy sources is crucial to mitigate carbon emissions. This study reports a novel system for an airport utilizing geothermal biomass and PV solar energy sources. The proposed system is capable of producing five useful outputs including electrical power hot water hydrogen kerosene and space heating. In open literature there has been no system reported with these combination of energy sources and outputs. The system is considered for Vancouver Airport using the most recent statistics available. The geothermal sub-system introduced is also unique which utilizes carbon dioxide captured as the heat transfer medium for power generation and heating. The present system is considered using thermodynamic analysis through energetic and exergetic approaches to determine the variation in system performance based on different annual climate conditions. Biomass gasification and kerosene production are evaluated based on the Aspen Plus models. The efficiencies of the geothermal system with the carbon dioxide reservoir are found to have energetic and energetic efficiencies of 78 % and 37 % respectively. The total hydrogen production projection is obtained to be 452 tons on an annual basis. The kerosene production mass flow rate is reported as 0.112 kg/s. The overall energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the system are found to be 41.8 % and 32.9 % respectively. This study offers crucial information for the aviation sector to adopt sustainable solutions more effectively.
Temporally Detailed Modeling and Analysis of Global Net Zero Energy Systems Focussing on Variable Renewable Energy
Apr 2023
Publication
This study newly develops a recursive-dynamic global energy model with an hourly temporal resolution for electricity and hydrogen balances aiming to assess the role of variable renewable energy (VRE) in a carbonneutral world. This model formulated as a large-scale linear programming model (with 500 million each of variables and constraints) calculates the energy supply for 100 regions by 2050. The detailed temporal reso lution enables the model to incorporate the variable output of VRE and system integration options such as batteries water electrolysis curtailment and the flexible charging of battery electric vehicles. Optimization results suggest that combing various technical options suitable for local energy situations is critical to reducing global CO2 emissions cost-effectively. Not only VRE but also CCS-equipped gas-fired and biomass-fired power plants largely contribute to decarbonizing power supply. The share of VRE in global power generation in 2050 is estimated to be 57% in a cost-effective case. The results also imply economic challenges for an energy system based on 100% renewable energy. For example the average mitigation cost in 2050 is 69USD/tCO2 in the costeffective case while it increases to 139USD/tCO2 in the 100% renewable case. The robustness of this argument is tested by sensitivity analyses.
Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Transportation: Recent Advances
Feb 2024
Publication
One such technology is hydrogen-based which utilizes hydrogen to generate energy without emission of greenhouse gases. The advantage of such technology is the fact that the only by-product is water. Efficient storage is crucial for the practical application of hydrogen. There are several techniques to store hydrogen each with certain advantages and disadvantages. In gaseous hydrogen storage hydrogen gas is compressed and stored at high pressures requiring robust and expensive pressure vessels. In liquid hydrogen storage hydrogen is cooled to extremely low temperatures and stored as a liquid which is energy-intensive. Researchers are exploring advanced materials for hydrogen storage including metal hydrides carbonbased materials metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and nanomaterials. These materials aim to enhance storage capacity kinetics and safety. The hydrogen economy envisions hydrogen as a clean energy carrier utilized in various sectors like transportation industry and power generation. It can contribute to decarbonizing sectors that are challenging to electrify directly. Hydrogen can play a role in a circular economy by facilitating energy storage supporting intermittent renewable sources and enabling the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals. The circular economy concept promotes the recycling and reuse of materials aligning with sustainable development goals. Hydrogen availability depends on the method of production. While it is abundant in nature obtaining it in a clean and sustainable manner is crucial. The efficiency of hydrogen production and utilization varies among methods with electrolysis being a cleaner but less efficient process compared to other conventional methods. Chemisorption and physisorption methods aim to enhance storage capacity and control the release of hydrogen. There are various viable options that are being explored to solve these challenges with one option being the use of a multilayer film of advanced metals. This work provides an overview of hydrogen economy as a green and sustainable energy system for the foreseeable future hydrogen production methods hydrogen storage systems and mechanisms including their advantages and disadvantages and the promising storage system for the future. In summary hydrogen holds great promise as a clean energy carrier and ongoing research and technological advancements are addressing challenges related to production storage and utilization bringing us closer to a sustainable hydrogen economy.
Clean Hydrogen and Ammonia Synthesis in Paraguay from the Itaipu 14 GW Hydroelectric Plant
Nov 2019
Publication
This paper aims at investigating clean hydrogen production from the large size (14 GW) hydroelectric power plant of Itaipu located on the border between Paraguay and Brazil the two countries that own and manage the plant. The hydrogen produced by a water electrolysis process is converted into ammonia through the well-known Haber-Bosch process. Hydraulic energy is employed to produce H2 and N2 respectively from a large-scale electrolysis system and an air separation unit. An economic feasibility analysis is performed considering the low electrical energy price in this specific scenario and that Paraguay has strong excess of renewable electrical energy but presents a low penetration of electricity. The proposal is an alternative to increase the use of electricity in the country. Different plant sizes were investigated and for each of them ammonia production costs were determined and considered as a term of comparison with traditional ammonia synthesis plants where H2 is produced from methane steam reforming and then purified. The study was performed employing a software developed by the authors’ research group at the University of Genoa. Finally an energetic environmental and economic comparison with the standard production method from methane is presented.
Optimal Scheduling of Electricity and Hydrogen Integrated Energy System Considering Multiple Uncertainties
Apr 2024
Publication
The spread of renewable energy (RE) generation not only promotes economy and the environmental protection but also brings uncertainty to power system. As the integration of hydrogen and electricity can effectively mitigate the fluctuation of RE generation an electricity-hydrogen integrated energy system is constructed. Then this paper studies the source-load uncertainties and corresponding correlation as well as the electricity-hydrogen price uncertainties and corresponding correlation. Finally an optimal scheduling model considering economy environmental protection and demand response (DR) is proposed. The simulation results indicate that the introduction of the DR strategy and the correlation of electricity-hydrogen price can effectively improve the economy of the system. After introducing the DR the operating cost of the system is reduced by 5.59% 10.5% 21.06% in each season respectively. When considering the correlation of EP and HP the operating cost of the system is reduced by 4.71% 6.47% 1.4% in each season respectively.
Assessing the Viability of Renewable Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Methanol in Decarbonizing Heavy-duty Trucks
Jan 2025
Publication
Decarbonizing heavy-duty trucks (HDTs) is both challenging and crucial for achieving carbon neutrality in the transport sector. Renewable hydrogen (H2) methanol (MeOH) and ammonia (NH3) offer potential solutions yet their economic viability and emission benefits remain largely unexplored. This study presents for the first time a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of using these three renewable fuels to decarbonize HDTs through detailed fuel and vehicle modeling. Six pathways are compared: hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks (FCET-H2) internal combustion engine trucks using MeOH (ICET-MeOH) and NH3 (ICET-NH3) as well as three indirect pathways that utilize these fuels for power generation to charge battery electric trucks (BETs). A novel “target powertrain cost” metric is introduced to assess the economic viability of FCET-H2 ICET-NH3 and ICET-MeOH relative to BETs. The results reveal that while BET pathways demonstrate higher well-to-wheel efficiencies significant opportunities exist for ICET-MeOH and ICET-NH3 in medium- and long-haul applications. Further more FCET-H2 achieves the lowest life cycle carbon emissions while ICET-MeOH and ICET-NH3 become more cost-effective as electricity costs decline. This study offers valuable insights and benchmarks for powertrain developers and policymakers addressing a critical gap in the comparative analysis of these three fuels for decarbonizing HDTs.
Evaluation of CNG Engine Conversion to Hydrogen Fuel for Stationary and Transient Operations
Dec 2024
Publication
This study investigates the use of hydrogen (H2 ) as a substitute for compressed natural gas (CNG) in a heavyduty (HD) six-cylinder engine focusing on both port fuel injection (PFI) and direct injection (DI) systems. Numerical modeling in a 0D/1D environment was employed simulating engine operation under stationary conditions and during the worldwide harmonized transient cycle (WHTC) and worldwide harmonized vehicle cycle (WHVC) homologation cycles. Results indicated a reduction in torque (7% for direct injection and 21.5% for port fuel injection) and power (32% for direct injection and 35.5% for port fuel injection) when switching from CNG to H2 . Efficiency slightly decreased primarily due to knocking at high engine loads and speeds during H2 operation. The reduced torque and power were mainly attributed to the turbocharger being undersized for H2 given its low density and the lean mixture combustion strategy used. Upgrading the turbocharger or implementing a two-stage compressor could restore or even improve torque and power levels compared to CNG. Heat transfer losses in the H2 engine were lower than with CNG due to the lower incylinder temperature resulting from the lean mixture strategy which also contributed to a significant reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx ) emissions approximately 2.5 times lower than those with CNG. Despite a notable exhaust energy loss during H2 operation caused by delayed combustion due to knocking the lower NOx emissions and absence of carbon emissions are crucial for reducing pollution. During vehicle cycles selecting an optimal gear-shift strategy is critical to mitigating the performance gap resulting from reduced torque and power with H2 fueling.
Optimizing Alkaline Water Electrolysis: A Dual-Model Approach for Enhanced Hydrogen Production Efficiency
Nov 2024
Publication
This study develops a semi-empirical model of an alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) based on thermodynamic and electrochemical principles to investigate cell voltage behavior during electrolysis. By importing polarization curve test data under specific operational conditions eight undefined parameters are precisely fitted demonstrating the model’s high accuracy in describing the voltage characteristics of alkaline electrolyzers. Additionally an AWE system model is introduced to examine the influence of various operational parameters on system efficiency. This innovative approach not only provides detailed insights into the operational dynamics of AWE systems but also offers a valuable tool for optimizing performance and enhancing efficiency advancing the understanding and optimization of AWE technologies.
Sustainable Green Hydrogen Production: Trading Off Costs and Environmental Impacts
Dec 2024
Publication
This work develops a novel optimisation approach to determine the optimal installed capacities of wind solar and hydrogen storage systems for the continuous production of green hydrogen targeting the lowest "True Cost of Hydrogen" (TCOH). TCOH is a metric that combines both costs and life cycle environmental impacts facilitating decision-making and supporting project design. Two hypothetical scenarios were evaluated using evolutionary optimisation of the TCOH namely the “Slow” or “Fast” technology developments projected for 2030. Results show that optimising TCOH (for both cost and environmental impacts) may reduce a large range of environmental impact categories by up to 37% while increasing cost by up to 0.23€/kg H2. Overall the proposed method allows for a cost-effective hydrogen production but also contributes to the mitigation of relevant environmental impacts. Our approach has the potential to add to the current carbon footprint requirements towards truly sustainable pathways for green hydrogen production.
Integrated Renewable Energy Systems for Buildings: An Assessment of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Sustainability
Jan 2025
Publication
Developing a green energy strategy for municipalities requires creating a framework to support the local production storage and use of renewable energy and green hydrogen. This framework should cover essential components for small-scale applications including energy sources infrastructure potential uses policy backing and collaborative partnerships. It is deployed as a small-scale renewable and green hydrogen unit in a municipality or building demands meticulous planning and considering multiple elements. Municipality can promote renewable energy and green hydrogen by adopting policies such as providing financial incentives like property tax reductions grants and subsidies for solar wind and hydrogen initiatives. They can also streamline approval processes for renewable energy installations invest in hydrogen refueling stations and community energy projects and collaborate with provinces and neighboring municipalities to develop hydrogen corridors and large-scale renewable projects. Renewable energy and clean hydrogen have significant potential to enhance sustainability in the transportation building and mining sectors by replacing fossil fuels. In Canada where heating accounts for 80% of building energy use blending hydrogen with LPG can reduce emissions. This study proposes a comprehensive approach integrating renewable energy and green hydrogen to support small-scale applications. The study examines many scenarios in a building as a case study focusing on economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts. The optimum scenario uses a hybrid renewable energy system to meet two distinct electrical needs with 53% designated for lighting and 10% for equipment with annual saving CAD$ 87026.33. The second scenario explores utilizing a hydrogen-LPG blend as fuel for thermal loads covering 40% and 60% of the total demand respectively. This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions from 540 to 324 tCO2/year resulting in an annual savings of CAD$ 251406. This innovative approach demonstrates the transformative potential of renewable energy and green hydrogen in enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability across sectors including transportation buildings and mining.
Assessment of Wettability and Rock-fluid Interfacial Tension of Caprock: Implications for Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide Geo-storage
Mar 2022
Publication
Underground hydrogen (H2) storage (UHS) and carbon dioxide (CO2) geo-storage (CGS) are prominent methods of meeting global energy needs and enabling a low-carbon global economy. The pore-scale distribution reservoir-scale storage capacity and containment security of H2 and CO2 are significantly influenced by interfacial properties including the equilibrium contact angle (θE) and solid-liquid and solid-gas interfacial tensions (γSL and γSG). However due to the technical constraints of experimentally determining these parameters they are often calculated based on advancing and receding contact angle values. There is a scarcity of θE γSL and γSG data particularly related to the hydrogen structural sealing potential of caprock which is unavailable in the literature. Young's equation and Neumann's equation of state were combined in this study to theoretically compute these three parameters (θE γSL and γSG) at reservoir conditions for the H2 and CO2 geo-storage potential. Pure mica organic-aged mica and alumina nano-aged mica substrates were investigated to explore the conditions for rock wetting phenomena and the sealing potential of caprock. The results reveal that θE increases while γSG decreases with increasing pressure organic acid concentration and alkyl chain length. However γSG decreases with increasing temperatures for H2 gas and vice versa for CO2. In addition θE and γSL decrease whereas γSG increases with increasing alumina nanofluid concentration from 0.05 to 0.25 wt%. Conversely θE and γSL increase whereas γSG decreases with increasing alumina nanofluid concentration from 0.25 to 0.75 wt%. The hydrogen wettability of mica (a proxy of caprock) was generally less than the CO2 wettability of mica at similar physio-thermal conditions. The interfacial data reported in this study are crucial for predicting caprock wettability alterations and the resulting structural sealing capacity for UHS and CGS.
The Economical Repurposing Pipeliness to Hydrogen - Why Performance Testing of Representative Line Pipes is Key?
Sep 2023
Publication
The introduction of hydrogen in natural gas pipeline systems introduces integrity challenges due to the nature of interactions between hydrogen and line pipe steel materials. However not every natural gas pipeline is equal in regards to the challenges potentially posed by the repurposing to hydrogen. Existing codes and practices penalise high-grade materials on the basis of a perceived higher susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement in regards to their increased strength. This philosophy challenges the realisation of a hydrogen economy because it puts at economical and technical risk the conversion of almost half of the natural gas transmission systems in western countries.
The paper addresses the question whether pipe grade is actually a good proxy to strength and predictor to assess the performance of steel line pipes in hydrogen. Drivers that could affect the suitability of pipeline conversion in hydrogen from an integrity management perspective and industry experience of other hydrogen-charging applications are reviewed. In doing so the paper challenges the basis of the assumption that low-grade steels (up to X52 / L360) are automatically safer for hydrogen repurposing while at the other end of the spectrum higher-grade materials (>X52 / L360) are inevitably less suitable for hydrogen service.
Ultimately the paper discusses that materials sampling and testing of representative line pipes populations should be placed at the core of hydrogen repurposing strategies in order to safely address conversion and to maximize the hydrogen chain value. The paper addresses alternatives to make the sampling smart and cost-effective.
The paper addresses the question whether pipe grade is actually a good proxy to strength and predictor to assess the performance of steel line pipes in hydrogen. Drivers that could affect the suitability of pipeline conversion in hydrogen from an integrity management perspective and industry experience of other hydrogen-charging applications are reviewed. In doing so the paper challenges the basis of the assumption that low-grade steels (up to X52 / L360) are automatically safer for hydrogen repurposing while at the other end of the spectrum higher-grade materials (>X52 / L360) are inevitably less suitable for hydrogen service.
Ultimately the paper discusses that materials sampling and testing of representative line pipes populations should be placed at the core of hydrogen repurposing strategies in order to safely address conversion and to maximize the hydrogen chain value. The paper addresses alternatives to make the sampling smart and cost-effective.
Transitioning to Sustainable Economic Resilience through Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen: The Case of Iraq
Sep 2024
Publication
The study investigates the potential of transitioning Iraq a nation significantly dependent on fossil fuels toward a green hydrogen-based energy system as a pathway to achieving sustainable economic resilience. As of 2022 Iraqi energy supply is over 90% reliant on hydrocarbons which also account for 95% of the country foreign exchange earnings. The global energy landscape is rapidly shifting towards cleaner alternatives and the volatility of oil prices has made it imperative for the country to diversify its energy sources. Green hydrogen produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind offers a promising alternative given country vast renewable energy potential. The analysis indicates that with strategic investments in green hydrogen infrastructure the country could reduce its hydrocarbon dependency by 30% by the year 2030. This transition could not only address pressing environmental challenges but also contribute to the economic stability of the country. However the shift to green hydrogen is not without significant challenges including water scarcity technological limitations and the necessity for a robust regulatory framework. The findings underscore the importance of international partnerships and supportive policies in facilitating this energy transition. Adopting renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies the country has the potential to become a leader in sustainable energy within the region. This shift would not only drive economic growth and energy security but also contribute to global efforts towards environmental sustainability positioning country favorably in a future low-carbon economy.
Exploring Decarbonization Priorities for Sustainable Shipping: A Natural Language Processing-based Experiment
Oct 2024
Publication
The shipping industry is currently the sixth largest contributor to global emissions responsible for one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Urgent action is needed to achieve carbon neutrality in the shipping industry for sustainability. In this paper we use natural language processing techniques to analyze policies announcements and position papers from national and international organizations related to the decarbonization of shipping. In particular we perform the analysis using a novel matrix-based corpus and a fine-tuned machine learning model BERTopic. Our research suggests that the top four priorities for decarbonizing shipping are preventing emissions from methane leaks promoting non-carbon-based hydrogen implementing reusable modular containers to reduce packaging waste in container shipping and protecting Arctic biodiversity while promoting the Arctic shipping route to reduce costs. Our study highlights the validity of NLP techniques in quantitatively extracting critical information related to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.
Impact of Medium-pressure Direct Injection Engine Fueled by Hydrogen
Dec 2023
Publication
In the automotive sector hydrogen is being increasingly explored as an alternative fuel to replace conventional carbon-based fuels. Its combustion characteristics make it well-suited for adaptation to internal combustion engines. The wide flammability range of hydrogen allows for higher dilution conditions resulting in enhanced combustion efficiency. When combined with lean combustion strategies hydrogen significantly reduces environmental impact virtually eliminating carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions while maintaining high thermal efficiency. This paper aims to assess the potential of using an outwardly opening poppet valve hydrogen direct injection (DI) system in a small engine for light-duty applications. To achieve this a comparison of performance emission levels and combustion parameters is conducted on a single-cylinder spark-ignition (SI) research engine fueled by hydrogen using both port fuel injection (PFI) and this new direct injection system. Two different engine loads are measured at multiple air dilution and injection timing conditions. The results demonstrate notable efficiency improvements ranging from 0.6% to 1.1% when transitioning from PFI to DI. Accurate control of injection timing is essential for achieving optimal performance and low emissions. Delaying the start of injection results in a 7.6% reduction in compression work at low load and a 3.9% reduction at high load. This results in a 3.1-3.2% improvement in ISFC in both load conditions considered.
Coordinating Social Dynamics for Integrating Hydrogen in the Netherlands
Jan 2025
Publication
Integrating hydrogen into energy systems presents challenges involving social dynamics among stakeholders beyond technical considerations. A gap exists in understanding how these dynamics influence the deployment of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure particularly in infrastructure development and market demand for widespread adoption. In the Netherlands despite ambitious strategies and investments comprehensive explanations of social dynamics’ impact on integration processes and market development are lacking. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the hydrogen value chain and stakeholder interactions in the Dutch hydrogen sector. A literature review highlights system integration challenges and the need for decentralized coordination and cross-sector collaboration. Using the Dutch energy grid and its hydrogen initiatives as a case study social network analysis and semi-structured interviews are applied to analyze over 60 hydrogen initiatives involving more than 340 stakeholders. Initiatives are categorized into large-scale centralized and decentralized local types based on scale and stakeholder involvement allowing targeted analysis of stakeholder interactions in different contexts. Findings reveal that centralized networks may limit innovation due to concentrated influence while decentralized networks encourage innovation but require better coordination. These insights guide strategic planning and policymaking in hydrogen energy initiatives aiming to enhance scalability and efficiency of hydrogen technologies for sustainable energy solutions.
Experimental Characterization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Hydrogen Fueled in a Residential Small Villa
Jan 2025
Publication
The use of highly efficient cogeneration systems fueled by pure hydrogen such as Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) in the residential sector is one of the new frontiers for achieving the net zero greenhouse gas emissions tran sitions. The lack of experimental studies in this area prompted the authors to propose the present paper. It refers to hydrogen-fueled SOFC 1 kW-sized integrated into the plant system of a single-family villa configurated as a nearly Zero Energy Building. The multiple objectives are: show the technical feasibility of this technology in building; analyse the data of a continuous monitoring campaign in wintertime; highlight the real performance compared to the manufacturer’s declaration. The results demonstrate that in particular conditions of photo voltaic production it is possible to meet the home electric loads and have a surplus of energy to store or send to the national power grid. The calculated electrical efficiency is equal to 0.47 ÷ 0.48 while the maximum overall efficiency is 0.93.
Evaluating Reservoir Suitability for Large-scale Hydrogen Storage: A Preliminary Assesment Considering Reservoir Properties
May 2024
Publication
With rising demand for clean energy global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in depleted petroleum reservoirs. A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrogen (H2) injection is crucial for UHS success and safety. Recent criteria for UHS often emphasize economics and chemistry neglecting key reservoir attributes. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for the reservoir-scale preliminary assessment specifically tailored for long-term H2 storage within depleted gas reservoirs. The evaluation criteria encompass critical components including reservoir geometry petrophysical properties tectonics and formation fluids. To illustrate the practical application of this approach we assess the Barnett shale play reservoir parameters. The assessment unfolds through three key stages: (1) A systematic evaluation of the reservoir's properties against our comprehensive screening criteria determines its suitability for H2 storage. (2) Using both homogeneous and multilayered gas reservoir models we explore the feasibility and efficiency of H2 storage. This phase involves an in-depth examination of reservoir behavior during the injection stage. (3) To enhance understanding of UHS performance sensitivity analyses investigate the impact of varying reservoir dimensions and injection/production pressures. The findings reveal the following: (a) Despite potential challenges associated with reservoir compaction and aquifer support the reservoir exhibits substantial promise as an H2 storage site. (b) Notably a pronounced increase in reservoir pressure manifests during the injection stage particularly in homogeneous reservoirs. (c) Furthermore optimizing injection-extraction cycle efficiency can be achieved by augmenting reservoir dimensions while maintaining a consistent thickness. To ensure a smooth transition to implementation further comprehensive investigations are advised including experimental and numerical studies to address injectivity concerns and explore storage site development. This evaluation framework is a valuable tool for assessing the potential of depleted gas reservoirs for large-scale hydrogen storage advancing global eco-friendly energy systems.
A Review of Machine Learning Applications in Hydrogen Electrochemical Devices
Jan 2025
Publication
Machine learning methods have been proven to be a useful tool for solving complex problems based on historical data in both scientific and engineering applications. Those properties make them a great candidate for providing a better insight into the operating characteristics of hydrogen electrochemical devices such as electrolyzers and fuel cells. Therefore this paper critically analyzes the current state of research on the application of machine learning methods for predicting operating parameters degradation detection with an emphasis on diagnostics and prognostics and fault detection in hydrogen electrochemical devices. The analysis includes a comparison of different methods discussion of existing challenges and exploration of future potential applications. Addition ally guidelines for future research along with recommendations and best practices for applying machine learning methods are provided.
Green Hydrogen Revolution: Advancing Electrolysis, Market Integration, and Sustainable Energy Transitions Towards a Net Zero Future
Apr 2025
Publication
Green hydrogen is emerging as a key driver in global decarbonization efforts particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing ammonia production and long-distance transportation. This study evaluates the techno-economic and environmental aspects of green hydrogen production storage and integration with renewable energy systems. Electrolysis remains the dominant production method with efficiency rates ranging from 70–80% for Alkaline Electrolyzers (AEL) 75–85% for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEMEL) and up to 90% for Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOEL). Capital costs are steadily decreasing with AEL costs falling from $1200/kW in 2018 to $800/kW in 2024 while PEMEL costs are projected to decline to $600/kW by 2030. Green hydrogen significantly reduces carbon emissions with a footprint of 0.5–1 kg CO₂ per kg of H₂ compared to 10–12 kg for gray hydrogen and 1–3 kg for blue hydrogen. Its potential to cut global CO₂ emissions by 6 gigatons annually by 2050 underscores its role in climate action. However its high water demand—approximately 9 liters per kilogram of hydrogen—necessitates efficient management strategies such as desalination and recycling. Economically green hydrogen is becoming more competitive with its levelized cost decreasing from $6/kg in 2018 to $3–4/kg in 2024 and projections indicating a further drop to $1.50/kg by 2030. Global investments exceeding $500 billion in 2024 along with major projects like Saudi Arabia's NEOM Green Hydrogen Project and Australia's Asian Renewable Energy Hub are accelerating adoption. Policy frameworks such as the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act further support deployment. Despite progress challenges remain in infrastructure storage and regulatory frameworks necessitating continued innovation and international collaboration. Green hydrogen aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) SDG 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy green hydrogen presents a transformative opportunity contingent on sustained technological advancements investment and policy support.
Temporal Regulation of Renewable Supply of Electrolytic Hydrogen
Feb 2024
Publication
Electrolytic hydrogen produced using renewable electricity can help lower carbon dioxide emissions in sectors where feedstocks reducing agents dense fuels or high temperatures are required. This study investigates the implications of various standards being proposed to certify that the grid electricity used is renewable. The standards vary in how strictly they match the renewable generation to the electrolyser demand in time and space. Using an energy system model we compare electricity procurement strategies to meet a constant hydrogen demand for selected European countries in 2025 and 2030. We compare cases where no additional renewable generators are procured with cases where the electrolyser demand is matched to additional supply from local renewable generators on an annual monthly or hourly basis. We show that local additionality is required to guarantee low emissions. For the annually and monthly matched case we demonstrate that baseload operation of the electrolysis leads to using fossil-fuelled generation from the grid for some hours resulting in higher emissions than the case without hydrogen demand. In the hourly matched case hydrogen production does not increase system-level emissions but baseload operation results in high costs for providing constant supply if only wind solar and short-term battery storage are available. Flexible operation or buffering hydrogen with storage either in steel tanks or underground caverns reduces the cost penalty of hourly versus annual matching to 7%–8%. Hydrogen production with monthly matching can reduce system emissions if the electrolysers operate flexibly or the renewable generation share is large. The largest emission reduction is achieved with hourly matching when surplus electricity generation can be sold to the grid. We conclude that flexible operation of the electrolysis should be supported to guarantee low emissions and low hydrogen production costs.
Market Dynamics and Power Risks in Green Technology Materials: Platinum under the EU 2030 Hydrogen Target
Jan 2025
Publication
The central role of hydrogen in the EU’s decarbonization strategy has increased the importance of critical raw materials. To address this the EU has taken legislative steps including the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to ensure a stable supply. Using a leader–follower Stackelberg game framework this study analyzes CRM market dynamics integrating CRMA compliance through rules on sourcing and stockpiling value chain resilience via the inclusion of supply diversification strategies and geopolitical influences by modeling exporter behaviors and trade dependencies. Results highlight the potential for strategic behavior by major exporters stressing the benefits of diversifying export sources and maintaining strategic stockpiles to stabilize supply. The findings provide insights into the EU’s efforts to secure CRM supplies key to achieving decarbonization goals and fostering a sustainable energy transition. Future research should explore alternative cost-reduction strategies mitigate exporter market power and evaluate the implications for pricing mechanisms market outcomes and consumer welfare
Green Hydrogen Transformation of the Iron and Steel Production System: An Integrated Operating Concept for System-internal Balance, Lower Emissions, and Support for Power System Stability
Dec 2024
Publication
The green hydrogen transformation of the iron and steel industry is considered a technically viable option. Concretely large-scale renewable energy generation and water electrolyzer capacity are to be added to the production system. Given that renewables are intermittent and H2 demand is high there is continued reliance on the CO2 emitting upstream power system. This paper introduces a novel operating concept that regards an extended production system that includes not only the renewables and water electrolyzer but also a dedicated conventional generator and onsite customer and prioritizes loads with the aim to create an internal balance. The paper studies different production system configurations and load prioritization strategies evaluating technoeconomic properties CO2 emissions the internal balance and the support for the stability of the upstream power system. It finds that local emission-free production of H2 is not only techno-economically viable but that the integrated operating concept leads to lower Scope I and II emissions and to significant reduction of electrical loads on the upstream power system.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Decarbonizing Shipping
Mar 2024
Publication
On this episode of EAH Patrick Molloy Alicia Eastman and Chris Jackson are delighted to speak with Arsenio Dominguez the newly appointed Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Recorded before the highly successful MEPC81 Arsenio describes his vision for the IMO and his confidence in solutions that will reduce emissions from shipping without penalizing member states.
The podcast can be found on their website.
The podcast can be found on their website.
An Ageing Test Standards Analysis on Thermoplastic Liners of Type IV Composite Hydrogen Storage Tanks
Mar 2023
Publication
The liner of a carbon fiber fully reinforced composite tank with thermoplastic liner (type IV) works in a hydrogen environment with varying temperature and pressure profiles. The ageing performance of the thermoplastic liner may affect hydrogen permeability and the consequent storage capacity degrade the mechanical properties and even increase the leakage risks of type IV tanks. In this paper both testing procedures and evaluation parameters of an ageing test in a hydrogen environment required in several standards are compared and analyzed. Hydrogen static exposure in a high-temperature condition with a constant temperature and pressure is suggested to be a reasonable way to accelerate the ageing reaction of thermoplastic materials. A total of 192 h is considered a superior ageing test duration to balance the test economy and safety. The ageing test temperature in the high-temperature condition is suggested as no lower than 85 ◦C while the upper limit of test pressure is suggested to be 1.25 NWP. In addition the hydrogen permeation coefficient and mechanical properties are recognized as important parameters in ageing performance evaluation. Considering the actual service conditions the influence of temperature/pressure cycling depressurization rate and humidity on the ageing performance of thermoplastics in hydrogen are advised to be investigated experimentally.
Preliminary Analysis of Refilling Cold-adsorbed Hydrogen Tanks
Sep 2023
Publication
The effective storage of hydrogen is a critical challenge that needs to be overcome for it to become a widely used and clean energy source. Various methods exist for storing hydrogen including compression at high pressures liquefaction through extreme cooling (i.e. -253 °C) and storage with chemical compounds. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. MAST3RBoost (Maturing the Production Standards of Ultraporous Structures for High Density Hydrogen Storage Bank Operating on Swinging Temperatures and Low Compression) is a European funded Project aiming to establish a reliable benchmark for cold-adsorbed H2 storage (CAH2) at low compression levels (100 bar or below). This is achieved through the development of advanced ultraporous materials suitable for mobility applications such as hydrogen-powered vehicles used in road railway air and water transportation. The MAST3RBoost Project utilizes cutting-edge materials including Activated Carbons (ACs) and high-density MOFs (Metalorganic Frameworks) which are enhanced by Machine Learning techniques. By harnessing these materials the project seeks to create a groundbreaking path towards meeting industry goals. The project aims to develop the world's first adsorption-based demonstrator at a significant kg-scale. To support the design of the storage tank the project employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software which allows for numerical investigations. In this paper a preliminary analysis of the tank refilling process is presented with a focus on the impact of the effect of the tank and hydrogen temperatures on quantity of hydrogen adsorbed.
Evaluating the Economic Influence of Water Sources on Green Hydrogen Production: A Cost Analysis Approach
Sep 2024
Publication
The production of green hydrogen requires significant water usage making the economic evaluation of different water sources crucial for optimizing the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH). This study examines the economic impact of using seawater groundwater grid water industrial wastewater and rainwater for hydrogen production through PEM electrolysis considering the water abstraction transport treatment and storage costs across various plant sizes (1 MW 10 MW 20 MW 50 MW and 100 MW) were assessed and a sensitivity analysis on electricity prices was conducted. Findings reveal that while water-related costs are minimal.
Operation Optimization of Wind/Battery Storage/Alkaline Electrolyzer System Considering Dynamic Hydrogen Production Efficiency
Aug 2023
Publication
Hydrogen energy is regarded as a key path to combat climate change and promote sustainable economic and social development. The fluctuation of renewable energy leads to frequent start/stop cycles in hydrogen electrolysis equipment. However electrochemical energy storage with its fast response characteristics helps regulate the power of hydrogen electrolysis enabling smooth operation. In this study a multi-objective constrained operation optimization model for a wind/battery storage/alkaline electrolyzer system is constructed. Both profit maximization and power abandonment rate minimization are considered. In addition some constraints such as minimum start/stop times upper and lower power limits and input fluctuation limits are also taken into account. Then the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) algorithm and the entropy method are used to optimize the operation strategy of the hybrid energy system by considering dynamic hydrogen production efficiency and through optimization to obtain the best hydrogen production power of the system under the two objectives. The change in dynamic hydrogen production efficiency is mainly related to the change in electrolyzer power and the system can be better adjusted according to the actual supply of renewable energy to avoid the waste of renewable energy. Our results show that the distribution of Pareto solutions is uniform which indicates the suitability of the NSGA-II algorithm. In addition the optimal solution indicates that the battery storage and alkaline electrolyzer can complement each other in operation and achieve the absorption of wind power. The dynamic hydrogen production efficiency can make the electrolyzer operate more efficiently which paves the way for system optimization. A sensitivity analysis reveals that the profit is sensitive to the price of hydrogen energy.
Numerical Modelling of Hydrogen Release and Dispersion in Under-deck Compressed Hydrogen Storage of Marine Ships
Feb 2024
Publication
There is growing interest in using hydrogen (H2) as a marine fuel. Fire and explosion risks depend on hydrogen release and dispersion characteristics. Based on a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model this study performed hydrogen release and dispersion analysis on an under-deck compressed H2 storage system for a Live-Fish Carrier. A realistic under-deck H2 storage room was modelled based on the ship’s main dimensions and operational profile. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Rules and Regulations for natural gas storage as a marine fuel were employed as base design guidelines. Case studies were developed to study the effect of two ceiling types (flat and slanted) in terms of flammable cloud formation and dissipation. During the leak’s duration it was found that the recommended ventilation rate was insufficient to dilute the average H2 concentration below 25% of the flammable range as required by DNV (1.2% required against 1.3% slanted and 1.4% flat). However after 35 s of gas extraction the H2 concentration was reduced to 0.5% and 0.6% in the slanted and flat cases respectively. The proposed methodology remains valid to improve the ventilation system and assess mitigation alternatives or other leakage scenarios in confined or semi-confined spaces containing compressed hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen Propulsion Systems for Aircraft, a Review on Recent Advances and Ongoing Challenges
Oct 2024
Publication
Air transportation contributes significantly to harmful and greenhouse gas emissions. To combat these issues there has been a recent emergence of aircraft electrification as a potential solution to mitigate environmental concerns and address fuel shortages. However current technologies related to batteries electric machinery and power systems are still in the developmental phase to meet the requirements for power and energy density weight safety and reliability. In the interim there is a focus on the more electric and hybrid electric propulsion systems for aircraft. Hydrogen with its high specific energy and carbon-free characteristics stands out as a promising alternative fuel for aviation. This paper is centred on the application of hydrogen in aircraft propulsion mainly fuel cell hybrid electric (FCHE) propulsion systems. Furthermore application of hydrogen as a fuel for the aircraft propulsion systems is considered. A comprehensive overview of the hydrogen propulsion systems in aviation is presented with an emphasis on the technical aspects crucial for creating a more sustainable and efficient air transportation sector. Additionally the paper acknowledges the technical and regulatory challenges that must be addressed to attain these goals.
Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys: Advances, Strategies, and Future Outlook for Clean Energy Applications
May 2024
Publication
Magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys have attracted significant attention as promising materials for solid-state hydrogen storage due to their high hydrogen storage capacity abundant reserves low cost and reversibility. However the widespread application of these alloys is hindered by several challenges including slow hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics high thermodynamic stability of magnesium hydride and limited cycle life. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth overview of the recent advances in magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys covering their fundamental properties synthesis methods modification strategies hydrogen storage performance and potential applications. The review discusses the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of magnesium-based alloys as well as the effects of alloying nanostructuring and surface modification on their hydrogen storage performance. The hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of different magnesium-based alloy systems are compared and the influence of various modification strategies on these properties is examined. The review also explores the potential applications of magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys including mobile and stationary hydrogen storage rechargeable batteries and thermal energy storage. Finally the current challenges and future research directions in this field are discussed highlighting the need for fundamental understanding of hydrogen storage mechanisms development of novel alloy compositions optimization of modification strategies integration of magnesium-based alloys into hydrogen storage systems and collaboration between academia and industry.
Numerical Study on a Diesel/Dissociated Methanol Gas Compression Ignition Engine with Exhaust Gas Recirculation
Aug 2023
Publication
Bo Li,
Yihua Chen,
Fei Zhong and
Xu Hao
Hydrogen is the most promising alternative fuel in the field of engines. Exhaust heat assisted methanol dissociation is an attractive approach for generating hydrogen. In this work simulations are conducted on a compression ignition engine fueled with different proportions of diesel-dissociated methanol gas (DMG) blends at intermediate engine speed full load and 0% EGR ratio. The results reveal that the indicated thermal efficiency and indicated mean effective pressure are greatly enhanced combustion efficiency is increased and regular emissions of CO HC and soot are reduced while NOx emissions are reduced with increased DMG substitution. In addition a simulation is conducted at an intermediate engine speed full load 15% DMG substitution ratio and varying EGR ratios of 0–20%. The results indicate that the dual-fuel engine outperforms the original engine with respect to power fuel economy and regular emissions once an optimal EGR rate is adopted.
Development of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Urban Air Mobility System Model Using a Hydrogen Metal Hydride Tank
Dec 2024
Publication
Hydrogen fuel cell-based UAM (urban air mobility) systems are gaining significant attention due to their advantages of higher energy density and longer flight durations compared to conventional battery-based UAM systems. To further improve the flight times of current UAM systems various hydrogen storage methods such as liquid hydrogen and hydrogen metal hydrides are being utilized. Among these hydrogen metal hydrides offer the advantage of high safety as they do not require the additional technologies needed for high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage or the maintenance of cryogenic temperatures for liquid hydrogen. Furthermore because of the relatively slower dynamic response of hydrogen fuel cell systems compared to batteries they are often integrated into hybrid configurations with batteries necessitating an efficient power management system. In this study a UAM system was developed by integrating a hydrogen fuel cell system with hydrogen metal hydrides and batteries in a hybrid configuration. Additionally a state machine control approach was applied to a distribution valve for the endothermic reaction required for hydrogen desorption from the hydrogen metal hydrides. This design utilized waste heat generated by the fuel cell stack to facilitate hydrogen release. Furthermore a fuzzy logic control-based power management system was implemented to ensure efficient power distribution during flight. The results show that approximately 43% of the waste heat generated by the stack was recovered through the tank system.
Designing an Inherently Safe H2 Infrastructure: Combining Analytical, Experimental, and Numerical Investigations to Optimize H2 Refuelling Stations Safety by Passive Mitigation
Sep 2023
Publication
Natural ventilation is a well-known passive mitigation method to limit hydrogen build-up in confined spaces in case of accidental release [1-3]. In most cases a basic design of H2 infrastructure is adopted and vents installed for natural ventilation are adjusted according to safety targets and constraints of the considered structure. With the growing H2 mobility market the demand for H2 refueling infrastructure in our urban environment is on the rise. In order to meet both safety requirements and societal acceptance the design of such infrastructure is becoming more important. In this study a novel design concept is proposed for the hydrogen refueling station (HRS) by modifying physical structure while keeping safety consideration as the top priority of the concept. In this collaborative project between Air Liquide and the University of Delaware an extensive evaluation was performed on new structures of the processing container and dispenser of HRS by integrating safety protocols via passive means. Through a SWOT analysis combined with the most relevant approaches including analytical engineering models numerical simulations [4] and dedicated experimental trials an optimized design was obtained and its safety enhancement was fully evaluated. A small-scale processing container and an almost full-scale dispenser were built and tested to validate the design concepts by simulating accidental H2 release scenarios and assessing the associated consequences in terms of accumulation and potential flammable volumes formation. A conical dispenser and a V-shaped roof-top processing container which were easy to build and implement were designed and tested for this proof-of-concept study. This unique methodology from conception fundamental analysis investigation and validation through experimental design execution and evaluation is fully described in this study.
Environmental Benefits of Hydrogen-Powered Buses: A Case Study of Coke Oven Gas
Oct 2024
Publication
This study conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of alternative (electric and hydrogen) and conventional diesel buses in a large metropolitan area. The primary focus was on hydrogen derived from coke oven gas a byproduct of the coking process which is a crucial step in the steel production value chain. The functional unit was 1000000 km traveled over 15 years. LCA analysis using SimaPro v9.3 revealed significant environmental differences between the bus types. Hydrogen buses outperformed electric buses in all 11 environmental impact categories and in 5 of 11 categories compared to conventional diesel buses. The most substantial improvements for hydrogen buses were observed in ozone depletion (8.6% of diesel buses) and global warming (29.9% of diesel buses). As a bridge to a future dominated by green hydrogen employing grey hydrogen from coke oven gas in buses provides a practical way to decrease environmental harm in regions abundant with this resource. This interim solution can significantly contribute to climate policy goals.
Green Hydrogen Production: Integrating Environmental and Social Criteria to Ensure Sustainability
Jul 2023
Publication
Hydrogen is experiencing an unprecedented global hype. Hydrogen is globally discussed as a possible future energy carrier and regarded as the urgently needed building block for the much needed carbon-neutral energy transition of hard-to-abate sectors to mitigate the effects of global warming. This article provides synthesised measurable sustainability criteria for analysing green hydrogen production proposals and strategies. Drawn from expert interviews and an extensive literature review this article proposes that a sustainable hydrogen production should consider six impact categories; Energy transition Environment Basic needs Socio-economy Electricity supply and Project planning. The categories are broken down into sixteen measurable sustainability criteria which are determined with related indicators. The article concludes that low economic costs can never be the only decisive criterion for the hydrogen production; social aspects must be integrated along the entire value chain. The compliance with the criteria may avoid social and ecological injustices in the planning of green hydrogen projects and increases inter alia the social welfare of the affected population.
Safety Challenges Related to the Use of Hydrogen-Natural Gas Blends in Gas Turbines
Sep 2023
Publication
In a context of the decarbonization of the power sector the gas turbine manufacturers are expected tohandle and burn hydrogen or hydrogen/natural gas mixtures. This evolution is conceptually simple in order to displace CO2 emissions by H2O in the combustion exhaust but raises potential engineering andsafety related questions. Concerning the safety aspect the flammability domain is wider and the laminar flame speed is higher for hydrogen than for natural gas. As a result handling fuels with increased hydrogen concentration should a priori lead to an increased the risk of flammable cloud formation with air and also increase the potential explosion violence.<br/>A central topic for the gas turbine manufacturer is the quantification of the hydrogen fuel content from which the explosion risk increases significantly when compared with the use of natural gas. This work will be focused on a risk study of the fuel supply piping of a gas turbine in a scenario where mixing between fuel and air would occur. The pipes are a few dozens of meters long and show singularities: elbows connections with other lines … They are operated at high temperature and atmospheric or high pressure.<br/>The paper will first highlight through CFD modelling the impact of increasing hydrogen content in the fuel on the explosion risk based on a geometry representative of a realistic system. Second the quantification of the explosion effects will be addressed. Some elements of the bibliography relative to flame propagation in pipes will be recalled and put in sight of the characteristics of the industrial case. Finally a CFD model proposed recently for accounting for methane or hydrogen flames propagating in long open steel tubes was used to assess a hydrogen fuel content from which the flame can strongly accelerate and generate significative pressure effects for a flammable mixture initially at atmospheric conditions.
Review of the Status and Prospects of Fiber Optic Hydrogen Sensing Technology
Aug 2023
Publication
With the unprecedented development of green and renewable energy sources the proportion of clean hydrogen (H2 ) applications grows rapidly. Since H2 has physicochemical properties of being highly permeable and combustible high-performance H2 sensors to detect and monitor hydrogen concentration are essential. This review discusses a variety of fiber-optic-based H2 sensor technologies since the year 1984 including: interferometer technology fiber grating technology surface plasma resonance (SPR) technology micro lens technology evanescent field technology integrated optical waveguide technology direct transmission/reflection detection technology etc. These technologies have been evolving from simply pursuing high sensitivity and low detection limits (LDL) to focusing on multiple performance parameters to match various application demands such as: high temperature resistance fast response speed fast recovery speed large concentration range low cross sensitivity excellent long-term stability etc. On the basis of palladium (Pd)-sensitive material alloy metals catalysts or nanoparticles are proposed to improve the performance of fiberoptic-based H2 sensors including gold (Au) silver (Ag) platinum (Pt) zinc oxide (ZnO) titanium oxide (TiO2 ) tungsten oxide (WO3 ) Mg70Ti30 polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) graphene oxide (GO) etc. Various microstructure processes of the side and end of optical fiber H2 sensors are also discussed in this review.
Thermal Design of a Biohydrogen Production System Driven by Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Waste Heat Using Dynamic Simulation
Apr 2022
Publication
Utilizing biological processes for hydrogen production via gasification is a promising alternative method to coal gasification. The present study proposes a dynamic simulation model that uses a one-dimensional heat-transfer analysis method to simulate a biohydrogen production system. The proposed model is based on an existing experimental design setup. It is used to simulate a biohydrogen production system driven by the waste heat from an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant equipped with carbon capture and storage technologies. The data from the simulated results are compared with the experimental measurement data to validate the developed model’s reliability. The results show good agreement between the experimental data and the developed model. The relative root-mean-square error for the heat storage feed-mixing and bioreactor tanks is 1.26% 3.59% and 1.78% respectively. After the developed model’s reliability is confirmed it is used to simulate and optimize the biohydrogen production system inside the IGCC power plant. The bioreactor tank’s time constant can be improved when reducing the operating volume of the feed-mixing tank by the scale factors of 0.75 and 0.50 leading to a 15.76% and 31.54% faster time constant respectively when compared with the existing design.
CFD Simulation and ANN Prediction of Hydrogen Leakage and Diffusion Behavior in a Hydrogen Refuelling Station
Sep 2023
Publication
Hydrogen refuelling stations are an important part of the infrastructure for promoting the hydrogen economy. Since hydrogen is a flammable and explosive gas hydrogen released from high-pressure hydrogen storage equipment in hydrogen refuelling stations will likely cause combustion or explosion accidents. Studying high-pressure hydrogen leakage in hydrogen refuelling stations is a prerequisite for promoting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen refuelling stations. In this work an actual-size hydrogen refuelling station model was established on the ANSYS FLUENT software platform. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for hydrogen leakage simulation were validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental data in the literature. The effects of ambient wind speed wind direction leakage rate and leakage direction on the diffusion behaviors of the released hydrogen were investigated. The spreading distances of the flammable hydrogen cloud were predicted using an artificial neural network for horizontal leakage. The results show that the leak direction strongly affected the flammable cloud flow. The ambient wind speed has complicated effects on spreading the flammable cloud. The wind makes the flammable cloud move in certain directions and the higher wind speed accelerates the diffusion of the flammable gas in the air. The results of the study can be used as a reference for the study of high-pressure hydrogen leakage in hydrogen refuelling stations.
Divergent Consumer Preferences and Visions for Cooking and Heating Technologies in the United Kingdom: Make Our Homes Clean, Safe, Warm and Smart!
Aug 2023
Publication
Decarbonising the global housing stock is imperative for reaching climate change targets. In the United Kingdom hydrogen is currently being tested as a replacement fuel for natural gas which could be used to supply low-carbon energy to parts of the country. Transitioning the residential sector towards a net-zero future will call for an inclusive understanding of consumer preferences for emerging technologies. In response this paper explores consumer attitudes towards domestic cooking and heating technologies and energy appliances of the future which could include a role for hydrogen hobs and boilers in UK homes. To access qualitative evidence on this topic we conducted ten online focus groups (N = 58) with members of the UK public between February and April 2022. The study finds that existing gas users wish to preserve the best features of gas cooking such as speed responsiveness and controllability but also desire the potential safety and aesthetic benefits of electric systems principally induction hobs. Meanwhile future heating systems should ensure thermal comfort ease of use energy efficiency and smart performance while providing space savings and noise reduction alongside demonstrable green benefits. Mixed-methods multigroup analysis suggests divergence between support levels for hydrogen homes which implies a degree of consumer heterogeneity. Foremost we find that domestic hydrogen acceptance is positively associated with interest and engagement with renewable energy and fuel poverty pressures. We conclude that internalising the perspectives of consumers is critical to enabling constructive socio-technical imaginaries for low-carbon domestic energy futures.
Equivalent Minimum Hydrogen Consumption of Fuzzy Control-Based Fuel Cells: Exploration of Energy Management Strategies for Ships
Feb 2024
Publication
Aiming to solve the problems of insufficient dynamic responses the large loss of energy storage life of a single power cell and the large fluctuation in DC (direct current) bus voltage in fuel cell vessels this study takes a certain type of fuel cell ferry as the research object and proposes an improved equivalent minimum hydrogen consumption energy management strategy based on fuzzy logic control. First a hybrid power system including a fuel cell a lithium–iron–phosphate battery and a supercapacitor is proposed with the simulation of the power system of the modified mother ship. Second a power system simulation model and a double-closed-loop PI (proportion integration) control model are established in MATLAB/Simulink to design the equivalent hydrogen consumption model and fuzzy logic control strategy. The simulation results show that under the premise of meeting the load requirements the control strategy designed in this paper improves the Li-ion battery’s power the Li-ion battery’s SOC (state of charge) the bus voltage stability and the equivalent hydrogen consumption significantly compared with those before optimization which improves the stability and economy of the power system and has certain practical engineering value.
Spatial Succession for Degradation of Solid Multicomponent Food Waste and Purification of Toxic Leachate with the Obtaining of Biohydrogen and Biomethane
Jan 2022
Publication
A huge amount of organic waste is generated annually around the globe. The main sources of solid and liquid organic waste are municipalities and canning and food industries. Most of it is disposed of in an environmentally unfriendly way since none of the modern recycling technologies can cope with such immense volumes of waste. Microbiological and biotechnological approaches are extremely promising for solving this environmental problem. Moreover organic waste can serve as the substrate to obtain alternative energy such as biohydrogen (H2 ) and biomethane (CH4 ). This work aimed to design and test new technology for the degradation of food waste coupled with biohydrogen and biomethane production as well as liquid organic leachate purification. The effective treatment of waste was achieved due to the application of the specific granular microbial preparation. Microbiological and physicochemical methods were used to measure the fermentation parameters. As a result a four-module direct flow installation efficiently couples spatial succession of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria with other micro- and macroorganisms to simultaneously recycle organic waste remediate the resulting leachate and generate biogas.
Design of Gravimetric Primary Standards for Field-testing of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations
Apr 2020
Publication
The Federal Institute of Metrology METAS developed a Hydrogen Field Test Standard (HFTS) that can be used for field verification and calibration of hydrogen refuelling stations. The testing method is based on the gravimetric principle. The experimental design of the HFTS as well as the description of the method are presented here.
Progress and Prospect of the Novel Integrated SOFC-ICE Hybrid Power System: System Design, Mass and Heat Integration, System Optimization and Techno-economic Analysis
Jan 2023
Publication
This paper presents a review of system design and analysis control strategy optimization and heat and mass integration of integrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and reciprocating internal combustion engine (ICE) system. Facing the future power-fuel-power path both SOFC and ICE can adapt to a variety of fuels which is one evidence that ICE is amenable to integration with SOFC while SOFC is more efficient cleaner and quieter than ICE. Different system topologies are classified whose dynamic performances are also analyzed. In addition the heat and mass integration of system is discussed. Moreover the combustion modes of ICE which can be applied to steady combustion high efficiency and low emissions are analyzed and compared. Meanwhile the potential and methods of system waste heat recovery are discussed. The exergy analysis energy density and techno-economy are discussed. Finally the results are discussed in the last section with the final conclusion that SOFC-ICE systems are very suitable for long-distance transportation such as maritime and aviation which can also solve problems of the carbon and pollutant emissions with the background of engine cannot be replaced in maritime while the system can adapt a variety of alternative fuels.
Fuel Cell Vehicle Hydrogen Emissions Testing
Sep 2023
Publication
The NREL Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory is comprised of researchers dedicated to furthering hydrogen sensor technology and detection methodology. NREL has teamed up with researchers at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Transport Canada (TC) to conduct research to quantify hydrogen emissions from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). Test protocols will have a large effect on monitoring and regulating the hydrogen emissions from FCEVs. How emissions are tested will play an important role when understanding the safety and environmental implications of using FCEVs. NREL Sensor Laboratory personnel have partnered with other entities to conduct multiple variations of emissions testing for FCEVs. This experimentation includes testing different models of FCEVs under various driving conditions while monitoring the hydrogen concentration of the exhaust using several different test methods and apparatus. Researchers look to support regulatory bodies by providing useful data that can support more consistent and relevant safety and environmental standards. We plan to present on the current test methods and results from recent emissions measurements at ECCC.
A Comparative Study on Energy Efficiency of the Maritime Supply Chains for Liquefied Hydrogen, Ammonia, Methanol and Natural Gas
Jun 2023
Publication
To cope with climate change emerging fuels- hydrogen ammonia and methanol- have been proposed as promising energy carriers that will replace part of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) in future maritime scenarios. Energy efficiency is an important indicator for evaluating the system but the maritime supply system for emerging fuels has yet to be revealed. In this study the energy efficiency of the maritime supply chain of hydrogen ammonia methanol and natural gas is investigated considering processes including production storage loading transport and unloading. A sensitivity analysis of parameters such as ambient temperature storage time pipeline length and sailing time is also carried out. The results show that hydrogen (2.366%) has the highest daily boil-off gas (BOG) rate and wastes more energy than LNG (0.413%) with ammonia and methanol both being lower than LNG. The recycling of BOG is of great importance to the hydrogen supply chain. When produced from renewable energy sources methanol (98.02%) is the most energy efficient followed by ammonia with hydrogen being the least (89.10%). This assessment shows from an energy efficiency perspective that ammonia and methanol have the potential to replace LNG as the energy carrier of the future and that hydrogen requires efficient BOG handling systems to increase competitiveness. This study provides some inspirations for the design of global maritime supply systems for emerging fuels.
Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Networks
Dec 2024
Publication
Methane is a significant contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Blending hydrogen with natural gas in existing networks presents a promising strategy to reduce these emissions and support the transition to a carbon-neutral energy system. However hydrogen’s potential for atmospheric release raises safety and environmental concerns necessitating an assessment of its impact on methane emissions and leakage behavior. This study introduces a methodology for estimating how fugitive emissions change when a natural gas network is shifted to a 10% hydrogen blend by combining analytical flowrate models with data from sampled leaks across a natural gas network. The methodology involves developing conversion factors based on existing methane emission rates to predict corresponding hydrogen emissions across different sections of the network including mainlines service lines and facilities. Our findings reveal that while the overall volumetric emission rates increase by 5.67% on the mainlines and 3.04% on the service lines primarily due to hydrogen’s lower density methane emissions decrease by 5.95% on the mainlines and 8.28% on the service lines. However when considering the impact of a 10% hydrogen blend on the Global Warming Potential the net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is 5.37% for the mainlines and 7.72% for the service lines. This work bridges the gap between research on hydrogen leakage and network readiness which traditionally focuses on safety and environmental sustainability studies on methane emission.
Green Hydrogen Cost-potentials for Global Trade
May 2023
Publication
Green hydrogen is expected to be traded globally in future greenhouse gas neutral energy systems. However there is still a lack of temporally- and spatially-explicit cost-potentials for green hydrogen considering the full process chain which are necessary for creating effective global strategies. Therefore this study provides such detailed cost-potentialcurves for 28 selected countries worldwide until 2050 using an optimizing energy systems approach based on open-field photovoltaics (PV) and onshore wind. The results reveal huge hydrogen potentials (>1500 PWhLHV/a) and 79 PWhLHV/a at costs below 2.30 EUR/kg in 2050 dominated by solar-rich countries in Africa and the Middle East. Decentralized PVbased hydrogen production even in wind-rich countries is always preferred. Supplying sustainable water for hydrogen production is needed while having minor impact on hydrogen cost. Additional costs for imports from democratic regions are only total 7% higher. Hence such regions could boost the geostrategic security of supply for greenhouse gas neutral energy systems.
Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) in Natural Storage Sites: A Perspective of Subsurface Characterization and Monitoring
Jan 2024
Publication
With the long-standing efforts of green transition in our society underground hydrogen storage (UHS) has emerged as a viable solution to buffering seasonal fluctuations of renewable energy supplies and demands. Like operations in hydrocarbon production and geological CO2 storage a successful UHS project requires a good understanding of subsurface formations while having different operational objectives and practical challenges. Similar to the situations in hydrocarbon production and geological CO2 storage in UHS problems the information of subsurface formations at the field level cannot be obtained through direct measurements due to the resulting high costs. As such there is a need for subsurface characterization and monitoring at the field scale which uses a certain history matching algorithm to calibrate a numerical subsurface model based on available field data. Whereas subsurface characterization and monitoring have been widely used in hydrocarbon production activities for a better understanding of hydrocarbon reservoirs to the best of our knowledge at present it appears to be a relatively less touched area in UHS problems. This work aims to narrow this noticed gap and investigates the use of an ensemble-based workflow for subsurface characterization and monitoring in a 3D UHS case study. Numerical results in this case study indicate that the ensemble-based workflow works reasonably well while also identifying some particular challenges that would be relevant to real-world problems.
Life-Cycle and Applicational Analysis of Hydrogen Production and Powered Inland Marine Vessels
Aug 2023
Publication
Green energy is at the forefront of current policy research and engineering but some of the potential fuels require either a lot of deeper research or a lot of infrastructure before they can be implemented. In the case of hydrogen both are true. This report aims to analyse the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel source by performing a life-cycle assessment. Through this the well-to-tank phase of fuel production and the usage phase of the system have been analysed. Models have also been created for traditional fuel systems to best compare results. The results show that hydrogen has great potential to convert marine transport to operating off green fuels when powered through low-carbon energy sources which could reduce a huge percentage of the international community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen produced through wind powered alkaline electrolysis produced emission data 5.25 g of CO2 equivalent per MJ compared to the 210 g per MJ produced by a medium efficiency diesel equivalent system a result 40 times larger. However with current infrastructure in most countries not utilising a great amount of green energy production the effects of hydrogen usage could be more dangerous than current fuel sources owing to the incredible energy requirements of hydrogen production with even grid (UK) powered electrolysis producing an emission level of 284 g per MJ which is an increase against standard diesel systems. From this the research concludes that without global infrastructure change hydrogen will remain as a potential fuel rather than a common one.
The Role of Hydrogen Storage in an Electricity System with Large Hydropower Resources
Feb 2024
Publication
Hydrogen is considered one of the key pillars of an effective decarbonization strategy of the energy sector; however the potential of hydrogen as an electricity storage medium is debated. This paper investigates the role of hydrogen as an electricity storage medium in an electricity system with large hydropower resources focusing on the Swiss electricity sector. Several techno-economic and climate scenarios are considered. Findings suggest that hydrogen storage plays no major role under most conditions because of the large hydropower resources. More specifically no hydrogen storage is installed in Switzerland if today’s values of net-transfer capacities and low load-shedding costs are assumed. This applies even to hydrogen-favorable climate scenarios (dry years with low precipitation and dam inflows) and economic assumptions (high learning rates for hydrogen technologies). In contrast hydrogen storage is installed when net-transfer capacities between countries are reduced below 30% of current values and load-shedding costs are above 1000 EUR/MWh. When installed hydrogen is deployed in a few large-scale installations near the national borders.
The Effects of Hydrogen Research and Innovation on International Hydrogen Trade
Feb 2024
Publication
Climate change and the pressure to decarbonize as well as energy security concerns have drawn the attention of policymakers and the industry to hydrogen energy. To advance the hydrogen economy at a global scale research and innovation progress is of significant importance among others. However previous studies have provided only limited quantitative evidence of the effects of research and innovation on the formation of a global hydrogen market. Instead they postulate rather than empirically support this relationship. Therefore this study analyzes the effects of research and innovation measured by scientific publications patents and standards on bilateral hydrogen trade flows for 32 countries between 1995 and 2019 in a gravity model of trade using regression analyses and Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimation. The main results of the PPML estimation show that research and innovation progress is indeed associated with increased trade especially with patenting and (international) standardization enhancing hydrogen export volumes. As policy implications we derive that increased public R&D funding can help increase the competitiveness of hydrogen energy and boost market growth along with infrastructure support and harmonized standards and regulations.
A Technology Review of Decarbonization: Efficient Techniques for Producing Hydrogen as Fuel
Aug 2023
Publication
Climate change is obvious in many ways. The weather changes rapidly from day to day reaching high temperatures such as 28 ◦C one day and heavy rain the next with temperatures below 18 ◦C. There are also very strong storms caused by this phenomenon. The way the environment acts is different than the current epoch would predict indicating a long-term shift in weather and temperature patterns. The mean temperature of earth is rising due to the greenhouse effect that is caused by human activity and mostly by the burning of fossil fuel emitting CO2 and other pollutant gasses. Nowadays every country is trying to lower CO2 emissions from everyday human activities a movement called “decarbonization”. Since the 18th century there has been a great deal of research carried out on possible alternatives to fossil fuels. Some of the work was just to discover ways to power heaters or automotive vehicle but there is a great deal of work remaining to complete regarding this issue after discovering the greenhouse effect and its impact on the planet’s climate in order to eliminate it by using fuel whose combustion emissions are more environmentally friendly. In the present work many discoveries will be presented that use hydrogen (H2 ) or hydroxy (H-OH) as fuel. The main reason for this is the emission of pure water after combustion but the most interesting part is the approach every scientist uses to create the fuel gas from water.
A Zero CO2 Emissions Large Ship Fuelled by an Ammonia-hydrogen Blend: Reaching the Decarbonisation Goals
Aug 2023
Publication
To reach the decarbonisation goals a zero CO2 emissions large ship propulsion system is proposed in this work. The ship selected is a large ferry propelled by an internal combustion engine fuelled by an ammonia-hydrogen blend. The only fuel loaded in the vessel will be ammonia. The hydrogen required for the combustion in the engine will be produced onboard employing ammonia decomposition. The heat required for this decomposition section will be supplied by using the hot flue gases of the combustion engine. To address the issues regarding NOx emissions a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactor was designed. The main operating variables for all the equipment were computed for engine load values of 25% 50% 75% and 100%. Considering the lowest SCR removal rate (91% at an engine load of 100%) the NOx emissions of the vessel were less than 0.5 g/kWh lower than the IMO requirements. An energy analysis of the system proposed to transform ammonia into energy for shipping was conducted. The global energy and exergy efficiencies were 42.4% and 48.1%. In addition an economic analysis of the system was performed. The total capital cost (CAPEX) for the system can be estimated at 8.66 M€ (784 €/kW) while the operating cost (OPEX) ranges between 210 €/MWh (engine load 100%) and 243 €/MWh (engine load of 25%). Finally a sensitivity analysis for the price of ammonia was performed resulting in the feasibility of reducing the operating cost to below 150 €/MWh in the near horizon.
Hydrogen and the Global Energy Transition—Path to Sustainability and Adoption across All Economic Sectors
Feb 2024
Publication
This perspective article delves into the critical role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the context of the ongoing global energy transition. Hydrogen with its potential to decarbonize various sectors has emerged as a key player in achieving decarbonization and energy sustainability goals. This article provides an overview of the current state of hydrogen technology its production methods and its applications across diverse industries. By exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen integration we aim to shed light on the pathways toward achieving a sustainable hydrogen economy. Additionally the article underscores the need for collaborative efforts among policymakers industries and researchers to overcome existing hurdles and unlock the full potential of hydrogen in the transition to a low-carbon future. Through a balanced analysis of the present landscape and future prospects this perspective article aims to contribute valuable insights to the discourse surrounding hydrogen’s role in the global energy transition.
Hydrogen Gas Compression for Efficient Storage: Balancing Energy and Increasing Density
May 2024
Publication
This article analyzes the processes of compressing hydrogen in the gaseous state an aspect considered important due to its contribution to the greater diffusion of hydrogen in both the civil and industrial sectors. This article begins by providing a concise overview and comparison of diverse hydrogen-storage methodologies laying the groundwork with an in-depth analysis of hydrogen’s thermophysical properties. It scrutinizes plausible configurations for hydrogen compression aiming to strike a delicate balance between energy consumption derived from the fuel itself and the requisite number of compression stages. Notably to render hydrogen storage competitive in terms of volume pressures of at least 350 bar are deemed essential albeit at an energy cost amounting to approximately 10% of the fuel’s calorific value. Multi-stage compression emerges as a crucial strategy not solely for energy efficiency but also to curtail temperature rises with an upper limit set at 200 ◦C. This nuanced approach is underlined by the exploration of compression levels commonly cited in the literature particularly 350 bar and 700 bar. The study advocates for a three-stage compression system as a pragmatic compromise capable of achieving high-pressure solutions while keeping compression work below 10 MJ/kg a threshold indicative of sustainable energy utilization.
Hydrogen Combustion in Micromix Burners: Present Stages, Opportunities, and Challenges
Nov 2024
Publication
Due to its low NOx emission index the micromix burner technology is a promising alternative for using hydrogen in combustion. Various universities and research centers in Germany England and Spain have documented and studied this technology. However the number of studies on micromix burners is limited which hinders their implementation on an industrial scale. The present study aims to review developed works focused on micromix combustion technologies to identify the main gaps and research needs. A sample of 76 articles from 2008 was selected using the PRISMA methodology which was categorized based on the study methodology simulation software and fuels used. An experimental gap has been identified in the combustion of hydrogen and methane in the selected article sample. This gap is a critical research need due to the opportunity to implement this tech nology in existing natural gas networks facilitating the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner combustion processes.
Underground Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns: Laboratory Experiments to Determine Integrity of Rock Salt and Wellbore Through Effective Permeability Measurements
Dec 2024
Publication
Underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns is a promising solution for short-term storage allowing multiple cycles per year. This study experimentally investigates the integrity of such caverns and their wellbores under operating conditions typical of German salt caverns. Specifically we measure the permeability of rock salt cement (API Class G and High Magnesium Resistant (HMR+)) rock salt-anhydrite composites cement-salt composites and casing-cement composites. Rock salt demonstrates extremely low permeability (10− 23 m2 ) while casing-cement composites (HMR+) exhibit permeabilities similar to pure cement (10− 20 m2 or lower). Both salt-cement (HMR+) and casing-cement (HMR+) composites meet the strict tightness requirements for hydrogen storage (10− 19 m2 or less). While thin anhydrite layers in rock salt can increase permeability compaction can reduce it to levels comparable to rock salt. This study’s novelty lies in evaluating the feasibility of a real German cavern for hydrogen storage using a custom-built transient permeability setup capable of testing casing-cement composites at a 1:1 wellbore scale.
China and Italy’s Energy Development Trajectories: Current Landscapes and Future Cooperation Potential
Feb 2024
Publication
In order to achieve the ambitious goal of “carbon neutrality” countries around the world are striving to develop clean energy. Against this background this paper takes China and Italy as representatives of developing and developed countries to summarize the energy structure composition and development overview of the two countries. The paper analyzes the serious challenges facing the future energy development of both countries and investigates the possibilities of energy cooperation between the two countries taking into account their respective advantages in energy development. By comparing the policies issued by the two governments to encourage clean energy development this paper analyzes the severe challenges faced by the two countries’ energy development in the future and combines their respective energy development advantages to look forward to the possibility of energy cooperation between the two countries in the future. This lays the foundation for China and Italy to build an “Energy Road” after the “Silk Road”.
Energy Transition Technology Comes With New Process Safety Challenges and Risks
Jul 2023
Publication
This paper intends to give an impression of new technologies and processes that are in development for application to achieve decarbonization and about which less or no experience on associated hazards exists in the process industry. More or less an exception is hydrogen technology because its hazards are relatively known and there is industry experience in handling it safely but problems will arise when it is produced stored and distributed on a large scale. So when its use spreads to communities and it becomes as common as natural gas now measures to control the risks will be needed. And even with hydrogen surprise findings have been shown lately e.g. its BLEVE behavior when in a liquified form stored in a vessel heated externally. Substitutes for hydrogen are not without hazard concern either. The paper will further consider the hazards of energy storage in batteries and the problems to get those hazards under control. Relatively much attention will be paid to the electrification of the process industry. Many new processes are being researched which given green energy will be beneficial to reduce greenhouse gases and enhance sustainability but of which hazards are rather unknown. Therefore as last chapter the developments with respect to the concept of hazard identification and scenario definition will be considered in quite detail. Improvements in that respect are also being possible due to the digitization of the industry and the availability of data and considering the entire life cycle all facilitated by the data model standard ISO 15926 with the scope of integration of life-cycle data for process plants including oil and gas production facilities. Conclusion is that the new technologies and processes entail new process and personal hazards and that much effort is going into renewal but safety analyses are scarce. Right in a period of process renewal attention should be focused on possibilities to implement inherently safer design.
An Exploration of Safety Measures in Hydrogen Refueling Stations: Delving into Hydrogen Equipment and Technical Performance
Feb 2024
Publication
The present paper offers a thorough examination of the safety measures enforced at hydrogen filling stations emphasizing their crucial significance in the wider endeavor to advocate for hydrogen as a sustainable and reliable substitute for conventional fuels. The analysis reveals a wide range of crucial safety aspects in hydrogen refueling stations including regulated hydrogen dispensing leak detection accurate hydrogen flow measurement emergency shutdown systems fire-suppression mechanisms hydrogen distribution and pressure management and appropriate hydrogen storage and cooling for secure refueling operations. The paper therefore explores several aspects including the sophisticated architecture of hydrogen dispensers reliable leak-detection systems emergency shut-off mechanisms and the implementation of fire-suppression tactics. Furthermore it emphasizes that the safety and effectiveness of hydrogen filling stations are closely connected to the accuracy in the creation and upkeep of hydrogen dispensers. It highlights the need for materials and systems that can endure severe circumstances of elevated pressure and temperature while maintaining safety. The use of sophisticated leak-detection technology is crucial for rapidly detecting and reducing possible threats therefore improving the overall safety of these facilities. Moreover the research elucidates the complexities of emergency shut-off systems and fire-suppression tactics. These components are crucial not just for promptly managing hazards but also for maintaining the station’s structural soundness in unanticipated circumstances. In addition the study provides observations about recent technical progress in the industry. These advances effectively tackle current safety obstacles and provide the foundation for future breakthroughs in hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The integration of cutting-edge technology and materials together with the development of upgraded safety measures suggests a positive trajectory towards improved efficiency dependability and safety in hydrogen refueling stations.
Enhancing Wind Energy Efficiency: A Study on the Power Output of Shrouded Wind Turbines for a Hydrogen Storage System
Mar 2025
Publication
This study presents a simulation and analysis of a shrouded wind turbine system integrated with a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer (PEME) for hydrogen production. The novel aspect of this research lies in the use of an aerodynamic blade shroud to enhance the wind turbine's performance particularly at low wind speeds. The addition of the aerodynamic shroud increases the power output by up to 68% at a wind speed of 2.5 m/s compared to a conventional wind turbine. Additionally the effect of radial clearance between the shroud and turbine blades is explored showing that a smaller clearance significantly improves power generation. The study also investigates the impact of blade shape (NACA 2408 and NACA 4418) on performance with results indicating a 53% increase in power output for the NACA 4418 design compared to the unshrouded turbine. The influence of the aerodynamic blade shroud on PEME energy density and hydrogen production efficiency is discussed demonstrating how increasing wind turbine power output leads to higher current density in the electrolyzer which while increasing hydrogen production slightly reduces thermal and exergy efficiencies. To counteract this the study suggests using multiple PEME stacks in parallel to enhance both efficiency and hydrogen output.
Thermodynamic Modelling, Testing and Sensitive Analysis of a Directly Pressurized Hydrogen Refuelling Process with a Compressor
Mar 2024
Publication
This paper presents the development of a thermodynamic model for the hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) to simulate the process of refuelling which involves the transfer of hydrogen gas from a high-pressure storage tank to the onboard tank of a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). This model encompasses the fundamental elements of an HRS which consists of a storage tank compressor piping system heat exchanger and an on-board vehicle tank. The model is implemented and validated using experimental data from SAE J2601. Various simulations are conducted to assess the impact of the Joule-Thomson effect and compression on the temperature of hydrogen flow specifically focusing on an average pressure rate of 18 MPa/min. Furthermore a comprehensive analysis is conducted to examine the impact of pressure variations in the storage tank (10–90 MPa) and the initial pressure within the vehicle tank (5–35 MPa) as well as variations in ambient temperature (0–40 °C). The study revealed that the energy consumption in the cooling system surpasses the average power consumption in the more advantageous scenario of 60 MPa by a range of 36% to over 220% when the pressure in the storage system drops below 30 MPa. Furthermore it was noted that the impact of ambient temperature is comparatively less significant when compared to the initial pressure of the vehicle's tank. The impact of an ambient temperature change of 10 °C on the final temperature of a hydrogen vehicle is found to be approximately 2 °C. Similarly a variation in the initial vehicle pressure of 10 MPa results in a modification of the final hydrogen vehicle temperature by approximately 8.5 °C.
Feasibility of Scaling Up the Cost-Competitive and Clean Electrolytic Hydrogen Supply in China
May 2024
Publication
Scaling up clean hydrogen supply in the near future is critical to achieving China’s hydrogen development target. This study established an electrolytic hydrogen development mechanism considering the generation mix and operation optimization of power systems with access to hydrogen. Based on the incremental cost principle we quantified the provincial and national clean hydrogen production cost performance levels in 2030. The results indicated that this mechanism could effectively reduce the production cost of clean hydrogen in most provinces with a national average value of less than 2 USD·kg−1 at the 40-megaton hydrogen supply scale. Provincial cooperation via power transmission lines could further reduce the production cost to 1.72 USD·kg−1. However performance is affected by the potential distribution of hydrogen demand. From the supply side competitiveness of the mechanism is limited to clean hydrogen production while from the demand side it could help electrolytic hydrogen fulfil a more significant role. This study could provide a solution for the ambitious development of renewables and the hydrogen economy in China.
Inspection of Hydrogen Transport Equipment: A Data-driven Approach to Predict Fatigue Degradation
Jul 2024
Publication
Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly fuel that can facilitate the upcoming energy transition. The development of an extensive infrastructure for hydrogen transport and storage is crucial. However the mechanical properties of structural materials are significantly degraded in H2 environments leading to early component failures. Pipelines are designed following defect-tolerant principles and are subjected to periodic pressure fluctuations. Hence these systems are potentially prone to fatigue degradation often accelerated in pressurized hydrogen gas. Inspection and maintenance activities are crucial to guarantee the integrity and fitness for service of this infrastructure. This study predicts the severity of hydrogen-enhanced fatigue in low-alloy steels commonly employed for H2 transport and storage equipment. Three machine-learning algorithms i.e. Linear Model Deep Neural Network and Random Forest are used to categorize the severity of the fatigue degradation. The models are critically compared and the best-performing algorithm are trained to predict the Fatigue Acceleration Factor. This approach shows good prediction capability and can estimate the fatigue crack propagation in lowalloy steels. These results allow for estimating the probability of failure of hydrogen pipelines thus facilitating the inspection and maintenance planning.
A Review on Application of Hydrogen in Gas Turbines with Intercooler Adjustments
Mar 2024
Publication
In recent years traditional fossil fuels such as coal oil and natural gas have historically dominated various applications but there has been a growing shift towards cleaner alternatives. Among these alternatives hydrogen (H2) stands out as a highly promising substitute for all other conventional fuels. Today hydrogen (H2) is actively taking on a significant role in displacing traditional fuel sources. The utilization of hydrogen in gas turbine (GT) power generation offers a significant advantage in terms of lower greenhouse gas emissions. The performance of hydrogen-based gas turbines is influenced by a range of variables including ambient conditions (temperature and pressure) component efficiency operational parameters and other factors. Additionally incorporating an intercooler into the gas turbine system yields several advantages such as reducing compression work and maintaining power and efficiency. Many scholars and researchers have conducted comprehensive investigations into the components mentioned above within context of gas turbines (GTs). This study provides an extensive examination of the research conducted on hydrogen-powered gas turbine and intercooler with employed different methods and techniques with a specific emphasis on the different case studies of a hydrogen gas turbine and intercooler. Moreover this study not only examined the current state of research on hydrogen-powered gas turbine and intercooler but also covered its influence by offering the effective recommendations and insightful for guiding for future research in this field.
Integration of Microgrids in Chemical Industries with Hydrogen as a Byproduct: Styrene Production Case Study
Feb 2024
Publication
The chemical industry serves as a global economic backbone and it is an intensive consumer of conventional energy. Due to the depletion of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases it is necessary to analyze energy supply solutions based on renewable energy sources in this industrial sector. Unlike other sectors such as residential or service industries which have been thoroughly analyzed by the scientific community the use of renewable energies in the chemical industry remains comparatively less examined by the scientific community. This article studies the use of an energy supply system based on photovoltaic technology or a PEM fuel cell for a styrene production industry analyzing the integration of energy storage systems such as batteries as well as different uses for the surplus hydrogen produced by the facility. The most interesting conclusions of the article are: (1) the renewable microgrid considered is viable both technically and economically with a discounted payback period between 5.4 and 6.5 years using batteries as an energy storage system; and (2) the use of hydrogen as energy storage system for a styrene industry is not yet a viable option from an economic point of view.
Strategic Deployment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses and Fueling Stations: Insights from Fleet Transition Models
Oct 2024
Publication
Establishing new hydrogen value chains is challenging requiring economies of scale and balanced supplydemand dynamics. Municipalities can mitigate this risk through government support and deployment strategies. This study analyzes Edmonton’s transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs) focusing on hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs) and hydrogen fueling stations (HFSs). Using scenario-based modeling and S-curve models for technology diffusion we project the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and HFCEVs. Deploying over 1000 ZEBs by 2040 is necessary to meet Net-Zero targets with 310–760 HFCEVs required for the municipal bus inventory. This results in an estimated hydrogen demand of 6.2–14.5 t-H2/day and a reduction of 0.4–1.0 Mt-CO2 in tailpipe emissions by 2050. We use these scenario projections to develop a phased deployment strategy optimizing fleet operations to reduce HFS costs by 50–60% from 8 to 9 C$/kg-H2 to 3–4 C$/kg-H2. The study underscores the importance of strategic planning and infrastructure investment in realizing net-zero goals providing a model applicable globally.
Cost Trajectory of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology in China
Apr 2025
Publication
Reducing the cost of hydrogen fuel cell technology is crucial in propelling the hydrogen economy and achieving decarbonized energy systems. This study identifies the hydrogen fuel cell cost trajectory through a multi-stage learning curve model highlighting technology learning mechanisms across different stages. Findings show that innovation and production contribute to cost reduction and the learning by researching holds a more significant role presently while the learning by doing takes precedence in the long term achieving a 14% learning rate. The cost predictions imply that the system cost of hydrogen fuel cell is expected to fall below 1000 yuan/kW after 2031. Moreover the scenario analyses highlight the conducive role of various hydrogen production technologies and the evolution of cost influencing factors on cost reduction. Our research provides critical insights into the evolving dynamics of technological learning and cost trajectory in the hydrogen fuel cell industry with significant implications for policy-making.
Numerical Simulation of Hydrogen–Coal Blending Combustion in a 660 MW Tangential Boiler
Feb 2024
Publication
With the adjustment of energy structure the utilization of hydrogen energy has been widely attended. China’s carbon neutrality targets make it urgent to change traditional coal-fired power generation. The paper investigates the combustion of pulverized coal blended with hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions. In terms of calorific value the pulverized coal combustion with hydrogen at 1% 5% and 10% blending ratios is investigated. The results show that there is a significant reduction in CO2 concentration after hydrogen blending. The CO2 concentration (mole fraction) decreased from 15.6% to 13.6% for the 10% hydrogen blending condition compared to the non-hydrogen blending condition. The rapid combustion of hydrogen produces large amounts of heat in a short period which helps the ignition of pulverized coal. However as the proportion of hydrogen blending increases the production of large amounts of H2O gives an overall lower temperature. On the other hand the temperature distribution is more uniform. The concentrations of O2 and CO in the upper part of the furnace increased. The current air distribution pattern cannot satisfy the adequate combustion of the fuel after hydrogen blending.
The Influence of Gas Fuel Enrichment with Hydrogen on the Combustion Characteristics of Combustors: A Review
Oct 2024
Publication
Hydrogen is a promising fuel because it has good capabilities to operate gas turbines. Due to its ignition speed which exceeds the ignition of traditional fuel it achieves a higher thermal efficiency while the resulting emissions are low. So it was used as a clean and sustainable energy source. This paper reviews the most important research that was concerned with studying the characteristics of hydrogen combustion within incinerators and power generation equipment where hydrogen was used as a fuel mixed with traditional fuel in the combustion chambers of gas turbines. It also includes an evaluation of the combustion processes and flame formation resulting from the enrichment of gaseous fuels with hydrogen and partial oxidation. A large amount of theoretical and experimental work in this field has been reviewed. This review summarizes the predictive and experimental results of various research interests in the field of hydrogen combustion and also production.
Pressure Decline and Gas Expansion in Underground Hydrogen Storage: A Pore-scale Percolation Study
Aug 2024
Publication
Using high-resolution micro-CT imaging at 2.98 μm/voxel we compared the percolation of hydrogen in gas injection with gas expansion for a hydrogen-brine system in Bentheimer sandstone at 1 MPa and 20 ◦C representing hydrogen storage in an aquifer. We introduced dimensionless numbers to quantify the contribution of advection and expansion to displacement. We analysed the 3D spatial distribution of gas and its displacement in both cases and demonstrated that in gas injection hydrogen can only advance from a connected cluster in an invasion-percolation type process while in gas expansion hydrogen can access more of the pore space even from disconnected clusters. The average gas saturation in the sample increased from 30% to 50% by gas expansion and we estimated that 10% of the expanded volume is attributed to hydrogen exsolution from the brine. This work emphasises the importance of studying the combined effects of pressure decline and gas withdrawal in hydrogen storage to assess the influence of gas expansion on remobilising trapped gases.
Helping the Climate by Replacing Liquefied Natural Gas with Liquefied Hydrogen or Ammonia?
Apr 2024
Publication
The war in Ukraine caused Europe to more than double its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in only one year. In addition imported LNG remains a crucial source of energy for resource-poor countries such as Japan where LNG imports satisfy about a quarter of the country’s primary energy demand. However an increasing number of countries are formulating stringent decarbonization plans. Liquefied hydrogen and liquefied ammonia coupled with carbon capture and storage (LH2-CCS LNH3-CCS) are emerging as the front runners in the search for low-carbon alternatives to LNG. Yet little is currently known about the full environmental profile of LH2-CCS and LNH3-CCS because several characteristics of the two alternatives have only been analyzed in isolation in previous work. Here we show that the potential of these fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the supply chain is highly uncertain. Our best estimate is that LH2-CCS and LNH3-CCS can reduce GHG emissions by 25%–61% relative to LNG assuming a 100 year global warming potential. However directly coupling LNG with CCS would lead to substantial GHG reductions on the order of 74%. Further under certain conditions emissions from LH2-CCS and LNH3-CCS could exceed those of LNG by up to 44%. These results question the suitability of LH2-CCS and LNH3-CCS for stringent decarbonization purposes.
Generalized Thermodynamic Modelling of Hydrogen Storage Tankes for Truck Application
Mar 2024
Publication
Hydrogen-driven heavy-duty trucks are a promising technology for reducing CO2 emissions in the transportation sector. Thus storing hydrogen efficiently onboard is vital. The three available or currently developed physical hydrogen storage technologies (compressed gaseous subcooled liquid and cryo-compressed hydrogen) are promising solutions. For a profound thermodynamic comparison of these storage systems a universally applicable model is required. Thus this article introduces a generalized thermodynamic model and conducts thermodynamic comparisons in terms of typical drive cycle scenarios. Therefore a model introduced by Hamacher et al. [1] for cryo-compressed hydrogen tanks is generalized by means of an explicit model formulation using the property ��2� from REFPROP [2] which is understood as a generic specific isochoric two-phase heat capacity. Due to an implemented decision logic minor changes to the equation system are automatically made whenever the operation mode or phase of the tank changes. The resulting model can simulate all three storage tank systems in all operating scenarios and conditions in the single- and two-phase region. Additionally the explicit model formulation provides deeper insights into the thermodynamic processes in the tank. The model is applied to the three physical hydrogen storage technologies to compare drive cycles heat requirement dormancy behavior and optimal usable density. The highest driving ranges were achieved with cryo-compressed hydrogen however it also comes with higher heating requirements compared to subcooled liquid hydrogen.
Net-zero Energy Management through Multi-criteria Optimizations of a Hybrid Solar-Hydrogen Energy Production System for an Outdoor Laboratory in Toronto
Apr 2024
Publication
Hydrogen production and storage in hybrid systems is a promising solution for sustainable energy transition decoupling the energy generation from its end use and boosting the deployment of renewable energy. Nonetheless the optimal and cost-effective design of hybrid hydrogen-based systems is crucial to tackle existing limitations in diffusion of these systems. The present study explores net-zero energy management via a multi-objective optimization algorithm for an outdoor test facility equipped with a hydrogen-based hybrid energy production system. Aimed at enabling efficient integration of hydrogen fuel cell system the proposed solution attempts to maximize the renewable factor (RF) and carbon mitigation in the hybrid system as well as to minimize the grid dependency and the life cycle cost (LCC) of the system. In this context the techno-enviroeconomic optimization of the hybrid system is conducted by employing a statistical approach to identify optimal design variables and conflictive objective functions. To examine interactions in components of the hybrid system a series of dynamic simulations are carried out by developing a TRNSYS code coupled with the OpenStudio/EnergyPlus plugin. The obtained results indicate a striking disparity in the monthly RF values as well as the hydrogen production rate and therefore in the level of grid dependency. It is shown that the difference in LCC between optimization scenarios suggested by design of experiments could reach $15780 corresponding to 57% of the mean initial cost. The LCOE value yielded for optimum scenarios varies between 0.389 and 0.537 $/kWh. The scenario with net-zero target demonstrates the lowest LCOE value and the highest carbon mitigation i.e. 828 kg CO2/yr with respect to the grid supply case. However the LCC in this scenario exceeds $57370 which is the highest among all optimum scenarios. Furthermore it was revealed that the lowest RF in optimal scenarios is equal to 66.2% and belongs to the most economical solution.
Optimizing Post-production Alternate Hydrogen Supply Chain Pathways - An Integrated TEA and LCA Approach
Dec 2024
Publication
This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment (TEA) of alternative hydrogen supply chain (HSC) pathways with a focus on the conditioning transportation and reconditioning stages. The pathways assessed include compressed hydrogen liquefied hydrogen and ammonia as a hydrogen carrier. A distinctive feature of this study is its consideration of a broad range of operational capacities and transportation distances facility economies of scale and multiple vessel capacities. The TEA is complemented by a life cycle assessment (LCA) to incorporate environmental impacts ensuring a holistic analysis of economic and environmental tradeoffs. The results reveal that the compressed hydrogen pathway is optimal for short distances and low-demand scenarios with levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) ranging from $1.11/kg to $6.91/kg. Liquefied hydrogen shows economic competitiveness for medium distances with LCOH between $1.43/kg and $3.84/kg. Ammonia emerges as the most cost-effective for longer distances and higher demand levels with LCOH between $1.61/kg and $3.80/kg. However the LCA analysis revealed that the ammonia pathway incurs higher emissions particularly during the ammonia synthesis and cracking processes making it less promising from an integrated perspective. This integration of LCA results into the TEA framework provides a comprehensive view of each pathway accounting for both economic and environmental factors. This study provides a robust framework for guiding decision-makers in the development of an effective hydrogen supply chain integrating both economic and environmental considerations.
A Complete Assessment of the Emission Performance of an SI Engine Fueled with Methanol, Methane and Hydrogen
Feb 2024
Publication
This study explores the potentiality of low/zero carbon fuels such as methanol methane and hydrogen for motor applications to pursue the goal of energy security and environmental sustainability. An experimental investigation was performed on a spark ignition engine equipped with both a port fuel and a direct injection system. Liquid fuels were injected into the intake manifold to benefit from a homogeneous charge formation. Gaseous fuels were injected in direct mode to enhance the efficiency and prevent abnormal combustion. Tests were realized at a fixed indicated mean effective pressure and at three different engine speeds. The experimental results highlighted the reduction of CO and CO2 emissions for the alternative fuels to an extent depending on their properties. Methanol exhibited high THC and low NOx emissions compared to gasoline. Methane and even more so hydrogen allowed for a reduction in THC emissions. With regard to the impact of gaseous fuels on the NOx emissions this was strongly related to the operating conditions. A surprising result concerns the particle emissions that were affected not only by the fuel characteristics and the engine test point but also by the lubricating oil. The oil contribution was particularly evident for hydrogen fuel which showed high particle emissions although they did not contain carbon atoms.
Design of Long-Life Wireless Near-Field Hydrogen Gas Sensor
Feb 2024
Publication
A compact wireless near-field hydrogen gas sensor is proposed which detects leaking hydrogen near its source to achieve fast responses and high reliability. A semiconductor-type sensing element is implemented in the sensor which can provide a significant response in 100 ms when stimulated by pure hydrogen. The overall response time is shortened by orders of magnitude compared to conventional sensors according to simulation results which will be within 200 ms compared with over 25 s for spatial concentration sensors under the worst conditions. Over 1 year maintenance intervals are enabled by wireless design based on the Bluetooth low energy protocol. The average energy consumption during a single alarm process is 153 µJ/s. The whole sensor is integrated on a 20 × 26 mm circuit board for compact use.
Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant
Jan 2024
Publication
This study performs a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of a 5 MW protonexchange membrane water electrolysis plant. The analysis follows a thoroughengineering-based bottom-up design based on the electrochemical model of thesystem. Three scenarios are analyzed comprising a state-of-the-art (SoA) plantoperated with the German electricity grid-mix a SoA plant operated with acompletely decarbonized energy system and a future development plantelectrolyzer with reduced energy and material demand operated in a completelydecarbonized energy system. The results display a global warming potential of34 kg CO2-eq. kg-H 21 and indicate a reduction potential of 89% when the plantis operated in a decarbonized energy system. A further reduction of 9% can beachieved by the technological development of the plant. Due to the reducedimpacts of operation in a completely decarbonized energy system the operationat locations with large offshore wind electricity capacity is recommended. In theconstruction phase the stacks especially the anode catalyst iridium bipolarplates and porous transport layers are identified as dominant sources of theenvironmental impact. A sensitivity analysis shows that the environmentalimpact of the construction phase increases with a decreasing amount ofoperational full load hours of the plant.RESEARCH ARTICLEwww.advenergysustres.comAdv. Energy Sustainability Res. 2024 5 2300135 2300135 (1 of 19) © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Researchpublished by Wiley-VCH GmbH
Effect of Methane Addition on Transition to Detonation in Hydrogen-Air Mixtures Due to Shock Wave Focussing in a 90 - Degree Corner
Sep 2023
Publication
The main purpose of this work is to investigate the influence of methane addition in methane-hydrogen-air mixture (φ = 0.8 – 1.6) on the critical conditions for transition to detonation in a 90-deg wedge corner. Similar to hydrogen-air mixtures investigated previously [1] methane-hydrogen-air mixtures results showed three ignition modes weak ignition followed by deflagration with ignition delay time higher than 1 μs strong ignition with instantaneous transition to detonation and third with deflagrative ignition and delayed transition to detonation. Methane addition caused an increase in the range of 3.25 – 5.03% in the critical shock wave velocity necessary for transition to detonation for all mixtures considered. For example in stoichiometric mixture with 5% methane in fuel (95% hydrogen in fuel) in air the transition to detonation velocity was approx. 752 m/s (an increase of 37 m/s from hydrogen-air) corresponding to M = 1.89 (an increase of 0.14 from hydrogen-air) and 75.7% (an increase of 4.7% from hydrogen-air) of speed of sound in products. Also similar to hydrogen-air mixture the transition to detonation velocity increased for leaner and richer mixture. Moreover it was observed that methane addition in general increased the pressure limit at the corner necessary for transition to detonation.
Hydrogen Refueling Stations Powered by Hybrid PV/Wind Renewable Energy Systems: Techno-socio-economic Assessment
Mar 2024
Publication
Hydrogen is considered as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels in the transportation sector. However the penetration of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) is hindered by the lack of hydrogen refueling station infrastructures. In this study the feasibility of a hybrid PV/wind system for hydrogen refueling station is investigated. Refueling events data is collected in different locations including industrial residential highway and tourist areas. Station Occupancy Fractions (SOF) and Social-to-Solar Fraction (STSF) indicators are developed to assess the level of synchronization between the hydrogen demand and solar potential. Then a validated computer code is used to optimize the renewable system components for off/on-grid cases based on minimizing the Net Present Cost (NPC) and the Loss of Hydrogen Supply Probability (LHSP). For off grid cases the results show that STSF attains maximum value in the industrial area where 0.62 fraction of refueling events occur during the sunshine hours and minimum NPC is achieved. It is observed that when STSF attains lower values of 0.52 0.41 and 0.38 for residential highway and tourist areas NPC increases by 8 16 and 31% respectively. This is associated with lower level of coordination between the hydrogen demand and solar potential. The same conclusion can be stated for the on-grid cases. Therefore for green hydrogen production via solar energy utilization it is recommended that a tariff should be applied to encourage refueling hydrogen vehicles during the availability of solar radiation while reducing the environmental impact storage requirements and eventually the cost of hydrogen production.
Experiments and Simulations of Large Scale Hydrogen-Nitrogen-Air Gas Explosions for Nuclear and Hydrogen Safety Applications
Sep 2023
Publication
Hydrogen safety is a general concern because of the high reactivity compared to hydrocarbon-based fuels. The strength of knowledge in risk assessments related to the physical phenomena and the ability of models to predict the consequence of accidental releases is a key aspect for the safe implementation of new technologies. Nuclear safety considers the possibility of accidental leakages of hydrogen gas and subsequent explosion events in risk analysis. In many configurations the considered gaseous streams involve a large fraction of nitrogen gas mixed with hydrogen. This work presents the results of a large scale explosion experimental campaign for hydrogen-nitrogen-air mixtures. The experiments were performed in a 50 m3 vessel at Gexcon’s test site in Bergen Norway. The nitrogen fraction the equivalence ratio and the congestion level were investigated. The experiments are simulated in the FLACS-CFD software to inform about the current level of conservatism of the predictions for engineering application purposes. The study shows the reduced overpressure with nitrogen added to hydrogen mixtures and supports the use of FLACS-CFD-based risk analysis for hydrogen-nitrogen scenarios.
Energy Efficiency of Hydrogen for Vehicle Propulsion: On- or Off-board H2 to Electricity Conversion?
Nov 2024
Publication
If hydrogen fuel is available to support the transportation sector decarbonization its usage can be placed either directly onboard in a fuel cell vehicle or indirectly off-board by using a fuel cell power station to produce electricity to charge a battery electric vehicle. Therefore in this work the direct and indirect conversion scenarios of hydrogen to vehicle propulsion were investigated regarding energy efficiency. Thus in the first scenario hydrogen is the fuel for the onboard electricity production to propel a fuel cell vehicle while in the second hydrogen is the electricity source to charge the battery electric vehicle. When simulated for a drive cycle results have shown that the scenario with the onboard fuel cell consumed about 20% less hydrogen demonstrating higher energy efficiency in terms of driving range. However energy efficiency depends on the outside temperature when heat loss utilization is considered. For outside temperatures of − 5 ◦C or higher the system composed of the battery electric vehicle fueled with electricity from the off-board fuel cell was shown to be more energyefficient. For lower temperatures the system composed of the onboard fuel cell again presented higher total (heat + electricity) efficiency. Therefore the results provide valuable insights into how hydrogen fuel can be used for vehicle propulsion supporting the hydrogen economy development.
Data Hub for Life Cycle Assessment of Climate Change Solutions—Hydrogen Case Study
Nov 2024
Publication
Life cycle assessment which evaluates the complete life cycle of a product is considered the standard methodological framework to evaluate the environmental performance of climate change solutions. However significant challenges exist related to datasets used to quantify these environmental indicators. Although extensive research and commercial data on climate change technologies pathways and facilities exist they are not readily available to practitioners of life cycle assessment in the right format and structure using an open platform. In this study we propose a new open data hub platform for life cycle assessment considering a hierarchical data flow starting with raw data collected on climate change technologies at laboratory pilot demonstration or commercial scales to provide the information required for policy and decision-making. This platform makes data accessible at multiple levels for practitioners of life cycle assessment while making data interoperable across platforms. The proposed data hub platform and workflow are explained through the polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis hydrogen production as a case study. The climate change environment impact of 1.17 ± 0.03 kg CO2 eq./kg H2 was calculated for the case study. The current data hub platform is limited to evaluating environmental impacts; however future additions of economic and social aspects are envisaged.
Municipal Wastewater Reclamation: Reclaimed Water for Hydrogen Production by Electrolysis - A Case Study
Apr 2023
Publication
This paper presents an analysis of a treatment system selection for municipal wastewater stream based on the DuPont Water Solutions WAVE software. The results obtained based on an analysis of 7 different processing cases studies (ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis) confirmed that the application of 2-pass membrane systems enables the reclamation of water from municipal wastewater that fulfills the requirements concerning the quality of water intended as electrolyzer feedstock as the obtained water exhibited a conductivity of < 5 µS/cm. Depending on the analyzed case study the attainable level of water reclamation ranged from 68.8 to 84.1 % at an energy consumption of 606.1 – 2 694 kWh/d. The results of this work not only confirm that the selected pro cessing solutions make it possible to reclaim water from municipal wastewater but also confirm the necessity of using software to simulate the membrane system operation to select the most economic and cost-effective solution.
Analysis of Hydrogen Embrittlement on Aluminum Alloys for Vehicle-Mounted Hydrogen Storage Tanks: A Review
Aug 2021
Publication
High-pressure hydrogen tanks which are composed of an aluminum alloy liner and a carbon fiber wound layer are currently the most popular means to store hydrogen on vehicles. Nevertheless the aluminum alloy is easily affected by high-pressure hydrogen which leads to the appearance of hydrogen embrittlement (HE). Serious HE of hydrogen tank represents a huge dangers to the safety of vehicles and passengers. It is critical and timely to outline the mainstream approach and point out potential avenues for further investigation of HE. An analysis including the mechanism (including hydrogen-enhanced local plasticity model hydrogen-enhanced decohesion mechanism and hydrogen pressure theory) the detection (including slow strain rate test linearly increasing stress test and so on) and methods for the prevention of HE on aluminum alloys of hydrogen vehicles (such as coating) are systematically presented in this work. Moreover the entire experimental detection procedures for HE are expounded. Ultimately the prevention measures are discussed in detail. It is believed that further prevention measures will rely on the integration of multiple prevention methods. Successfully solving this problem is of great significance to reduce the risk of failure of hydrogen storage tanks and improve the reliability of aluminum alloys for engineering applications in various industries including automotive and aerospace.
Towards Safer Hydrogen Refuelling Stations: Insights from Computational Fluid Dynamics LH2 Leakage
May 2024
Publication
The transition to a sustainable future with hydrogen as a key energy carrier necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the safety aspects of hydrogen including liquid hydrogen (LH₂). Hence this study presents a detailed computational fluid mechanics analysis to explore accidental LH₂ leakage and dispersion in a hydrogen refuelling station under varied conditions which is essential to prevent fire and explosion. The correlated impact of influential parameters including wind direction wind velocity leak direction and leak rate were analysed. The study shows that hydrogen dispersion is significantly impacted by the combined effect of wind direction and surrounding structures. Additionally the leak rate and leak direction have a significant effect on the development of the flammable cloud volume (FCV) which is critical for estimating the explosion hazards. Increasing wind velocity from 2 to 4 m/s at a constant leak rate of 0.06 kg/s results in an 82% reduction in FCV. The minimum FCV occurs when leak and wind directions oppose at 4 m/s. The most critical situation concerning FCV arises when the leak and wind directions are perpendicular with a leak rate of 0.06 kg/s and a wind velocity of 2 m/s. These findings can aid in the development of optimised sensing and monitoring systems and operational strategies to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and explosion consequences.
Hydrogen's Potential and Policy Pathways for Indonesia's Energy Transition: The Actor-network Analysis
Mar 2025
Publication
This research examines potential uses of hydrogen as an alternative energy source in Indonesia. Hydrogen presents a more environmentally friendly energy alternative with markedly reduced greenhouse gas emissions leading the Indonesian government to align its interests with the worldwide excitement for hydrogen-based energy transitions within the sustainable development context. Nevertheless despite its intriguing potential as an alternative fuel for transportation industry and power generation pilot programs have demonstrated that hydrogen energy remains expensive and demands substantial advancements in technology. This study used a qualitative methodology incorporating documentary analysis semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions within the actor-network theory framework aimed to investigate the current positioning of hydrogen energy in Indonesia’s policy pathways and to examine its potential and challenge. The findings indicate two primary insights: firstly Indonesia’s energy transformation is presently centered on formulating action plans and regulatory frameworks with hydrogen seen as one of the proposed alternatives. The investigation of hydrogen’s current progress through the actor-network theory framework has yielded two separate actor networks: the proponent network consisting of the national government and the national oil company and the opposing network which encompasses academics businesses and industries.
Techno-economic Analysis of the Effect of a Novel Price-based Control System on the Hydrogen Production of an Offshore 1.5 GW Wind-hydrogen System
Feb 2024
Publication
The cost of green hydrogen production is very dependent on the price of electricity. A control system that can schedule hydrogen production based on forecast wind speed and electricity price should therefore be advantageous for large-scale wind-hydrogen systems. This work presents a novel price-based control system integrated in a techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production from offshore wind. A polynomial regression model that predicts wind power production from wind speed input was developed and tested with real-world datasets from a 2.3 MW floating offshore wind turbine. This was combined with a mathematical model of a PEM electrolyzer and used to simulate hydrogen production. A novel price-based control system was developed to decide when the system should produce hydrogen and when it should sell electricity to the grid. The model and control system can be used in real-world wind-hydrogen systems and require only the forecast wind speed electricity price and selling price of hydrogen as inputs. 11 test scenarios based on 10 years of real-world wind speed and electricity price data are proposed and used to evaluate the effect the price-based control system has on the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Both current and future (2050) costs and technologies are used and the results show that the novel control system lowered the LCOH in all scenarios by 10–46%. The lowest LCOH achieved with current technology and costs was 6.04 $/kg H2. Using the most optimistic forecasts for technology improvements and cost reductions in 2050 the model estimated a LCOH of 0.96 $/kg H2 for a grid-connected offshore wind farm and onshore hydrogen production 0.82 $/kg H2 using grid electricity (onshore) and 4.96 $/kg H2 with an offgrid offshore wind-hydrogen system. When the electricity price from the period 2013–2022 was used on the 2050 scenarios the resulting LCOH was approximately twice as high.
The Role of Hydrogen in the Energy Transition of the Oil and Gas Industry
May 2024
Publication
Hydrogen primarily produced from steam methane reforming plays a crucial role in oil refining and provides a solution for the oil and gas industry's long-term energy transition by reducing CO2 emissions. This paper examines hydrogen’s role in this transition. Firstly experiences from oil and gas exploration including in-situ gasification can be leveraged for hydrogen production from subsurface natural hydrogen reservoirs. The produced hydrogen can serve as fuel for generating steam and heat for thermal oil recovery. Secondly hydrogen can be blended into gas for pipeline transportation and used as an alternative fuel for oil and gas hauling trucks. Additionally hydrogen can be stored underground in depleted gas fields. Lastly oilfield water can be utilized for hydrogen production using geothermal energy from subsurface oil and gas fields. Scaling up hydrogen production faces challenges such as shared use of oil and gas infrastructures increased carbon tax for promoting blue hydrogen and the introduction of financial incentives for hydrogen production and consumption hydrogen leakage prevention and detection.
Exergy Analysis in Intensification of Sorption-enhanced Steam Methane Reforming for Clean Hydrogen Production: Comparative Study and Efficiency Optimisation
Feb 2024
Publication
Hydrogen has a key role to play in decarbonising industry and other sectors of society. It is important to develop low-carbon hydrogen production technologies that are cost-effective and energy-efficient. Sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) is a developing low-carbon (blue) hydrogen production process which enables combined hydrogen production and carbon capture. Despite a number of key benefits the process is yet to be fully realised in terms of efficiency. In this work a sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming process has been intensified via exergy analysis. Assessing the exergy efficiency of these processes is key to ensuring the effective deployment of low-carbon hydrogen production technologies. An exergy analysis was performed on an SE-SMR process and was then subsequently used to incorporate process improvements developing a process that has theoretically an extremely high CO2 capture rate of nearly 100 % whilst simultaneously demonstrating a high exergy efficiency (77.58 %) showcasing the potential of blue hydrogen as an effective tool to ensure decarbonisation in an energy-efficient manner.
Towards Low-carbon Power Networks: Optimal Location and Sizing of Renewable Energy Sources and Hydrogen Storage
Apr 2024
Publication
This paper proposes a systematic optimization framework to jointly determine the optimal location and sizing decisions of renewables and hydrogen storage in a power network to achieve the transition to low-carbon networks efficiently. We obtain these strategic decisions based on the multi-period alternating current optimal power flow (AC MOPF) problem that jointly analyzes power network renewable and hydrogen storage interactions at the operational level by considering the uncertainty of renewable output seasonality of electricity demand and electricity prices. We develop a tailored solution approach based on second-order cone programming within a Benders decomposition framework to provide globally optimal solutions. In a test case we show that the joint integration of renewable sources and hydrogen storage and consideration of the AC MOPF model significantly reduces the operational cost of the power network. In turn our findings can provide quantitative insights to decision-makers on how to integrate renewable sources and hydrogen storage under different settings of the hydrogen selling price renewable curtailment cost emission tax price and conversion efficiency.
Oxygen-rich Microporous Carbons with Exceptional Hydrogen Storage Capacity
Oct 2021
Publication
Porous carbons have been extensively investigated for hydrogen storage but to date appear to have an upper limit to their storage capacity. Here in an effort to circumvent this upper limit we explore the potential of oxygen-rich activated carbons. We describe cellulose acetate-derived carbons that combine high surface area (3800 m2 g−1 ) and pore volume (1.8 cm3 g−1 ) that arise almost entirely (>90%) from micropores with an oxygen-rich nature. The carbons exhibit enhanced gravimetric hydrogen uptake (8.1 wt% total and 7.0 wt% excess) at −196 °C and 20 bar rising to a total uptake of 8.9 wt% at 30 bar and exceptional volumetric uptake of 44 g l −1 at 20 bar and 48 g l −1 at 30 bar. At room temperature they store up to 0.8 wt% (excess) and 1.2 wt% (total) hydrogen at only 30 bar and their isosteric heat of hydrogen adsorption is above 10 kJ mol−1 .
Leakage Rates of Hydrogen-methane Gas Blends under Varying Pressure Conditions
Nov 2024
Publication
Integration of hydrogen into the existing natural gas infrastructure is considered a potential pathway that can accelerate the incorporation of hydrogen into the energy sector. While blending renewable hydrogen with natural gas offers advantages such as reduced carbon intensity and the ability to utilize existing infrastructure for hydrogen storage and transportation there are several concerns including leakage and associated issues. Un derstanding the behavior of hydrogen blended with natural gas in the existing infrastructure is crucial to ensure safe and efficient integration. In this study the leakage rates of mixtures of hydrogen and methane at different molar concentrations (5% 10% 20% and 50% hydrogen) through both precision machined orifices and com mon pipe fitting threads were investigated. The experiments showed that the leakage rates of these mixtures increased as the hydrogen content increased; however gas chromatography (GC) analysis showed that hydrogen did not leak preferentially at a greater rate than methane. The results indicate that mixing hydrogen with methane can increase the volume of gas leakage under the same pressure conditions. These findings suggest that mixing hydrogen with natural gas may result in increased volumetric flow rate of gas leaks but hydrogen alone does not leak preferentially to methane.
Exploiting the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Technology for Green Hydrogen Production and Storage: Exergo-economic Analysis
Nov 2024
Publication
This study presents and analyses three plant configurations of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology. All the solutions are based on using the OTEC system to obtain hydrogen through an electrolyzer. The hydrogen is then compressed and stored. In the first and second layouts a Rankine cycle with ammonia and a mixture of water and ethanol is utilised respectively; in the third layout a Kalina cycle is considered. In each configuration the OTEC cycle is coupled with a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and the compression and storage system. The water entering the electrolyzer is pre-heated to 80 ◦C by a solar collector. Energy exergy and exergo-economic studies were conducted to evaluate the cost of producing compressing and storing hydrogen. A parametric analysis examining the main design constraints was performed based on the temperature range of the condenser the mass flow ratio of hot and cold resource flows and the mass fraction. The maximum value of the overall exergy efficiency calculated is equal to 93.5% for the Kalina cycle and 0.524 €/kWh is the minimum cost of hydrogen production achieved. The results were compared with typical data from other hydrogen production systems.
Hydrogen Impact: A Review on Diffusibility, Embrittlement Mechanisms, and Characterization
Feb 2024
Publication
Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a broadly recognized phenomenon in metallic materials. If not well understood and managed HE may lead to catastrophic environmental failures in vessels containing hydrogen such as pipelines and storage tanks. HE can affect the mechanical properties of materials such as ductility toughness and strength mainly through the interaction between metal defects and hydrogen. Various phenomena such as hydrogen adsorption hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen interactions with intrinsic trapping sites like dislocations voids grain boundaries and oxide/matrix interfaces are involved in this process. It is important to understand HE mechanisms to develop effective hydrogen resistant strategies. Tensile double cantilever beam bent beam and fatigue tests are among the most common techniques employed to study HE. This article reviews hydrogen diffusion behavior mechanisms and characterization techniques.
Knowledge Production in Technological Innovation System: A Comprehensive Evaluation using a Multi-criteria Framework based on Patent Data - A Case Study on Hydrogen Storage
Jan 2025
Publication
Knowledge production activity is central within a technological innovation system. The number of patent ap plications is commonly used to evaluate this activity. However it is subject to bias and inaccurate evaluations can occur. This article proposes a multi-criteria framework based on seven complementary patent indicators taking into account the persistence commitment and coherence of knowledge production activities for a more comprehensive evaluation. We demonstrate the value of our proposal through a case study on hydrogen storage comparing patent data since 2000 about three technological solutions: physical chemical and adsorption technologies. Our framework clearly shows that physical hydrogen storage is the most advanced in terms of knowledge production despite not having the highest number of patent applications.
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