As hydrogen continues to gain momentum as a clean energy carrier, the industry faces one recurring challenge: How to produce, store and transport it safely and efficiently. That’s where Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) come into play.
LOHCs are organic compounds that can chemically absorb and release hydrogen in a reversible way. Unlike compressed hydrogen or cryogenic storage, LOHCs enable hydrogen to be handled under ambient pressure and temperature conditions, resulting in a significant simplification of logistics and safety improvement.
A growing number of researchers and innovators work on LOHCs as a scalable, safe, and practical bridge between hydrogen production, transport, storage and end-use. But to make these systems efficient and future-ready, suitable and sophisticated process control instruments are must-have. From electrolysis all the way to fuel cell integration.
LOHC systems revolve mainly around these catalytic processes:
All reactions depend on precisely regulating of pressure (and pressure difference!), flow, and temperature to be energy-efficient, stable, and safe. This is where the technology and solutions from Pressure Control Solutions come in.
We help customers in the hydrogen sector fine-tune their processes with smart pressure and flow control — optimizing performance, extending catalyst life, and improving system integration. We see many researchers working on developing catalysts that lower the reaction temperature, improve hydrogen release rates, and resist deactivation over extended cycles.
Efficient LOHC systems start with a reliable source of clean hydrogen. In many cases, this means electrolysis. Electrolyzers split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, ideally from renewable sources. But behind the scenes, stable operation depends on precise differential pressure control between the hydrogen and oxygen sides.
Maintaining the right pressure balance protects the membrane and prevents gas crossover, improves efficiency and lifespan of the electrolyser, and ensures consistent hydrogen purity.
PCS offers tailored solutions for electrolysis systems, including:
By optimizing electrolysis outcomes, we help engineers to build a stronger foundation for hydrogen processing downstream.
Accurate flow control ensures that hydrogen and other reactants are delivered to the reaction chamber at exactly the right rate. In LOHC systems, consistent hydrogen flow is critical for both hydrogenation processes and fuel cell integration.
A stable and predictable flow:
The advanced flow control solutions of PCS manage both high-pressure and low-pressure hydrogen streams, contributing to the overall reliability and efficiency of LOHC systems and thus making LOHC processes more reliable from start to finish.
Backpressure control is critical in both the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation phases.
Maintaining stable pressure conditions helps ensure that the hydrogen absorption reaction occurs uniformly across the reactor, minimizing fluctuations that could lead to incomplete hydrogenation or catalyst deactivation. During hydrogen release, precise backpressure regulation controls reaction kinetics, avoids side reactions, and maintains the purity of the released hydrogen.
With the ultra-precise backpressure regulators from Equilibar, we help clients stabilize even the most sensitive reactions, thus enhancing process stability, safety, and catalyst performance in LOHC systems.
Electrolyzers that feed hydrogen into LOHC systems need accurate differential pressure control between the hydrogen and oxygen sides. This is critical for both safety and efficiency. It protects the membrane, prevents cross-contamination, and ensures long-term reliability.
PCS solutions integrate differential pressure control with flow and backpressure control for seamless operation across the whole system.
LOHCs offer a promising pathway for safer, easier hydrogen storage and transport — especially when paired with robust, intelligent process control instruments.
At PCS, we enable engineers and researchers to transform technology:
We believe precise pressure and flow control is a key enabler of a scalable, efficient and successful hydrogen future. And we’re proud to support those working on it.
Are you working on hydrogen storage, transport, or catalyst development?
Want to explore how precise control systems can make a difference in your process?
Let’s talk about pressure and flow control. That is what we do best. And we are here to help. Contact us at info@pressurecontrolsolutions.com or call +31 318250050.
