(313b) Efficient Hydrogen Power Plant Design for Continuous Power Supply from Renewable Hydrogen

Development and implementation of renewable energy conversion processes are essential to reduce the dependence on limited fossil fuel reserves and get atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) under control emissions. Electricity sector is the largest source of primary energy consumption with the highest growth rate and is currently responsible for greater than 40% of the global CO₂ emissions. Thus, the increase in renewable power production capacity is especially important. Yet intermittencies and geographical limitations for renewable energy collection need to be overcome by developing efficient renewable energy conversion processes and synergistically integrated energy storage options.

Among the energy storage options, storing energy in chemical bonds through synthesis of chemicals prompted interest for large scale applications due to its competitive storage efficiencies, convenience of usage, and high energy densities [1]. Hydrogen has been proposed to be the enabling energy career that will be a key player in a sustainable economy. Hydrogen is the major carbon-free energy carrier and a key chemical that finds primary use in production and upgrading of fuels and chemicals. In 2012, US consumed more than 1.07 EJ energy equivalent hydrogen [2]. Despite the fact that current hydrogen production is predominantly from natural gas reforming, advancements in renewable hydrogen production techniques such as electrolytic or thermal water splitting, will eventually replace the fossil fuel based hydrogen production capacity.

Regardless of the hydrogen production method, efficient electricity generation from hydrogen is critical. Here, we introduce a novel turbine based hydrogen power cycle, which can achieve ~70% hydrogen-to-electricity efficiency at high operating temperatures. In addition to the very high hydrogen-to-electricity efficiency, when integrated with concentrated solar power plants [3], the process ensures the continuous operation of power generation equipment (e.g. turbines, condensers). The proposed hydrogen power cycle minimizes exergetic losses and increases production efficiency. The novel features of the hydrogen power cycle and case studies for integration with solar thermal hydrogen production and natural gas reforming are presented.

 [1] Al-musleh EI, Mallapragada DS, Agrawal R. Continuous power supply from a baseload renewable power plant. Applied Energy, 122, 83-93, 2014.

[2] Joseck F.  DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record. ed Satyapal S (U.S. Department of Energy), 2012.

[3] Gençer E, Tawarmalani M, Agrawal R, Integrated solar thermal hydrogen and power coproduction process for continuous power supply and production of chemicals, Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 37, 2291-2296, 2015.