Efficient hydrogen logistics: development of burner-heated reactors for hydrogen release from LOHC

LTT prototype system for hydrogen release from liquid organic hydrogen carriers. (Source: K. Zeug, EnCN)

This project deals with the release of hydrogen stored in a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC). The dehydrogenation reaction takes place at elevated temperatures and therefore requires an efficient supply of the required process heat. Within this project a novel heating concept for hydrogen release in LOHC storage systems was developed and implemented. Here, the thermal energy required in the dehydrogenation unit is supplied via direct heating with a burner. The aim is to supply the dehydrogenation unit with process heat as uniformly and efficiently as possible in order to obtain a large H₂ gas output. For this purpose, prototype systems are being developed and tested at the Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics (LTT). The fields of activity include the design of suitable burners and heat exchangers and the energetic consideration of the entire system.

This project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy as part of the Energie Campus Nürnberg.