Design, economic evaluation, and market uncertainty analysis of LOHC-based, CO2 free, hydrogen delivery systems

Abstract

As the number of new candidates for liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) that are being identified and experimentally tested is increasing, so does the requirement to analytically evaluate large scale hydrogen delivery processes which will utilize these chemicals. Here, we detail a technological evaluation, cost estimation, and market performance analysis of a large-scale (1000 m3/h H2), CO2 emission-free, LOHC dehydrogenation system and the accompanying costs of supply logistics. Four reversible LOHC systems, Eutectic biphenyl/diphenylmethane mixture (EUT), 2-(N-Methylbenzyl)pyridine (MBP), N-phenylcarbazole (NPC), and N-ethylcarbazole (NEC) were evaluated in stand-alone cases, with the fifth case utilizing all four in a temperature-cascade (TC) process intensification. Total capital investments for this H2 output scale were found to range from 24 to 44 mil USD, with shipping cost and LOHC price determined to be main parameters affecting the process economics. Market performance results show that for the 3.5 USD/kg H2 selling price, the purchase prices of LOHC chemicals must be 5.44, 4.74, 4.01, 4.12 USD/kg for EUT, MBP, NPC and NEC respectively. Finally, the TC market operating and market performance was quantified and market conditions for justifiable investment in such a system were defined.