Modular square solid hydrogen storage tank and its charging method and solid hydrogen storage unit

Abstract

This invention provides a modular square solid hydrogen storage tank, its filling method, and a solid hydrogen storage unit. The modular square solid hydrogen storage tank includes a shell, a front end plate, and a vent pipe. The shell has a square cross-section, an open front end, and a sealed rear end. The shell is used to accommodate hydrogen storage blocks pre-formed from hydrogen storage material. The front end plate covers the front opening of the shell and seals it. The vent pipe is integrally formed with the front end plate, with most of the vent pipe located inside the shell. The vent pipe wall has multiple vent holes, and the vent pipe is used to assemble the hydrogen storage blocks. Multiple of the above-mentioned square solid hydrogen storage tanks can be combined to form a solid hydrogen storage unit. The square solid hydrogen storage tank has a simple structure, is easy to process, and has low manufacturing cost. After the hydrogen storage material is pre-treated into hydrogen storage blocks, the filling process of the hydrogen storage tank only requires threading the hydrogen storage blocks one by one onto the vent pipe, which shortens the filling time and increases the uniformity of filling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to solid hydrogen storage containers, specifically to a modular square solid hydrogen storage tank, belonging to the field of hydrogen storage technology. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy is low-carbon and environmentally friendly, with its combustion product being only water, making it a crucial carrier for achieving a green and low-carbon transformation in the end-use sector. Hydrogen storage and transportation technology is a key link in hydrogen energy utilization and also the biggest challenge hindering its large-scale application. Currently, the main methods for storing and transporting hydrogen include: high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, liquid hydrogen storage and transportation, solid-state hydrogen storage, and organic liquid hydrogen storage. Among these, solid-state hydrogen storage has advantages such as high storage density, safety and reliability, and long service life.

[0003] In existing technologies, solid hydrogen storage containers are generally designed to be circular, with hydrogen storage materials filled in powder or granular form, which has drawbacks such as long filling time, low filling density, and large equipment size. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is that the filling time of powder or granular hydrogen storage materials in solid hydrogen storage containers is long and the filling density is low.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a modular square solid hydrogen storage tank, comprising:

[0006] The shell has a square cross-section, is open at the front end and sealed at the rear end; the shell is used to house a hydrogen storage block pre-formed from hydrogen storage material; the hydrogen storage block is slightly smaller than the cross-section of the shell.

[0007] Front panel, the front panel is used to cover the front opening of the housing and seal it with the housing;

[0008] The vent pipe is integrally formed with the front end plate, with most of the vent pipe located behind the front end plate. The vent pipe wall has multiple vent holes and is used to house the hydrogen storage block.

[0009] In some embodiments, the front end plate is fixed to the housing by bolts.

[0010] In some embodiments, vent holes are evenly distributed on the wall of the vent pipe.

[0011] In some embodiments, the vent pipe is located on the axial position of the housing, and the cross-section of the vent pipe is circular.

[0012] In some embodiments, the hydrogen storage block is a thick disc shape with a circular mounting hole in the center.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for loading the above-described square solid hydrogen storage tank, comprising the following steps:

[0014] (1) The hydrogen storage material is made into multiple thick disc-shaped hydrogen storage blocks, and an installation hole is opened in the center of the hydrogen storage block;

[0015] (2) Open the front panel and put the hydrogen storage bodies one by one onto the ventilation tube;

[0016] (3) Close the front end plate to seal the hydrogen storage body inside the square solid hydrogen storage tank.

[0017] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a solid hydrogen storage unit, which is formed by combining the above-mentioned square solid hydrogen storage tanks to form a hydrogen storage unit of any size.

[0018] In some embodiments, the solid-state hydrogen storage unit includes:

[0019] Multiple square solid hydrogen storage tanks are arranged into a hydrogen storage tank assembly.

[0020] The outer frame has an internal shape that matches the outer perimeter of the hydrogen storage tank assembly, and the outer frame is used to house the hydrogen storage tank assembly.

[0021] The hydrogen pipeline consists of a main pipe and several branch pipes, each of which is connected to the main pipe; each square solid hydrogen storage tank is connected to one of the branch pipes.

[0022] In some embodiments, each branch pipe is provided with a valve.

[0023] In some embodiments, the outer frame is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0024] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] (1) The square solid hydrogen storage tank has a simple structure, is easy to process, and has low manufacturing cost.

[0026] (2) During use, the four corner gaps between the square solid hydrogen storage tank and the disc-shaped hydrogen storage block serve as the expansion space after the hydrogen storage material absorbs hydrogen, which reduces the expansion stress inside the hydrogen storage tank and makes use of all the internal space of the hydrogen storage tank.

[0027] (3) After the hydrogen storage material is pre-treated into hydrogen storage blocks, the filling process of the hydrogen storage tank only requires threading the hydrogen storage blocks one by one onto the vent pipe, which shortens the filling time and increases the uniformity of filling. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a square solid hydrogen storage tank provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a square solid hydrogen storage tank with multiple hydrogen storage blocks installed inside, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the shape of a hydrogen storage block provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] The meanings of the markings in the above attached diagrams are as follows:

[0032] 100 Solid Hydrogen Storage Tank

[0033] 110 Housing

[0034] 120 front-end board

[0035] 130 ventilation tube

[0036] 210 Hydrogen Storage Block

[0037] 211 Circular mounting hole

[0038] 220 Hydrogen Storage Block

[0039] 230 Hydrogen Storage Block Detailed Implementation

[0040] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. The terms "an" or "a" and similar words do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. In the description of this patent, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0041] In the description of this patent, words such as "comprising" or "having" mean that the elements or objects preceding "comprising" or "having" cover the elements or objects listed after "comprising" or "having" and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects.

[0042] In the description of this patent, when an element is referred to as being "fixed to / mounted on (or similarly)" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be intervening elements. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be intervening elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0043] In the description of this patent, the terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "horizontal", "horizontal", "vertical", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this patent and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this patent.

[0044] This invention provides a modular square solid hydrogen storage tank, aiming to solve the shortcomings of existing solid hydrogen storage containers, such as long filling time, low filling density, and large equipment size. The solid hydrogen storage tank adopts a modular design, facilitating the combination of multiple tanks and suitable for hydrogen storage needs of various scales. Furthermore, by pre-forming the hydrogen storage material into thick, disc-shaped hydrogen storage blocks and fitting these blocks onto the vent pipe, the filling time can be shortened, filling efficiency improved, and hydrogen storage density increased.

[0045] A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the modular square solid hydrogen storage tank is shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the solid hydrogen storage tank 100 mainly consists of components such as the shell 110, the front end plate 120, and the vent pipe 130. The solid hydrogen storage tank 100 has a simple structure, is easy to process, and has low manufacturing cost.

[0046] The casing 110 is made of pressure-resistant metal. The casing 110 is cubic in shape with a square cross-section. The front end of the casing 110 is open, and the rear end is sealed. Its interior is used to house hydrogen storage blocks pre-formed from hydrogen storage material. The total length of the casing 110 is several times its cross-sectional width, allowing it to accommodate multiple hydrogen storage blocks, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0047] The front end plate 120 and the housing 110 are made of the same material. The front end plate 120 covers the front opening of the housing 110 and seals against the housing 110 to prevent hydrogen leakage and avoid safety hazards. Preferably, the front end plate 120 is fixed to the housing 110 by bolts (not shown in the figure). The bolt connection is firm and easy to disassemble, allowing the front end plate 120 to be completely separated from the housing 110. A sealing structure (not shown in the figure), such as a sealing ring, is provided at the connection between the front end plate 120 and the housing 110. A vent pipe 130 is connected to the center of the front end plate 120. Preferably, the vent pipe is circular. In other embodiments, the vent pipe can be other shapes, such as square. Preferably, the vent pipe 130 is integrally formed with the front end plate 120, and the vent pipe 130 can be inserted near the rear end of the housing 110, with the end of the vent pipe 130 fixed to the housing 110.

[0048] Preferably, the vent pipe 130 is located on the axis of the housing 110, and multiple hydrogen storage blocks can be mounted on the vent pipe 130, such as... Figure 2 The hydrogen storage blocks 210, 220, and 230 are shown in the diagram. Preferably, the vent pipe 130 is cylindrical: firstly, because cylindrical pipes have high strength and can support multiple hydrogen storage blocks without deformation; secondly, because cylindrical pipes have low surface friction, making it easier to install the hydrogen storage blocks onto the vent pipe 130. The first hydrogen storage block to be installed must pass through almost the entire vent pipe 130, requiring the outer wall of the vent pipe 130 to be smooth to further reduce friction.

[0049] The vent pipe 130 has multiple vent holes evenly distributed on its wall (not shown in the figure). After hydrogen enters the vent pipe 130 from the inlet, it diffuses evenly into the hydrogen storage block through these vent holes and then reacts with the solid hydrogen storage material in the hydrogen storage block to achieve solid hydrogen storage and safe hydrogen storage.

[0050] The hydrogen storage block 210 is a thick disc shape, with a circular mounting hole 211 in its center, such as... Figure 3 As shown. The diameter of the circular mounting hole 211 is close to the outer diameter of the vent pipe 130. The hydrogen storage block 210 is formed by processing powdered solid hydrogen storage material. Then, a circular mounting hole 211 is carved out in the center of the disc-shaped hydrogen storage block 210. Alternatively, when processing the hydrogen storage block from powdered solid hydrogen storage material, a small cylinder is placed in the center of the mold. After the hydrogen storage block 210 is processed, the aforementioned small cylinder is removed, thus forming the circular mounting hole 211.

[0051] Powdered or granular solid hydrogen storage materials are inconvenient to store and transport. When solid hydrogen storage materials are prefabricated into individual hydrogen storage blocks, their storage and transportation become more convenient and safer than those in powdered or granular form, and they are also less susceptible to contamination by impurities.

[0052] The hydrogen storage block needs to be filled into the solid hydrogen storage tank 100, including the following steps:

[0053] (1) Unscrew and remove the bolts on the front plate 120 of the solid hydrogen storage tank 100, and then make the front plate 120 with the vent pipe 130 retract in the opposite direction until they are completely detached from the shell 110.

[0054] (2) Place the hydrogen storage blocks one by one onto the vent pipe 130, ensuring that each hydrogen storage block is closely adjacent to the hydrogen storage blocks on both sides, such as... Figure 2 The hydrogen storage blocks 210, 220, and 230 shown are illustrated. Adjacent hydrogen storage blocks can also be spaced apart to accommodate the volume expansion of the hydrogen storage blocks after heating, thus reducing expansion stress.

[0055] (3) After the front end plate 120 is installed in place, tighten the bolts. At this time, the hydrogen storage block is filled.

[0056] As can be seen from the above filling steps, after the hydrogen storage material is pre-treated and shaped, the hydrogen storage blocks only need to be threaded onto the vent pipe 130 one by one, which shortens the filling time and increases the uniformity of filling. During the hydrogen filling and discharging process, the four corner gaps between the square solid hydrogen storage tank 100 and the circular hydrogen storage blocks serve as expansion space for the hydrogen storage material after absorbing hydrogen, which reduces the expansion stress inside the solid hydrogen storage tank 100 and makes full use of all the internal space of the solid hydrogen storage tank 100.

[0057] Furthermore, multiple solid hydrogen storage tanks 100 can be combined within an outer frame to form hydrogen storage units of any size. The number and arrangement of the solid hydrogen storage tanks to be combined are determined based on site conditions. An outer frame is then prepared, with its internal shape matching the outer perimeter of the hydrogen storage tank assembly. All the solid hydrogen storage tanks are placed within the outer frame, arranged close together to form a single hydrogen storage tank assembly.

[0058] A hydrogen delivery pipeline (not shown in the figure) is then configured for the hydrogen storage unit. The hydrogen delivery pipeline consists of a main pipe and several branch pipes, each of which is connected to the main pipe. Each square solid hydrogen storage tank 100 is connected to one branch pipe. Preferably, each branch pipe is equipped with a valve to individually control the operation of each solid hydrogen storage tank 100, providing flexibility and control.

[0059] If the hydrogen storage block expands excessively, it will compress the outer wall of the solid hydrogen storage tank 100, causing it to deform outward. Reinforcing ribs can be installed on the outer frame of the hydrogen storage unit, with the type of rib selected based on the specific operating pressure of the equipment, to prevent deformation of the outer wall of the solid hydrogen storage tank 100.

[0060] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0061] (1) Improved filling efficiency: After the hydrogen storage material is prefabricated into hydrogen storage blocks, it can be directly fitted onto the vent pipe, shortening the filling time and improving the uniformity of filling.

[0062] (2) Stable structure and space saving: The square hydrogen storage tank design facilitates modular combination of multiple tanks, and the space utilization between hydrogen storage tanks is high, which is conducive to meeting the large-scale hydrogen storage needs.

[0063] (3) Expansion stress relief: There are four corner gaps between the square hydrogen storage tank shell and the round hydrogen storage block, which can not only relieve the expansion pressure after the hydrogen storage material absorbs hydrogen, but also avoid damage to the shell by the hydrogen storage material and extend its service life.

[0064] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A method for loading a modular square solid hydrogen storage tank, characterized in that, The square solid hydrogen storage tank includes: The housing has a square cross-section, an open front end, and a sealed rear end; the housing is used to house a hydrogen storage block pre-formed from hydrogen storage material. A front end plate, which covers the front opening of the housing and seals it to the housing, and is fixed to the housing by bolts; A vent pipe is integrally formed with the front end plate, and most of the vent pipe is located behind the front end plate; the vent pipe wall is provided with multiple vent holes, and the vent pipe is used to house the hydrogen storage block; the vent pipe is located on the axis of the shell, and the vent pipe has a circular cross-section; The loading method includes the following steps: The hydrogen storage material is made into multiple thick disc-shaped hydrogen storage blocks, and a circular mounting hole is opened in the center of the hydrogen storage block; Open the front panel and allow it to retract in the reverse direction along with the vent pipe until they are completely detached from the housing. Then, install the hydrogen storage blocks one by one onto the vent pipe. The vent pipe carries the hydrogen storage block into the housing; Close the front end plate to seal the hydrogen storage block inside the square solid hydrogen storage tank.

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