Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen Basics
Douglas Conde

Hydrogen Basics
Hydrogen Gas (H2).
Very reactive. Most Common element in the universe. Never run out.

Hydrogen Basics Cont.

Hydrogen Basics Cont.

Does not pool
Dissipates quickly Burns with out dangerous vapors Invisible flame

Energy Content Comparison

Pound for
Pound Hydrogen packs the most punch.

The Great Barrier of Hydrogen Storage

Current Storage Inadaquete

Cost Weight and Volume Efficiency Durability Refueling Time Codes and Standards Life-cycle and Efficiency Analyses

Department of Energy Objectives

BY 2005, develop and verify on-board hydrogen storage
systems achieving 1.5 kWh/kg (4.5 wt%), 1.2 kWh/L, and $6/kWh by 2005 By 2010, develop and verify on-board hydrogen storage systems achieving 2 kWh/kg (6 wt%), 1.5 kWh/L, and $4/kWh. By 2015, develop and verify on-board hydrogen storage systems achieving 3 kWh/kg (9 wt%), 2.7 kWh/L, and $2/kWh. By 2015, develop and verify low cost, off-board hydrogen storage systems, as required for hydrogen infrastructure needs to support transportation, stationary and portable power markets.

Current DOE Projects

Current Costs

Current Storage Technologies

Low and High-Pressure Gas Liquid Metal Hydrides Chemical Hydrides Physisorption Current Methods

Gaseous Hydrogen Storage

H2 gas tanks are the most proven of
hydrogen storage technologies. Carbon-fiber-reinforced. Up to 10,000 psi. High pressure tanks present safety hazard. Concerns over Hydrogen/tank molecular interactions lead to embitterment.

Hydrogen Gas Storage

Commercially

Energy Density 350 bar 5,000 psi 750 bar 10,000 psi 2.7 MJ/L 4.7 MJ/L System Density 1.95 MJ/L 3.4 MJ/L

available Cannot match gasoline for energy compactness

Hydrogen Gas: Bulky Storage

Higher Pressure,
more energy per unit volume.

Gasoline =

34.656 MJ/L

Uncompressed

Hydrogen 10.7 kJ/L

Liquid Hydrogen
BMW working with on board liquid
hydrogen for vehicles. Likely storage for larger applications such as transportation or production storage. Highly energy intensive to liquefy. Concerns over safety due to extremely cold temperatures.

Liquid Hydrogen:
High Pressure
low tempature. (22K at 1 ATM)

Liquefaction of Hydrogen gas

The JouleThompson Cycle Energy required is currently 1/3 of the energy stored

Liquid Storage Options

Non Portable Liquid Hydrogen Storage No way to prevent Boil off. Spherical Tanks. More suited for transportation and non vehicular storage. 8.4 MJ/L twice the density of compressed H2

Wrap up: DOE Targets

Metal Hydrides

Interstitial Hydrogen Absorption

Temperature and Pressure Range of Various Hydrides

Metal Hydride Families

Conventional Metal Hydrides (Naturally
reversible)
AB5 AB2 AB A2 B AB3, most common (NiMH batteries) (1-1.25 rev wt%) very common (1.3 rev wt%) (TiFe - 1.5 rev wt%) (Mg2NiH4 - 3.3 rev wt%) A2B7

Complex Hydrides (Naturally irreversible)

Catalysts and dopants used to destabilize hydride phase Two types Transition Metal Mg2FeH6 (5.5% max wt%) Non-transition metal Be(BH4)2 (20.8% max wt%) NaAlH4 (4.2% rev wt%, 5.6 th rev wt%) (110C)

Remaining Issues
Reversible capacity Reaction pressure and temperature Absorption/Desorption rates Cyclic stability Reactive with air and water

Chemical Hydrides

Chemical Hydrides

NaH, LiH, NaAlH4, NaBH4, LiBH4, CaH2 Advantages/ Disadvantages

Hydrogen Storage by Physisorption

Graphite Nanofibers Nanotubes Zeolites
Henry S Grasshorn Gebhardt

The solution for storing hydrogen, some say, is to put rocks into your tank.

Graphite Nanofibers
Inconsistent results:

0.08 wt.% to 60 wt.% Most likely up to 1013 wt.% Lots of research needed

(a) Herringbone, (b) Tubular, (c) Platelet

 Maximum

of 15 wt.%

Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Giant Molecules Length: a few microns Inner Diameter: 2-10 nm Outer Diameter: 15-30 nm Much larger MWNTs have been observed.

Not much H2 adsorption?

Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Lots of small micropores Minimal macroporosity High thermal conductivity
Bundled SWNTs

Where the H2 would be...

Maximum of ~8 wt.%, or, ~1 H-atom for every Catom.

Doped Nanotubes
Transition metals and alloys Boron and Nitrogen Other elements Possibility of tuning the adsorption and
desorption to the desired temperature. Preliminary: ~1 wt.% without optimization.

Were these really absorption/ desorption of water rather than H2?

Zeolites
An ion (Na+) serves
as a door to micropores:
Si and Al.

Temperature

Lower temp.: closed Higher temp.: open

difference is small for some zeolites

Hydrogen uptake in Zeolites

Most of the innumerable zeolites havent
been studied yet in this respect. At least 2 wt.%

Automobiles Testing with Hydrogen Fuel

Toyota, Ford, BMW, Honda, Nissan, United Nuclear

Toyota => FCHV-4

Vehicle
Maximum speed ~ 95 mph Cruising distance = Over 155 miles Seating capacity = 5 persons Type = Polymer electrolyte fuel cell Output = 120 HP (90 kW) Type = Permanent magnet Maximum output = 107 HP (80 kW) Maximum torque = 191 lb-ft (260 Nm) Type = Pure hydrogen Storage method = High-pressure hydrogen storage tank Maximum storage pressure = 3,600 PSI Nickel-metal hydride battery

Fuel cell stack

Motor

Fuel

Secondary battery

Ford => Model U

Performance Engine horsepower: 118 hp (88 kW) at 4,500 rpm MHTS assist: 33 hp (25 kW) continuous / 46 hp (35 kW) peak Total combined horsepower: 151 hp (113 kW) at 4,500 rpm Torque: 154 foot-pounds: (210 Nm) at 4,000 rpm Estimated fuel economy: 45 miles per kg hydrogen (= to 45 mpg gas) Emissions: PZEV or better Powertrain Hydrogen 2.3-liter ICE with supercharging and dual-stage intercooling Modular Hybrid Transmission System

BMW => 745h

testing with the simple
principles of nature
liquid hydrogen is generated from energy and water in engines - the hydrogen combusts with oxygen -> returns to water cycles through this process to fuel the car

Honda => FCX

ENGINE Motor Type = AC Synchronous Electric Motor (permanent magnet) Maximum Output (horsepower) = 80 Fuel Cell Stack Type = PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cell) Fuel Cell Maximum Output (kW)* = 78 Maximum Speed (mph) = 93 Vehicle Range (miles, EPA mode) = 160 . FUEL Type = Compressed hydrogen gas Storage = High-pressure hydrogen tank Tank Capacity (L) = 156.6 Gas Volume when Full (kg) = 3.8 Maximum Pressure when Full (PSI) = 5000.0

Nissan => X-TRAIL FCV

Vehicle Seating capacity = 5 Top speed (km/h) = 145 Cruising range (km) = Over 350 Motor Type = Coaxial motor integrated with reduction gear Maximum power (kW) = 85 Fuel cell stack Fuel cell = Solid polymer electrolyte type Maximum power (kW) = 63 Supplier = UTC Fuel Cells (USA) Storage battery Type = Compact Lithium-ion Battery Fueling system Fuel type = Compressed hydrogen gas Max. charging pressure (MPa) = 35

United Nuclear
took a 1994
Corvette and created a hydrogen fuel system Driving range is 700+ miles per fill with a near-zero fuel cost

United Nuclear
stores the hydrogen in
hydride tanks, which absorb the hydrogen like a sponge soaking up water this is actually a safer storage system than a gasoline tank is