Japan and Brunei organized the first supply chain of hydrogen using a liquid organic hydrogen carrier. Informs the Japanese Advanced Hydrogen Energy Chain Association for Technology Development (AHEAD). This Association is engaged in the development and implementation of supply chains of hydrogen.
Hydrogen is one of the most dangerous goods for transportation as flammable in any contact with air or oxygen. Because of the explosion hazard transportation of hydrogen transportation has a number of technical difficulties that make the process very costly. The alternative – construction of special piping that also require large investments.
While hydrogen is a promising raw material for the global economy. It is expected that after 2040, hydrogen will become a global energy source and begin to play about the same role now performed by oil or gas.
Created by Japan and Brunei supply chain of hydrogen – these are the first steps towards a hydrogen economy. Japan is already a few years ago I set the task to create "a society based on hydrogen". As stated in the action plan, released by the Ministry of economy, trade and industry of Japan in 2017 and 2025 will be mounted 320 hydrogen fueling stations in the country will increase the number of vehicles on hydrogen engines. Subsequent these steps should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent. Japan expects to become a world leader in the field of hydrogen energy.
The essence of the scheme of supply of hydrogen from Brunei to Japan is as follows: hydrogen, which is produced in Brunei, added to toluene, from which methylcyclohexane. This mixture is delivered by sea in tankers to the plant in the Japanese city of Kawasaki. It is important that such a mixture allows to deliver hydrogen at room temperature and normal pressure, avoiding injection into the high-pressure cylinders and cooling to low temperatures.
In Kawasaki from the mixture by means of dehydration (drying) is removed the hydrogen and toluene is sent back to Brunei for reuse.
