Method and Apparatus for Providing and/or Storing Hydrogen Gas

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This patent describes a method and apparatus for generating and/or storing hydrogen gas using a system of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). The core idea is to reform a partially spent LOHC (which has already released some hydrogen) with steam and a special catalyst, thereby oxidizing the carrier and producing additional hydrogen gas from the steam—beyond the hydrogen originally stored in the LOHC. This process is part of a closed-loop system that includes dehydrogenation (releasing hydrogen from LOHC), reforming (generating more hydrogen from water), and rehydrogenation (reloading the LOHC with hydrogen at a central facility).

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• On-site hydrogen production for fuel cell vehicles or stationary fuel cells in energy-poor areas.
• Hydrogen supply infrastructure for remote industrial sites or transportation hubs lacking access to traditional hydrogen pipelines or pressurized tanks.
• Long-range, high-density hydrogen energy storage and delivery systems, enabling renewable energy integration and grid balancing.
• Closed-loop logistics for hydrogen supply in regions where local hydrogen production or storage is challenging.
• Supplying pure hydrogen for chemical processes, power generation, or industrial heating applications.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increases the total usable hydrogen yield from an LOHC compared with simple dehydrogenation, boosting storage and transport efficiency.
• Enables safer and easier transport of hydrogen as a stable liquid (LOHC) rather than cryogenic or high-pressure gas, reducing infrastructure and safety costs.
• Minimizes carbon dioxide emissions by avoiding conventional oxidation pathways, making the process environmentally favorable.
• Allows for closed-loop operation, supporting repeated use of the same LOHC with minimal loss and facilitating scalable, decentralized hydrogen infrastructure.
• Delivers high-purity hydrogen suitable for sensitive applications without extensive post-treatment.

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Patent Abstract

A method for providing hydrogen gas comprises the step of reforming an at least partially spent hydrogen carrier medium (H0-LOHC) on a reforming catalyst using steam in a reformer reactor (3) to form an at least partially oxidized hydrogen carrier medium (Oxo-LOHC) while forming hydrogen gas (H2) from the steam.