Periodic Reporting for period 3 - HySTOC (Hydrogen Supply and Transportation using liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers)
Période du rapport: 2021-01-01 au 2022-03-31
The European Green Deal describes the goal of achieving “no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050”. In order to meet this very ambitious goal, the electricity sector, but also the industrial and transport sector have to be decarbonized. Hydrogen can play a key role to serve as a carbon-free energy vector. So, hydrogen can be seen as most tangible path towards providing a renewable fuel that combines easy and quick refuelling with long ranges even for large cars, trucks and busses. But hydrogen at molecular level is a very volatile substance with a very low volumetric energy density. So, to make larger amounts of hydrogen manageable conventional technologies put hydrogen under high pressure (>300 bar) or liquify hydrogen at very low temperatures (< -250°C). Here, the LOHC technologies offers a very promising alternative by binding hydrogen in a reversible chemical reaction to a carrier fluid and releasing it on demand. In doing so large amounts of hydrogen can be stored safely at ambient conditions (temperature/pressure). Moreover, using LOHC offers easy road transport, low transportation costs and a high storage density. The HySTOC project utilizes both advantages of hydrogen and LOHC technology in order to decarbonize the transport sector by supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen refuelling station via LOHC. Overall objective of the HySTOC project is to demonstrate a complete LOHC supply chain (storage, transport, release) to provide hydrogen at fuel cell grade (ISO 14687:2-2012).
Containerized LOHC hydrogen storage system
In the HySTOC project H2 is provided by the project partner Woikoski at its industrial site in Kokkola, Finland. Here, hydrogen is generated by an existing electrolyser, that feeds a 300 bar pipeline. The fully automated LOHC storage system (StorageBOX) is connected to this pipeline and stores up to 1 kilogram of hydrogen in LOHC. The StorageBOX was developed, engineered, assembled and commissioned by Hydrogenious. During the project period the StorageBOX hydrogenated 39,322 kg of LOHC in continuous operation.
Containerized LOHC hydrogen release system
The LOHC hydrogen release system (ReleaseBOX) was developed, engineered, assembled and commissioned by Hydrogenious. Special focus is taken to optimize the energy demand for the release system. This includes heat recovery within the process as well as optimized insulation of the equipment. Besides the core of the LOHC technology (e.g. dehydrogenation reactor) Hydrogenious installed a PSA and a hydrogen compressor (at 30 bar as required at the interface to the HRS) within the container. The PSA was developed and built by the project partner HyGear. During the project period the ReleaseBOX processed 33,386 kg of LOHC of hydrogen in continuous operation.
Transportation and logistics solutions
The logistic concept for HySTOC was developed to ensure hydrogen supply for the release system. This includes stationary tanks and pumps at the storage and release sites, as well as the transportation of LOHC. Since the existing logistics of Woikoski includes truck transport between these locations, 1m³ -IBC containers will be used for LOHC transport for the HySTOC project. This will allow easy handling at all sites. To gain permission for LOHC handling at the sites in Finland, a PPORD registration was carried out by Woikoski for the hydrogenated and the dehydrogenated LOHC. Special care was taken to develop a logistic system suitable for future large-scale transportation. Interfaces at the stationary tanks can easily be adapted to feed e. g. a 30m³ truck. By this means, the HySTOC project demonstrated the suitability of the developed tank concept for large-scale transport.
Continuous operation
In the ambitious HySTOC project numerous milestones regarding the LOHC technology were achieved e. g. a) demonstration of the entire LOHC supply chain by storing hydrogen safely to the carrier material, transporting in sum 1,860 kg of hydrogen about 500 km and release hydrogen from the carrier material b) demonstration of high purity of the released hydrogen meeting the demands for fuel cell applications (14687:2-2012) and c) full automation of both LOHC systems for continuous operation, start-up and shutdown
Hydrogen quality
The ReleaseBOX unit has been demonstrated in a field test, where it was operated for nearly 2200 hours. During operation, approx. 1,200 kg hydrogen was released. The ReleaseBOX unit consists of the hydrogen release reactor and a PSA for purifying the hydrogen. During operation, the hydrogen quality before and after the PSA was monitored and compared to the ISO 14687:2-2012 specifications. Based on the measurements, the PSA operation was optimized. The analysis showed that the performance of the compressor and PSA in the RB worked well meeting the required purity specification of the ISO 14687 standard together with the expected high yield of over 90% of hydrogen. As the required fuel cell grade is fulfilled, the released hydrogen could be used for fuelling PEM fuel cell vehicles.
Life cycle assessment
As seen from the LCA results, the electricity plays a key role with all three technologies (LOHC, CGH2, LH2) compared in this study. Burning of fossil fuels contribute remarkably on climate change, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, photochemical ozone creation potential and abiotic depletion of fossil fuels. With low-emission electricity, the main source of emissions would be limited to (fossil) diesel-based transportation. Since the hydrogen load per truck is higher for LOHC than CGH2 and less diesel is required per kg H2, this would bring an advantage to LOHC technology compared to CGH2
Dissemination and communication
In order to disseminate, communicate and exploit the HySTOC project results properly several efforts have been made. To this end, all project partners contribute to a) scientific conferences and industry Conferences, b) scientific publications and c) press releases in order to disseminate the results of the project.
In the HySTOC project H2 is provided by the project partner Woikoski at its industrial site in Kokkola, Finland. Here, hydrogen is generated by an existing electrolyser, that feeds a 300 bar pipeline. The fully automated LOHC storage system (StorageBOX) is connected to this pipeline and stores up to 1 kilogram of hydrogen in LOHC. The StorageBOX was developed, engineered, assembled and commissioned by Hydrogenious. During the project period the StorageBOX hydrogenated 39,322 kg of LOHC in continuous operation.
Containerized LOHC hydrogen release system
The LOHC hydrogen release system (ReleaseBOX) was developed, engineered, assembled and commissioned by Hydrogenious. Special focus is taken to optimize the energy demand for the release system. This includes heat recovery within the process as well as optimized insulation of the equipment. Besides the core of the LOHC technology (e.g. dehydrogenation reactor) Hydrogenious installed a PSA and a hydrogen compressor (at 30 bar as required at the interface to the HRS) within the container. The PSA was developed and built by the project partner HyGear. During the project period the ReleaseBOX processed 33,386 kg of LOHC of hydrogen in continuous operation.
Transportation and logistics solutions
The logistic concept for HySTOC was developed to ensure hydrogen supply for the release system. This includes stationary tanks and pumps at the storage and release sites, as well as the transportation of LOHC. Since the existing logistics of Woikoski includes truck transport between these locations, 1m³ -IBC containers will be used for LOHC transport for the HySTOC project. This will allow easy handling at all sites. To gain permission for LOHC handling at the sites in Finland, a PPORD registration was carried out by Woikoski for the hydrogenated and the dehydrogenated LOHC. Special care was taken to develop a logistic system suitable for future large-scale transportation. Interfaces at the stationary tanks can easily be adapted to feed e. g. a 30m³ truck. By this means, the HySTOC project demonstrated the suitability of the developed tank concept for large-scale transport.
Continuous operation
In the ambitious HySTOC project numerous milestones regarding the LOHC technology were achieved e. g. a) demonstration of the entire LOHC supply chain by storing hydrogen safely to the carrier material, transporting in sum 1,860 kg of hydrogen about 500 km and release hydrogen from the carrier material b) demonstration of high purity of the released hydrogen meeting the demands for fuel cell applications (14687:2-2012) and c) full automation of both LOHC systems for continuous operation, start-up and shutdown
Hydrogen quality
The ReleaseBOX unit has been demonstrated in a field test, where it was operated for nearly 2200 hours. During operation, approx. 1,200 kg hydrogen was released. The ReleaseBOX unit consists of the hydrogen release reactor and a PSA for purifying the hydrogen. During operation, the hydrogen quality before and after the PSA was monitored and compared to the ISO 14687:2-2012 specifications. Based on the measurements, the PSA operation was optimized. The analysis showed that the performance of the compressor and PSA in the RB worked well meeting the required purity specification of the ISO 14687 standard together with the expected high yield of over 90% of hydrogen. As the required fuel cell grade is fulfilled, the released hydrogen could be used for fuelling PEM fuel cell vehicles.
Life cycle assessment
As seen from the LCA results, the electricity plays a key role with all three technologies (LOHC, CGH2, LH2) compared in this study. Burning of fossil fuels contribute remarkably on climate change, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, photochemical ozone creation potential and abiotic depletion of fossil fuels. With low-emission electricity, the main source of emissions would be limited to (fossil) diesel-based transportation. Since the hydrogen load per truck is higher for LOHC than CGH2 and less diesel is required per kg H2, this would bring an advantage to LOHC technology compared to CGH2
Dissemination and communication
In order to disseminate, communicate and exploit the HySTOC project results properly several efforts have been made. To this end, all project partners contribute to a) scientific conferences and industry Conferences, b) scientific publications and c) press releases in order to disseminate the results of the project.
The LOHC technology offers high safety and efficiency, thus being able to significantly support large scale hydrogen supply, by making its storage and transport cost efficient and technologically viable. Until now, LOHC systems have been mostly tested and operated in a protected test environment and with limited purification technology. The HySTOC project will significantly contribute to the development of a safe and reliable LOHC-based hydrogen supply for refuelling stations, and furthermore will significantly reduce the cost of hydrogen delivered. An expected impact will be the increased competitiveness of FCEV vehicles, especially busses. The use of LOHC liquids has a large benefit regarding the allowed storage amounts, using the existing diesel storage permits. The low toxicity and low hazard risks of LOHC-based hydrogen storage offers therefore a huge potential in storage capacity and safety, especially in populated areas. In addition, the same infrastructure that is currently used for fossil fuels can be used for LOHC-based hydrogen logistics. Furthermore, LOHC based hydrogen logistic is expected to enhance public acceptance for hydrogen technologies, as human beings are more comfortable in using a liquid compared to a gas. By this means, HySTOC will have positive impact on the public perception of hydrogen mobility – and therewith demonstrate LOHC technology’s potential to be the missing link of efficient hydrogen transport.