Dimethyl ether/CO2 - a hitherto underestimated H2 storage cycle

Schühle P, Stöber R, Semmel M, Schaadt A, Szolak R, Thill S, Alders M, Hebling C, Wasserscheid P, Salem O (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Energy and Environmental Science Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 16

Pages Range: 3002-3013

Journal Issue: 7

DOI: 10.1039/d3ee00228d

Abstract

Large amounts of renewable energy will have to be stored and transported in the future. For this task, chemical hydrogen storage technologies are particularly suitable. In this paper, we show that the DME/CO2 storage cycle is especially promising for point-to-point transport of renewable hydrogen over long distances. Surprisingly, this technology has been neglected so far, as DME has been mostly discussed as a fuel substitute for internal combustion engines while the back transport of CO2 has not been considered in this context. Our study reveals that the similarity of the physico-chemical properties of DME and CO2 enables back-shipping of CO2 after hydrogen release in the same vessel that is used to transport DME. This leads to an overall technology that shows in our analysis considerable potential to outperform ammonia or methanol, which are intensively discussed as hydrogen vectors today. The proposed cycle is characterised in particular by comparatively high energy efficiency, reduced mass flows per ton of delivered hydrogen, lower water consumption at the hydrogen production site and lower toxicological risks.

Authors with CRIS profile

Patrick Schühle Lehrstuhl für Chemische Reaktionstechnik Robert Stöber Lehrstuhl für Chemische Reaktionstechnik Peter Wasserscheid Lehrstuhl für Chemische Reaktionstechnik

Involved external institutions

Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (ISE) / Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems DE Germany (DE) Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schühle, P., Stöber, R., Semmel, M., Schaadt, A., Szolak, R., Thill, S.,... Salem, O. (2023). Dimethyl ether/CO2 - a hitherto underestimated H2 storage cycle. Energy and Environmental Science, 16(7), 3002-3013. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ee00228d

MLA:

Schühle, Patrick, et al. "Dimethyl ether/CO2 - a hitherto underestimated H2 storage cycle." Energy and Environmental Science 16.7 (2023): 3002-3013.

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