A solid-state hydrogen storage device with air sandwich

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of hydrogen storage and release, and particularly relates to a solid-state hydrogen storage device with an air interlayer, which is mainly applied to hydrogen storage and release. The solid-state hydrogen storage device comprises a tank body, a hydrogen pipeline and a heat exchange component. The tank body comprises an inner layer shell and an outer layer shell. An air interlayer is formed between the inner layer shell and the outer layer shell. The inner layer shell is internally used for loading alloy powder to adsorb hydrogen. The inner layer shell is internally provided with the heat exchange component. The outer layer shell is provided with a quick connector which is in communication with the air interlayer and is used for adjusting the air pressure in the air interlayer. The tank body is provided with a hydrogen pipeline made of stainless steel. Through the double-layer tank body structure with the air interlayer, the U-shaped heat exchange component, the stainless steel hydrogen pipeline and the surface stainless steel wire mesh wrapping treatment, the device has the effects of high efficiency, safety and high quality in hydrogen storage and release.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hydrogen energy utilization technology, specifically relating to a solid hydrogen storage device with an air jacket, which is mainly used in hydrogen storage and release. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, against the backdrop of "dual carbon" goals and the energy crisis, hydrogen energy, as a green energy source, is abundant and widely applicable. Countries worldwide are elevating hydrogen energy to a national strategy, vying for a leading edge in industrial development. However, hydrogen's flammability, explosiveness, low density, and easy diffusion make storage and transportation extremely difficult. Developing efficient, safe, and economical hydrogen storage technologies is a key issue for realizing the commercial application of hydrogen energy. Existing hydrogen storage methods mainly include high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage, and solid-state hydrogen storage. High-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage involves compressing hydrogen under high pressure and storing it in a high-density gaseous form; cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage involves compressing hydrogen and cooling it to below -252.65°C, storing it in an adiabatic vacuum container; solid-state hydrogen storage utilizes physical adsorption and chemical hydrides to achieve hydrogen storage and transportation. However, cryogenic hydrogen storage has high energy consumption and cost, while high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage is not suitable for long-distance transportation. In comparison, solid-state hydrogen storage technology offers significant advantages in terms of transportation costs and safety, and has become a research hotspot in the hydrogen energy field, attracting widespread attention. In practical applications and research, due to the changes in pressure, composition, and energy during hydrogen charging and discharging, the hydrogen storage device needs to serve as a reaction site to provide the necessary reaction conditions.

[0003] One of the key functions of solid-state hydrogen storage devices is heat transfer, as metal hydrides undergo dramatic energy release and absorption during hydrogen absorption and desorption. Existing solid-state hydrogen storage devices generally suffer from drawbacks such as complex structures, low heat transfer uniformity leading to large and uncontrollable internal temperature fluctuations, and susceptibility to cracking of the shell and internal heat exchange structures due to the expansion and compression of powder.

[0004] Based on this, the following technical problems need to be solved for a new type of centralized intelligent high-oxygen production device:

[0005] 1. The complex internal structure of hydrogen storage devices leads to uneven heating and large fluctuations in internal temperature and pressure, resulting in the inability to guarantee the safety performance of hydrogen storage and release devices.

[0006] 2. Design flaws in the internal heat exchange components of the tank prevent the alloy powder inside the tank from undergoing a sufficient chemical reaction with hydrogen, resulting in insufficient hydrogen storage and release efficiency.

[0007] 3. Traditional hydrogen pipelines are mostly made of powder metallurgy materials. Due to the low mechanical strength of powder materials, they are prone to deformation or even breakage and failure under the pressure of the hydrogen storage materials inside the tank during the hydrogen storage and release process, which poses a major safety hazard to the solid hydrogen storage system. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of this, the present invention provides a solid hydrogen storage device with an air jacket.

[0009] The device includes a tank, hydrogen pipelines, and heat exchange components;

[0010] The tank body includes an inner shell and an outer shell; an air gap is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell.

[0011] The inner shell is filled with alloy powder for adsorbing hydrogen gas.

[0012] The inner shell is equipped with heat exchange components.

[0013] A quick connector is provided on the outer shell to communicate with the air interlayer, for adjusting the air pressure inside the air interlayer;

[0014] The tank is equipped with a hydrogen pipeline.

[0015] Based on the above scheme, the heat exchange component further includes several U-shaped heat exchange tubes;

[0016] Several of the U-shaped heat exchange tubes are arranged at uniform intervals around their axis in the circumferential direction inside the inner shell.

[0017] Based on the above scheme, furthermore, the U-shaped heat exchange tube is filled with a heat-conducting medium, and the temperature of the heat-conducting medium is controlled by a heat-conducting oil furnace outside the tank.

[0018] Based on the above scheme, furthermore, several ribs are welded between the two vertical tubes of the U-shaped heat exchange tube and between the two vertical tubes of adjacent U-shaped heat exchange tubes.

[0019] The ribs are arranged at uniform intervals along the height direction.

[0020] Based on the above scheme, the outer shell has a wall thickness greater than the inner shell.

[0021] Based on the above scheme, the outer wall of the hydrogen pipeline is further wrapped with stainless steel wire mesh to prevent powder from entering the hydrogen pipeline.

[0022] Based on the above scheme, the hydrogen pipeline is further designed as a flute and made of 316 stainless steel.

[0023] Beneficial effects:

[0024] (i) The present invention provides a stable and efficient environment for hydrogen storage and release through a hydrogen storage tank structure with an air jacket.

[0025] (ii) The U-shaped heat exchange tubes used inside the device, along with several finned structures around the U-shaped heat exchange tubes, provide a good and sufficient environment for hydrogen to fully react with the alloy powder during the hydrogen storage and release process, thus providing a good and sufficient environment for the application of hydrogen.

[0026] (III) Improvements have been made to the material of the flute-shaped hydrogen pipeline. The porous medium pipe made of traditional powder metallurgy material has been replaced with a 316 stainless steel pipe with higher strength as the hydrogen transmission channel, so as to strengthen the hydrogen pipeline and prevent deformation and breakage.

[0027] (iv) The stainless steel wire mesh with a mesh size greater than 200, which is wrapped around the outer wall of the hydrogen pipeline, can effectively filter the powder generated by the alloy powder during the hydrogen release process and remove impurities in the hydrogen. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen storage device.

[0029] Figure 2 It is a heat exchange structure;

[0030] Figure 3 It is a flute-shaped hydrogen pipeline;

[0031] Among them, 1-valve, 2-flange, 3-hydrogen pipeline, 4-quick connector, 5-heat exchange component, 6-fin, 7-tank body, 7a-inner shell, 7b-outer shell. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a valve 1, a flange 2, a hydrogen pipeline 3, a quick connector 4, a heat exchange component 5, fins 6, and a tank 7. The tank 7 has a double-layer structure with an elliptical end cap at the bottom. The tank 7 comprises an inner shell 7a and an outer shell 7b arranged coaxially; an air gap is formed between the inner shell 7a and the outer shell 7b, and the wall thickness of the outer shell 7b is greater than that of the inner shell 7a. As an example, before hydrogen storage, the pressure in the air gap is consistent with the atmospheric pressure outside the tank 7.

[0034] A quick connector 4 is located near the top of the tank 7 above the air jacket. The quick connector 4 serves as a channel connecting the air jacket formed by the inner shell 7a and the outer shell 7b to the atmosphere outside the tank 7, used to adjust the pressure difference between the air jacket and atmospheric pressure. The quick connector 4 helps adjust the positive and negative pressure states between the air jacket and the atmosphere outside the tank 7 according to the requirements of hydrogen storage and release environments, providing chemical reaction conditions for the chemical reaction between the alloy powder in the inner shell 7a and hydrogen. In addition, because the tank 7 contains an air jacket, it has a double-shell characteristic. The air jacket design in this device also serves to insulate and increase the strength of the tank 7, preventing the impact of powder expansion and compression on the shell and hydrogen pipeline 3, ensuring the high efficiency and safety of the hydrogen storage and release process.

[0035] The lower end of the hydrogen pipeline 3 is inserted into the inner shell 7a, and the upper end is positioned by the flange 2 located at the upper neck of the tank 7. The outer circumference of the hydrogen pipeline 3 is distributed with vent holes, each 5mm in diameter. There are two circumferential openings, and the openings are repeated by rotating 90° at 50mm intervals radially, continuing this cycle until the hydrogen pipeline 3 inserted into the hydrogen storage tank is completely covered. The vent holes provide a channel for hydrogen input and delivery. A flange 2 (with upper and lower flange plates, the lower flange plate is welded at this point) is welded to the upper neck of the tank 7. A hydrogen inlet and outlet are located between the upper and lower flange plates. A valve 1 is installed at the hydrogen inlet and outlet of the tank 7, controlling the entry and exit of hydrogen. The flange 2 has an upper flange plate and a lower flange plate, and the upper and lower flange plates and the flange gasket provide connection and sealing. As an example, when alloy powder is added to tank 7, the lower flange is already fixedly connected to the outlet of tank 7. The upper flange is removed, and the alloy powder is loaded into the inner shell 7a. When the alloy powder reaches 90% of the total capacity of the inner shell 7a, the flange gasket is placed on top of the lower flange. At the same time, the upper flange is welded around the outer wall of the upper end of the hydrogen pipeline 3, and the hydrogen pipeline 3 is welded to the upper flange as one piece. The welded hydrogen pipeline 3, together with the upper flange, is slowly inserted into the cavity of the inner shell 7a of the hydrogen storage tank 7 along the hydrogen inlet and outlet of tank 7. At this time, the cavity is 90% filled with alloy powder. When the lower end face of the upper flange is about 10cm away from the upper end face of the lower flange, alloy powder is added again until the alloy powder fully fills the inner shell 7a. Then, the upper flange is pressed onto the flange gasket and the lower flange to seal the connection.

[0036] As an example, the alloy powder filling the inner shell 7a of this device has a particle size between 50 and 200 mesh. During hydrogen storage and desorption, the alloy powder undergoes physical changes, expanding in volume by approximately 20%. Due to compression, the alloy powder forms a hard, porous, blocky morphology (similar to sintered coke). After multiple hydrogen absorption and desorption cycles, the alloy powder completely solidifies and no longer appears as powder. Given that powder will initially form when the alloy powder reacts with hydrogen, to prevent powder from clogging the hydrogen pipeline 3 and affecting the purity of the emitted hydrogen, this device wraps the outer surface of the hydrogen pipeline 3 with stainless steel wire mesh. The mesh size of the stainless steel wire mesh is larger than the mesh size of the alloy powder, thereby improving the quality of the emitted hydrogen (based on powder science and filtration technology, both the size of the powder particle and the mesh size can be expressed in mesh; the larger the mesh number, the smaller the particle size and the smaller the mesh size). Furthermore, the hydrogen pipeline 3 is made of 316 stainless steel, breaking away from the limitations of traditional materials. This increases the strength of the hydrogen pipeline 3 and prevents deformation and breakage caused by the chemical reaction between the alloy powder and hydrogen.

[0037] A quick connector 4 is welded to the hydrogen inlet and outlet side of the outer shell 7b of the tank body 7, which serves as a channel for filling and releasing the air jacket, and facilitates the adjustment of the positive and negative pressure states between the air jacket and the atmospheric pressure outside the tank body 7.

[0038] The inner shell 7a is filled with alloy powder. Furthermore, a heat exchange component 5 is installed inside the inner shell 7a, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the heat exchange component 5 includes several U-shaped heat exchange tubes, which are evenly spaced around the axis of the tank body 7 in the circumferential direction. As an example, the tube heat exchange component 5 includes two U-shaped heat exchange tubes arranged opposite each other; copper fins 6 (multiple layers of fins 6 are evenly spaced along the height direction of the U-shaped tubes) are welded between the two vertical tubes of the U-shaped heat exchange tubes and between adjacent U-shaped heat exchange tubes, with the fins 6 arranged at equal intervals vertically and horizontally, and the interval between adjacent upper and lower fins 6 is 20mm; the U-shaped heat exchange tubes 5 are filled with a heat-conducting medium. As an example, the temperature of the heat transfer medium is controlled by a heat transfer furnace outside the tank 7. During hydrogen storage, in order to allow the hydrogen to fully react chemically with the alloy powder and fully absorb the hydrogen, the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the heat exchange component 5 needs to be controlled at 150°C with the help of the heat transfer furnace. When hydrogen needs to be released, the heat transfer furnace adjusts the temperature of the heat transfer medium to 310°C. Through the U-shaped heat exchange tube and fins in the heat exchange component 5, a sufficient and uniform heat environment is provided for hydrogen release. Combined with the double-layer tank structure with an air jacket, safe and efficient hydrogen storage and release are achieved.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the hydrogen pipeline 3 is made of 316 stainless steel, with a flute-shaped structure and perforated pipe walls. The outer wall of the hydrogen pipeline 3 is covered with stainless steel wire mesh of more than 200 mesh, which serves the dual purpose of strengthening the pipe wall and filtering pure hydrogen from the alloy powder.

[0040] Working principle:

[0041] Hydrogen charging process: First, high-pressure air at 1 MPa is injected into the air gap between the inner shell 7a and the outer shell 7b to improve the heat exchange effect between the inner and outer walls and enhance the anti-expansion performance of the inner shell 7b. Then, hydrogen gas is transported to the inner shell 7a through valve 1, hydrogen pipeline 3, and stainless steel wire mesh, where it comes into contact with the alloy powder located in the inner shell 7a and undergoes a chemical reaction, releasing a large amount of heat. At this time, the heat is absorbed by the heat-conducting medium in the fins 6 and U-shaped heat exchange tubes in this device, keeping the temperature inside the tank 7 in a safe and stable state during the hydrogen charging reaction.

[0042] Hydrogen release process: The air in the air gap between the inner shell 7a and the outer shell 7b is evacuated to a vacuum state close to -0.1 MPa to improve the heat insulation effect of the wall. The temperature of the heat transfer medium in the hydrogen pipeline 3 is adjusted to 310℃ through a heat transfer furnace. The heat is fully and comprehensively transferred to the alloy powder through the tube wall and fins 6 of the U-shaped heat exchange tube. The powder absorbs a large amount of heat and undergoes a chemical reaction to release hydrogen. For alloy powder that has not participated in the hydrogen storage and release chemical reaction, its particle size is less than 200 mesh. During the hydrogen release process, powder will be generated. The stainless steel wire mesh with a mesh size greater than 200 mesh installed on the hydrogen pipeline 3 of this device can filter out the fine alloy powder and prevent it from being discharged from the tank 7 through the hydrogen pipeline 3 and valve 1, thus eliminating hydrogen impurities.

[0043] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A solid hydrogen storage device with an air jacket, characterized in that, Includes tank body (7), hydrogen pipeline (3) and heat exchange components (5); The tank (7) includes an inner shell (7a) and an outer shell (7b); an air gap is formed between the inner shell (7a) and the outer shell (7b); The inner shell (7a) is filled with alloy powder for adsorbing hydrogen gas; The inner shell (7a) is provided with a heat exchange component (5); A quick connector (4) is provided on the outer shell (7b) to communicate with the air interlayer, which is used to adjust the air pressure in the air interlayer. During the hydrogen filling process, 1MPa high-pressure air is first filled into the air interlayer between the inner shell (7a) and the outer shell (7b) to improve the heat exchange effect of the inner and outer walls and enhance the anti-expansion performance of the inner shell (7a). During the hydrogen release process, the air in the air interlayer between the inner shell (7a) and the outer shell (7b) is evacuated to a vacuum state close to -0.1MPa to improve the heat insulation effect of the wall. The tank (7) is equipped with a hydrogen pipeline (3); The heat exchange component (5) includes several U-shaped heat exchange tubes. The several U-shaped heat exchange tubes are evenly spaced around their axis in the circumferential direction inside the inner shell (7a). Several ribs (6) are welded between the two vertical tubes of the U-shaped heat exchange tubes and between the two vertical tubes of adjacent U-shaped heat exchange tubes. The ribs (6) are evenly spaced along the height direction. The hydrogen pipeline (3) is flute-shaped and made of 316 stainless steel. The outer wall of the hydrogen pipeline (3) is wrapped with stainless steel wire mesh to prevent powder from entering the hydrogen pipeline (3).

2. The solid hydrogen storage device with an air jacket as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The U-shaped heat exchange tube is filled with a heat-conducting medium, and the temperature of the heat-conducting medium is controlled by a heat-conducting oil furnace outside the tank (7).

3. A solid hydrogen storage device with an air jacket as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The outer shell (7b) has a wall thickness greater than that of the inner shell (7a).

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