{"id":58361,"date":"2024-07-11T14:50:25","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T18:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=58361"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:35:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:35:46","slug":"hydrogen-production-distribution-and-storage-with-simcenter-system-simulation-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/hydrogen-production-distribution-and-storage-with-simcenter-system-simulation-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydrogen production, distribution and storage with Simcenter System Simulation \u2013 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This blog post is the Part 2 of a blog series for addressing industrial Hydrogen challenges with Simcenter System Simulation<\/a>. It\u2019s focused on the Hydrogen production, distribution and storage. A quick overview is introduced in the previous Part 1<\/a> with explanations why Simulation is appropriate to address the Hydrogen challenges. Another Part 3<\/a> shows various applications for Mobility or stationary applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, let\u2019s start with this statement: the Digital Transformation became part of every company\u2019s strategy. But how do you create practical, realizable value from digitalization, that\u2019s the key question to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Typical component structure of a green hydrogen plant<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In this blog, let us explore how simulation helps to address the Hydrogen challenges from production to distribution and storage, i.e., everything ranging from compressors, pressure regulators, valves, electrolyzers, Balance of Plant (BoP) and system integration with renewables (solar photovoltaic, wind turbines, \u2026), advanced controls, power electronics and grids. Up to Automation with PLCs (programmable logic controllers) or the energy mix regarding the energy price with trading aspects and weather forecasts. That\u2019s a lot to manage, so the need for System Simulation to tackle all these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll see how System Simulation enables the fast deployment and integration of sustainable hydrogen technologies. How it helps optimizing the design and operations of hydrogen production, also distribution and storage as key technologies to reach your targets. Hydrogen applications are no more non-discrete systems with continuous processes, but discrete systems reacting to events and advanced controls. The hydrogen applications switched nowadays to mechatronics systems!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While simulation is an important lever to minimize risk and keep project timeline and budget, the right tools for system simulation need to be used to get comprehensive digital twins. So that you can leverage your digital twins for efficiency, integration, and scalability to fully take benefits of your digital assets. Let\u2019s demonstrate how powerful they are through a collection of hydrogen applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Hydrogen production with renewables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u267b\ufe0f\ud83d\udca7\u26a1\ud83d\udcb0 For Green Hydrogen production<\/a>, we can predict in few seconds the Hydrogen production over months thanks to wind turbines, solar panels, wave energy converters and electrolyzers to store energy in the hydrogen tanks. At the end, green energy is produced and it can be used for your plant facilities or production machines, or any usage like mobility (automotive, transportation, heavy equipment) so that your carbon footprint is significantly reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Green hydrogen production – Optimizing the hydrogen production [kWh] over months from wind \/ solar \/ waves and associated electrolyzer<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The model shown here predicts the performances of the system depending on the meteorological (weather) conditions and the localization of the system. Advanced post-processing and plots make possible to analyze energy and hydrogen production, or hydrogen volume in the storage system, month by month. After running quick simulations executed in few minutes for the complete 1 year (12 months), several architectures or component sizing choices can be rated to select the most efficient and profitable designs. What a valuable achievement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electrolyzers to convert green electricity into Hydrogen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To simulate the production of hydrogen, i.e. the conversion of the green electricity into hydrogen in Simcenter Amesim, the Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzers (PEMEC) or reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) capable of operating either as a fuel cell (SOFC) or as an electrolyzer (SOEC), include predictive models based on electrochemical equations together with dedicated polarization apps.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Electrolyzers convert electricity into hydrogen thanks to the electrolysis of water<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In combination with reformers (methane or methanol), these high-temperature components make it possible to address new challenges in the Hydrogen-related energy sector. Opening doors to high-efficiency systems (> 80%) when the waste heat is utilized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for fuel cells, System Simulation is fully appropriate for the integration of the electrolyzer component with its balance of plant (water supply system, H2 and O2 management system, heat\/thermal management) or the integration of the electrolyzer within a larger system (renewable energies production, energy storage systems with batteries or other types of storage, grid, fuel cells, H2 dispenser, \u2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hydrogen components and Compressed Hydrogen Storage Systems (CHSS)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To reach the Hydrogen objectives, companies need the appropriate components (pressure regulators, valves, \u2026), heat exchangers (including cooling systems or insulation of the tank walls for temperature control at various locations within the tanks), up to a detailed representation of the hydrogen tanks, which are not just equivalent volume chambers, but high technology components. The tanks for hydrogen applications are like the batteries for electric vehicles, they concentrate a lot of the value and challenges to solve (with temperature evolutions, wall insulation, weight, cost, safety, \u2026) and they finally require a huge effort to fully understand how they behave.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hydrogen components and Compressed Hydrogen Storage Systems (CHSS)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Compressed hydrogen tanks \/ storage systems (CHSS) typically operate at 700 bar with drastic changes in the temperature evolutions during operations. Let\u2019s consider some key challenges to solve that are fully addressable with System Simulation to find out the best designs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n