Simulation methodology for hydrogen liquefaction process design considering hydrogen characteristics

Abstract

© 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLCOne promising method to improve the storage capacity of hydrogen is to liquefy it, resulting in high energy density. However, liquefying hydrogen is a challenging task because hydrogen characteristics, such as a boiling point at a cryogenic temperature and changes in equilibrium compositions of spin isomers constituting hydrogen molecules, must be considered. For a design of a hydrogen liquefaction process, it is necessary to use an equation of state that can accurately calculate the properties of hydrogen, and to consider conversion reactions of the spin isomers. In this study, it is confirmed that the modified Benedict-Webb-Rubin equation is a suitable equation of state for simulating hydrogen liquefaction processes and that an equivalent model used in this study for the conversion reactions of the spin isomers shows reasonable results. Furthermore, the economic feasibility of the designed hydrogen liquefaction process is investigated based on energy optimization and economic analysis.