0
Research Papers

# Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of PEFC Power Generation System Using Surplus Hydrogen Produced From an Oil Refinery

[+] Author and Article Information
Takahide Haneda

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Energy System
Research Institute,
1-7-7, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku,
Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
Systems Engineering,
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology,
2-24-16, Nakacho,
Koganei 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: haneda@tokyo-gas.co.jp

Atsushi Akisawa

Institute of Engineering,
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology,
2-24-16, Nakacho,
Koganei 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: akisawa@cc.tuat.ac.jp

Manuscript received March 21, 2017; final manuscript received June 1, 2017; published online June 27, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Robert J. Braun.

J. Electrochem. En. Conv. Stor. 14(4), 041001 (Jun 27, 2017) (9 pages) Paper No: JEECS-17-1033; doi: 10.1115/1.4036956 History: Received March 21, 2017; Revised June 01, 2017

## Abstract

The potential of an energy system that comprises hydrogen-fueled polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), a steam reformer, and a hydrogen storage tank, using surplus hydrogen produced from an oil refinery, was evaluated using a mathematical model based on linear programming. The aim of this study was to optimize the capacity of the hydrogen-fueled PEFC, the hydrogen production of the steam reformer, and the utilization amount of the hydrogen storage tank in order to minimize the total system cost. Based on the optimization results, the system cost reduction and CO2 emission reduction effects were calculated in relation to the power generation efficiency and the installation cost of the hydrogen-fueled PEFC. As a result, the conditions for the hydrogen-fueled PEFC where a system cost reduction could be achieved in the PEFC power generation system, compared with the conventional system, were shown to be an initial cost lower than 3000 $/kW for a power generation efficiency of 50% or an initial cost lower than 5000$/kW for a power generation efficiency of 65%.

<>

## References

Suleman, F. , Dincer, I. , and Agelin-Chaab, M. , 2015, “ Environmental Impact Assessment and Comparison of Some Hydrogen Production Options,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 40(21), pp. 6976–6987.
IEA, 2009, “ Potential of Best Practice Technology and Other Measures for Improving Energy Efficiency,” International Energy Agency, Paris, France, accessed Mar. 17, 2017,
Szklo, A. , and Schaeffer, R. , 2007, “ Fuel Specification, Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission in Oil Refineries,” Energy, 32(7), pp. 1075–1092.
Zhang, N. , 2013, “ Process Integration of an Oil Refinery Hydrogen Network,” Handbook of Process Integration, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK, pp. 705–724.
Jeong, H. , Cho, S. , and Han, C. , 2012, “ Economic Feasibility Analysis of a PEMFC Power Plant Fueled by By-Product Hydrogen From a Petrochemical Complex With a Pressure Swing Adsorption Unit,” J. Chem. Eng. Jpn., 45(10), pp. 873–880.
Zhang, J. D. , and Rong, G. , 2008, “ An MILP Model for Multi-Period Optimization of Fuel Gas System Scheduling in Refinery and Its Marginal Value Analysis,” Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 86(2), pp. 141–151.
Jiao, Y. , Su, H. , and Hou, W. , 2012, “ Improved Optimization Methods for Refinery Hydrogen Network and Their Applications,” Control Eng. Pract., 20(10), pp. 1075–1093.
Alves, J. J. , and Towler, G. P. , 2002, “ Analysis of Refinery Hydrogen Distribution Systems,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 41(23), pp. 5759–5769.
Ahmad, M. I. , Zhang, N. , and Jobson, M. , 2010, “ Modelling and Optimization for Design of Hydrogen Networks for Multi-Period Operation,” J. Cleaner Prod., 18(9), pp. 889–899.
Khajehpour, M. , Farhadi, F. , and Pishvaie, M. R. , 2009, “ Reduced Superstructure Solution of MINLP Problem in Refinery Hydrogen Management,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 34(22), pp. 9233–9238.
Aki, H. , Kondoh, J. , and Ishii, I. , 2002, “ Analysis on Penetration of Distributed Generations and Energy Accommodation Systems to Small-Scale Consumers,” 19th Conference on Energy, Economy, and Environment, pp. 1–6.
Ikeda, M. , 2009, “ Possibility of Refinery to Produce Hydrogen With Low CO2 Emitting,” Hydrogen Energy Syst., 34(1), pp. 27–32 (in Japanese).
Maeda, K. , Masumoto, K. , and Hayano, A. , 2010, “ A Study on Energy Saving in Residential PEFC Cogeneration Systems,” J. Power Sources, 195(12), pp. 3779–3784.
Brown, J. E. , Hendry, C. N. , and Harborne, P. , 2007, “ An Emerging Market in Fuel Cells? Residential Combined Heat and Power in Four Countries,” Energy Policy, 35(4), pp. 2173–2186.
Aki, H. , Yamamoto, S. , Kondoh, J. , Maeda, T. , Yamaguchi, H. , Murata, A. , and Ishii, I. , 2006, “ Fuel Cells and Energy Networks of Electricity, Heat, and Hydrogen in Residential Areas,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 31(8), pp. 4714–4724.
Aki, H. , Taniguchi, Y. , Tamura, I. , Kegasa, A. , Hayakawa, H. , Ishikawa, Y. , Yamamoto, S. , and Sugimoto, I. , 2012, “ Fuel Cells and Energy Networks of Electricity, Heat, and Hydrogen: A Demonstration in Hydrogen-Fueled Apartments,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37(2), pp. 1204–1213.
Dodds, P. E. , Staffell, I. , Hawkes, A. D. , Li, F. , Grünewald, P. , McDowall, W. , and Ekins, P. , 2015, “ Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies for Heating: A Review,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 40(5), pp. 2065–2083.
Tokyo Gas, 2004, “ Commercial Unit of Residential Fuel Cell Cogeneration Systems Launch Into the Market,” Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Enefarm Partners, 2015, “ For Residential Fuel Cells “ENE-FARM” Cumulative 150,000 Breakthrough,” Enefarm Partners, Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Chan, S. H. , Stempien, J. P. , Ding, O. L. , Su, P.-C. , and Ho, H. K. , 2016, “ Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Research, Development and Demonstration Activities in Singapore—An Update,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 41(32), pp. 13869–13878.
Wilberforce, T. , Alaswad, A. , Palumbo, A. , Dassisti, M. , and Olabi, A. G. , 2016, “ Advances in Stationary and Portable Fuel Cell Applications,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 41(37), pp. 16509–16522.
Verhage, A. J. L. , Coolegem, J. F. , Mulder, M. J. J. , Yildirim, M. H. , and de Bruijn, F. A. , 2013, “ 30,000 h Operation of a 70 kW Stationary PEM Fuel Cell System Using Hydrogen From a Chlorine Factory,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 38(11), pp. 4714–4724.
Haneda, T. , and Akisawa, A. , 2017, “ Technological Assessment of PEFC Power Generation System Using By-Product Hydrogen Produced From a Caustic Soda Plant,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 42(5), pp. 3240–3249.
JX Nippon Research Institute, 2013, “ Hydrogen Supply Capacity From Refineries,” JX Nippon Research Institute, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Ono, K. , 2014, “ Strengthen Collaboration Between Refineries and Ethylene Plants,” Chem. Econ., 61(11), pp. 27–32 (in Japanese).
Kano, T. , 2008, “ Actual Utilization and Utilization Technology of By-Product Hydrogen of Refinery,” Best Value, 40(1), pp. 1–6 (in Japanese).
Tokyo Gas, 2016, “ Specification of Enefarm 2016,” Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Japan Gas, 2010, “ CO2 Emission Coefficient of Electricity Used for Evaluation of CO2 Reduction Measure 2010,” Japan Gas Association, Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017,
TEPCO, 2015, “ Report on CO2 Emission Coefficient 2015,” Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Toshiba Fuel Cell Power System, 2015, “ Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation Begins Demonstration Research Into Pure Hydrogen Fuel Cell System in Yamaguchi Prefecture,” Toshiba Fuel Cell Power System Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017,
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, 2016, “ Compilation of the Revised Version of the Strategic Roadmap for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells,” Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Tokyo, Japan, accessed June 12, 2017, (in Japanese)
Tokyo Gas, 2016, “ Supply Agreement of Special High-Pressure Power Contract of a Large Customer 2016,” Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)
Tokyo Electric Power, 2016, “ Supply Agreement of Special High-Pressure Power Contract 2016,” Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc., Tokyo, Japan, accessed Mar. 17, 2017, (in Japanese)

## Figures

Fig. 3

City gas consumption of steam reformer at partial load

Fig. 2

Configuration of the PEFC power generation system

Fig. 1

Configuration of the conventional system

Fig. 4

Case 1: Monthly operation rate of the steam reformer with no monthly fluctuation

Fig. 5

Case 2: Monthly operation rate of the steam reformer with monthly fluctuation

Fig. 10

Correlations between the system cost reduction and the initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 6

Correlations between capacity (p2) and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 7

Correlations between maximum hydrogen storage (V) in the hydrogen storage tank and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 11

Correlation between CO2 emission reduction and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 8

Correlation between the annual average operation rate (r1) of the steam reformer and the initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 9

Correlation between the annual average operation rate (r2) of the H2-PEFC and the initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 1

Fig. 12

Correlations between capacity (p2) and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 13

Correlations between maximum hydrogen storage (V) in the hydrogen storage tank and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 14

Correlation between the annual average operation rate (r1) of the steam reformer and the initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 15

Correlation between the annual average operation rate (r2) of the H2-PEFC and the initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 16

Correlations between system cost reduction and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 17

Correlation between CO2 emission reduction and initial cost (c3) for different power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC, under the optimal conditions for case 2

Fig. 18

Comparison of the system cost reduction of the PEFC power generation system for the initial cost (c3) and power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC in cases 1 and 2

Fig. 19

Comparison of the system cost reduction of the PEFC power generation system for the initial cost (c3) and power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC with and without a hydrogen storage tank in case 2

Fig. 20

Comparison of the system cost reduction of the PEFC power generation system for the initial cost (c3) and power generation efficiencies (e) of the H2-PEFC at various hydrogen purification cost (c4) in case 2

## Errata

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

### Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging and repositioning the boxes below.

Related Journal Articles
Related Proceedings Articles
Related eBook Content
Topic Collections

• TELEPHONE: 1-800-843-2763 (Toll-free in the USA)
• EMAIL: asmedigitalcollection@asme.org