H2Tech - Q2 2022 - 42

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
The role of digital technology in H2
.
Software technology will be a strategic
asset as the industry seeks to successfully
navigate the energy transition. In the
case of the H2
economy, digital technol,
evaluating and
ogy will be a major accelerator for driving
down the cost of H2
optimizing many value chain alternatives
and removing constraints to safely scale
the value chain.
Drilling down further, the following
are how today's digital technologies can
expedite the transition to H2
.
Employing advanced methods for
innovation and optioneering, while
driving down costs. Rigorous process
simulation software can represent H2
electrolysis, H2
reformer processes, other
innovative H2 synthesis approaches and
H2 liquefaction and pipeline transport-
accelerating commercialization and improving
access to capital.1
Several specific digital technology
opportunities to accelerate innovation
include:
* Hybrid models incorporating
artificial intelligence (AI) together
with first principles models for new
processes, including membrane
technology, combining reforming,
carbon capture and novel processes
* Rate-based simulation modeling
for carbon capture
* Powerful, rigorous models
to handle electrochemistry
* High-performance computing for
evaluating thousands of alternatives
in an optioneering context
* Integrated economics to rapidly
screen techno-economic
alternatives during concept design
and pilot plant testing.
Integrating collaborative engineering
workflows. Cross-functional teams
will be able to rapidly select concepts,
scaleup designs, execute projects and use
modular design to accelerate industrial
implementation. This will drive down
project timetables 50% or more.2
Facilitating advanced, integrated
supply chain planning. New software
advances optimally integrate the H2
economy
value chain with existing natural gas
and power networks.
Automating processes to create
the self-optimizing plant paradigm.
New technologies such as H2
electrolysis,
carbon capture, crude-to-chemicals
and industrial scale fuel cells, are to be
deployed as autonomously as possible
to compensate for shortages of highly
skilled operators.3
Optimizing the value chain with risk
and availability modeling. This includes
the use of new capabilities to evaluate H2
production, transportation, storage and
end-use options, as well as the risks to
achieve reliable energy goals.
For both H2
electrolysis and fuel cells,
the ability to simulate electrochemistry,
TABLE 1. H2 production: Ways to commercialize clean H2
Costs relative to steam
Type
Blue and
gray H2
Process
SMR
Partial oxidation
Autothermal reforming
Naphtha reforming
Carbon Capture
and utilization
Brown H2
Carbon capture
(necessary aspect
of blue H2
)
Coal gasification
Pros
Best H/C ratio
No catalyst
-
-
Known
technology
Large scale,
low cost
Biomass gasification Carbon neutral
Electrolysis of water
CO2
Green H2
Wind/solar assist
electrolysis of water
Photobiological,
photoelectron-chemical,
thin-film solar
1 Not including CO2
capture costs
42 Q2 2022 | H2-Tech.com
CO2 free
, scalable
CO2 free
Cons
CO2 emission
CO2 emission
CO2 emission
H2 is a byproduct
High energy
potential
Large CO2
emissions
Low efficiency
Expensive
System must
be optimized
Technology
not proven
Maturity
Mature
Mature
Research
and development
Mature
Early
commercialization
Mature
Research
and development
Mature
Research
-
and development
Research
and development
Note: Efficiency and cost are representative. The economics of H2
are improving constantly.
Potentially
> 50
-
-
Efficiency, % methane reforming (SMR)
11
70-85
60-75
60-75
-
N/A
60
35-50
10-50
1.81
1
1
N/A
1.4-2.61
2-2.4
3-10
handle dynamics and consider stochastic
variation are crucial. From electrolysis
and steam reforming to carbon capture
and fuel cells, advanced modeling and
digital twin solutions have played a prominent
role in the H2
generation research
and development arena for the past 30 yr.
The rigor, accuracy and flexibility of the
author's company's modeling technologies
have made them a preferred choice
for industrial and government research, as
well as academic initiatives related to H2
and carbon capture.
The author's company's process simuis
a proven modeling solulation
softwarea
tion for applications such as fuel cells and
H2
electrolysis processes due to its ability
to rigorously model complex chemical
processes and effectively model the electrochemistry.
The ability to rapidly estimate
economics also makes this a strategic
tool for techno-economic analysis.
H2 challenges: Scaleup, distribution
and reliability. To accelerate H2
tion while achieving favorable economics,
the industry will need to focus on several
areas, including:
1. Conversion efficiency, process
optimization and scale-up of
H2
production, including the
selection of the most advantageous
production approach that will
drive down production costs
2. The development of low-cost
produc
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