Towards H2-free shipboard storage: Energetic and risk analysis of oxidative methanol steam reforming in integrated fuel cell systems

Danilo Russo, Maria Portarapillo, Maria Turco and Almerinda Di Benedetto

Energy, 2025, vol. 320, issue C

Abstract: This work investigates the energy self-sufficiency of a methanol-based hydrogen production system through oxidative steam reforming integrated with HT-PEM fuel cells, explores process conditions for autothermal systems, and assesses accident scenarios during refueling/unloading and accidental releases. Comparisons with conventional marine gasoil highlighted differences in risk indices, pool fire zones, and toxicity. Results show that the thermal self-sufficiency can be achieved under stoichiometric conditions, but also in more water-rich conditions (water/MeOH <2, or up to 3 when Air/MeOH >0.5), eventually heat recovery from products cooling. The individual risk index is always below 10−5 years−1, the pool fire impact zone for the methanol-based system is always smaller than that of marine gasoil (up to 14 m diameter for the considered maritime case study); in contrast, the issue of toxicity is more relevant (even at distances >100 m). In the absence of the blanketing system, only partial use of the liquid is permitted under safe conditions, which in the case of pure methanol and methanol-water mixture at stoichiometric composition corresponds to 25 % of the total volume. Thanks to the effect of water, the adoption of methanol-water mixtures with H2O/MeOH = 3 is intrinsically safe.

Keywords: Risk assessment; Methanol steam reforming; Fuel cell; Refueling; Unloading; Energy self-sustainability in maritime systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225010187

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135376

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