Method and Apparatus for Providing and/or Storing Hydrogen Gas

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This patent describes a method and device for providing and/or storing hydrogen gas using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology. The core invention involves reforming a partially spent hydrogen carrier medium (HO-LOHC) with steam over a special catalyst in a reactor, converting it into a partially oxidized LOHC (Oxo-LOHC) and simultaneously generating hydrogen gas from the steam. The system also includes stages for dehydrogenation (to extract hydrogen from fully loaded LOHC), reforming (to further extract hydrogen via steam reforming), and hydrogenation (to reload LOHC with hydrogen using hydrogen gas), ensuring a closed-loop cycle.

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

• Supplying high-purity hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles or stationary fuel cells at remote or distributed sites.
• Transport and storage of hydrogen energy using LOHCs in chemical, industrial, or mobility sectors.
• Integrating renewable energy (solar, wind) with hydrogen production and storage, enabling seasonal or location-independent energy transfer.
• Hydrogen refueling infrastructure where hydrogen is stored, transported, and released as needed.
• Backup power systems using LOHCs to enable hydrogen energy on demand.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increases the total amount of hydrogen that can be released from a given quantity of LOHC by supplementing standard dehydrogenation with reforming via steam.
• Enables high-purity hydrogen generation at the point of use, minimizing transport and handling of gaseous hydrogen and improving safety.
• Supports a closed-loop, efficient, and scalable hydrogen storage and distribution system, with reusability of the liquid carrier material.
• Reduces carbon dioxide emissions by minimizing carrier degradation and optimizing process conditions.
• Compatible with existing liquid fuel transport, storage, and distribution infrastructure.

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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.