Maximizing clean hydrogen release from perhydro-benzyltoluene: Energy-efficient scale-up strategies and techno-economic analyses

Abstract

We present a highly efficient method for hydrogen release from perhydro-benzyltoluene (H12-BT), one of the most promising liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) in the current energy landscape. Despite the demand for scalability, dehydrogenation of H12-BT has so far only been subject to published studies on batch reactors at the laboratory scale. Here, we establish a continuous bench-scale 2.3 Nm3-H2/h-level (5 kg-H2/day) catalytic dehydrogenation system using H12-BT. Parametric analysis provides insights into operational and design strategies for large-scale H12-BT dehydrogenation systems. The proposed model for the system energy analysis enables outlining a path to elevate the round-trip efficiency (RTE). The basis of this is the incorporation of well-managed thermal systems and hydrogenation-based power generation, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs). These strategies, quantitatively assessed, demonstrate the feasibility above 70 %. Through techno-economic analyses (TEA), the dehydrogenation cost reduction associated with efficiency improvement is assessed, showing up to approximately 11.8 % cost reduction. This study propels efficient dehydrogenation system advancement, fostering a sustainable hydrogen supply within the global chain.