An evaluation model of hydrogen storage technology by a fuzzy Delphi method

Hydrogen energy is an emerging technology with benefits of energy savings and reduced carbon emissions. Development of hydrogen-related technologies is a top priority for advancing the hydrogen industry. However, hydrogen storage technologies vary based on energy savings and safety, making it difficult for decision makers to select appropriate technologies. Hence, research efforts have focused on selecting suitable hydrogen storage technologies. The purpose of this research is to develop an evaluation model to enable decision makers to select the most appropriate technology for development in Taiwan on the basis of 14 evaluation criteria. The weights of criteria and the ratings of technologies are collected by a seven-point linguistic scale using a Delphi questionnaire survey. The linguistic scores are then converted into fuzzy numbers and the consensus of decision makers' opinions on weights and ratings are derived mathematically using fuzzy Delphi methodology. We used the model to perform an evaluation of four different types of hydrogen storage technologies. The results of the assessment model revealed that chemical hydride technology is the most feasible for investment in Taiwan, and, as such, it should be given top priority for further development to realize industrialization.

[1]  Naim Afgan,et al.  Energy system assessment with sustainability indicators , 2000 .

[2]  Naim Afgan,et al.  MULTI-CRITERIA ASSESSMENT OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS , 2002 .

[3]  Naim Afgan,et al.  Multi-criteria evaluation of hydrogen system options , 2007 .

[4]  Gwo-Jen Hwang,et al.  A Delphi-based approach to developing expert systems with the cooperation of multiple experts , 2007, Expert Systems with Applications.

[5]  N. Dalkey,et al.  An Experimental Application of the Delphi Method to the Use of Experts , 1963 .

[6]  Madan M. Gupta,et al.  Fuzzy mathematical models in engineering and management science , 1988 .

[7]  Da Ruan,et al.  Evaluation of software development projects using a fuzzy multi-criteria decision approach , 2008, Math. Comput. Simul..

[8]  Tzeng Gwo-Hshiung,et al.  Application of multicriteria decision making to the evaluation of new energy system development in Taiwan , 1992 .

[9]  Caroline M. Eastman,et al.  Review: Introduction to fuzzy arithmetic: Theory and applications : Arnold Kaufmann and Madan M. Gupta, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1985 , 1987, Int. J. Approx. Reason..

[10]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Environmental and economic aspects of hydrogen production and utilization in fuel cell vehicles , 2006 .

[11]  Norman C. Dalkey,et al.  Experimental Assessment of Delphi Procedures with Group Value Judgments , 1971 .

[12]  Chen-Tung Chen,et al.  Extensions of the TOPSIS for group decision-making under fuzzy environment , 2000, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[13]  Vinay Ananthachar,et al.  Efficiencies of hydrogen storage systems onboard fuel cell vehicles , 2005 .

[14]  Naim Afgan,et al.  Sustainability assessment of hydrogen energy systems , 2004 .

[15]  R. L. Sawhney,et al.  Comparison of environmental and economic aspects of various hydrogen production methods , 2008 .

[16]  Ying-Feng Kuo,et al.  Constructing performance appraisal indicators for mobility of the service industries using Fuzzy Delphi Method , 2008, Expert Syst. Appl..

[17]  Pei-Chann Chang,et al.  Fuzzy Delphi and back-propagation model for sales forecasting in PCB industry , 2006, Expert Syst. Appl..

[18]  J. Murry,et al.  Delphi: A Versatile Methodology for Conducting Qualitative Research , 2017 .

[19]  R. Allen,et al.  A figure of merit assessment of the routes to hydrogen , 2005 .

[20]  Nain H. Afgan,et al.  Sustainability assessment of a hybrid energy system , 2008 .

[21]  G. Petrecca,et al.  A review of hydrogen applications: technical and economic aspects , 2008, 2008 International Symposium on Power Electronics, Electrical Drives, Automation and Motion.

[22]  Leo L. Pipino,et al.  A pilot study of fuzzy set modification of Delphi , 1985 .

[23]  A. Ishikawa,et al.  The Max-Min Delphi method and fuzzy Delphi method via fuzzy integration , 1993 .

[24]  Ching-Hsue Cheng,et al.  Evaluating the best main battle tank using fuzzy decision theory with linguistic criteria evaluation , 2002, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[25]  T. Veziroglu,et al.  A REVIEW OF HYDROGEN STORAGE SYSTEMS BASED ON BORON AND ITS COMPOUNDS , 2004 .

[26]  P. A. Pilavachi,et al.  Evaluation of hydrogen production methods using the Analytic Hierarchy Process , 2009 .

[27]  Jiangjiang Wang,et al.  A fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making model for trigeneration system , 2008 .

[28]  Madan M. Gupta,et al.  Introduction to Fuzzy Arithmetic , 1991 .

[29]  Li Zhou,et al.  Progress and problems in hydrogen storage methods , 2005 .

[30]  Victor B. Kreng,et al.  The application of Fuzzy Delphi Method and Fuzzy AHP in lubricant regenerative technology selection , 2010, Expert Syst. Appl..