Solid-gas coupling hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage
By employing a composite structure in the hydrogen storage tank—comprising a nautilus shell-like corrugated inner liner, a honeycomb-like middle layer, and a smooth steel outer ring—and combining it with a liquid cooling and heating system, the stability and efficiency issues of the hydrogen storage system were resolved, achieving high-density hydrogen storage and rapid response.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGXIA UNIVERSITY
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing solid-state and gaseous hydrogen storage technologies each have their own problems, such as low volumetric hydrogen storage density, poor safety, high energy consumption, insufficient heat exchange between hydrogen storage materials and hydrogen storage structures, and simple hydrogen storage structure design. These problems make hydrogen storage systems prone to deformation or leakage when subjected to collisions or pressure fluctuations, affecting the stability of hydrogen storage cycles.
It adopts a composite structure of nautilus shell-like corrugated inner liner, honeycomb middle layer and smooth steel ring outer layer, combined with liquid cooling and heating system, to optimize the layout and temperature control of hydrogen storage components, and enhance tank stability and hydrogen storage density.
It achieves high hydrogen storage density, rapid hydrogen absorption and desorption, and excellent cycle stability, improving the overall performance of the hydrogen storage system, avoiding stress concentration and leakage risks, and enhancing safety and energy management efficiency.
Smart Images

Figure CN224215137U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydrogen storage technology, and more specifically, to a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage. Background Technology
[0002] Hydrogen, as a highly efficient and clean secondary energy source, relies heavily on storage technology, which is a core aspect of hydrogen energy utilization. Currently, mainstream hydrogen storage technologies include solid-state and gaseous hydrogen storage. Solid-state hydrogen storage uses metal hydrides, chemical hydrides, or other solid materials to store hydrogen, offering higher volumetric hydrogen storage density than conventional gaseous and liquid hydrogen storage, while also providing greater safety. Compared to high-pressure or cryogenic hydrogen storage, solid-state hydrogen storage reduces the pressure and temperature requirements on the storage system, thus improving safety. However, solid-state hydrogen storage technology has a relatively low gravimetric hydrogen storage density, making it difficult to meet the needs of vehicle applications. In contrast, gaseous hydrogen storage technology is more mature, offers faster charging and discharging speeds, and provides high hydrogen purity, allowing for direct use in fuel cells. However, its volumetric hydrogen storage density is low, with a hydrogen density of only about 40 kg / m³ at 70 MPa pressure. 3 This results in a bulky on-board hydrogen storage system; there are safety issues, as the high-pressure environment can easily cause hydrogen embrittlement and leakage risks, requiring the use of expensive carbon fiber composite materials for reinforcement; and the energy consumption cost is high, with compression to 70MPa consuming about 12% of the hydrogen energy equivalent.
[0003] To overcome the technical bottlenecks of single hydrogen storage methods, solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage technology has emerged. It significantly improves the overall performance of hydrogen storage systems by synergistically combining the high volumetric density of solid-state hydrogen storage with the high-quality hydrogen storage density and rapid response advantages of gaseous hydrogen storage. Existing solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage solutions often employ traditional cylindrical single- or double-layer shell designs for their storage tanks, which present the following problems: traditional cylindrical structures are prone to stress concentration during collisions or pressure fluctuations, leading to tank deformation or leakage; insufficient contact between the hydrogen storage material and heat exchange components results in lag in temperature control during hydrogen absorption and desorption, affecting the stability of the hydrogen storage cycle; and the hydrogen storage structure layout is simplistic and not optimized for the internal curved space of the tank, limiting the amount of hydrogen storage material that can be loaded.
[0004] To this end, this invention proposes a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage. By optimizing the synergistic configuration of metal hydride materials and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, it aims to achieve a balance between high hydrogen storage density, rapid hydrogen absorption and desorption, and excellent cycle stability, providing a new approach for the development of next-generation energy storage systems. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage to solve the problems existing in the prior art. By setting the inner liner with a nautilus shell layered corrugated structure, the middle layer with a honeycomb structure, and the outer ring with a smooth steel ring structure, the stability of the tank can be enhanced. By setting a heating system in the hydrogen storage component, the temperature during hydrogen absorption and release can be controlled.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following solution: This utility model provides a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage, comprising: a tank body, the tank body including an inner liner layer, a middle layer and an outer ring layer, the outer ring layer, the middle layer and the inner liner layer being sequentially bonded together, and at least one hydrogen storage component being bonded to the inner wall of the inner liner layer; the inner liner layer has a nautilus shell layered corrugated structure, the middle layer has a honeycomb structure, and the outer ring layer has a smooth steel ring structure; the hydrogen storage components are uniformly distributed circumferentially along the inner wall of the inner liner layer, and include at least a plurality of hydrogen storage components of different sizes to adapt to the inner liner space; the hydrogen storage components include several storage chambers and a thermal management system, the storage chambers being used to store metal hydrides, and each storage chamber having a vent at both ends; the thermal management system including a liquid cooling component for cooling during hydrogen absorption and a heating component for heating during hydrogen release.
[0007] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided, wherein the storage chamber is detachably connected to both sides of the cover, and the cover is provided with the vent hole.
[0008] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided. The liquid cooling component includes a liquid cooling pipe located in the storage chamber. Heat dissipation fins are provided on the periphery of the liquid cooling pipe. The liquid cooling pipe and the heat dissipation fins are in direct contact with the metal hydride, and the liquid cooling is used to remove the reaction heat through liquid cooling circulation when absorbing hydrogen.
[0009] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided, wherein the heating component includes a PTC thermistor, the PTC thermistor is used to rapidly heat the metal hydride when hydrogen is released, the PTC thermistor is located at the center of the hydrogen storage component, and a plurality of storage chambers are evenly distributed around the PTC thermistor.
[0010] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided. The hydrogen storage component further includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. One end of the liquid cooling pipe is connected to the inlet manifold and the other end is connected to the outlet manifold. The liquid cooling pipe is connected to an external liquid cooling system through the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The inlet manifold is provided with an inlet port and the outlet manifold is provided with an outlet port.
[0011] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided, wherein the outer ring layer includes two symmetrically arranged hemispherical structures and a column structure disposed between the two hemispherical structures, and a steel ring is provided at the junction of the column and the hemispherical structure of the outer ring layer, the steel ring being used to disperse the stress at the junction.
[0012] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided, wherein the outer ring layer is provided with an inlet and outlet port communicating with the vent hole, as well as a solenoid valve and a safety solenoid valve for controlling the gas flow.
[0013] According to the solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage provided by this utility model, a liquid cooling pipe inlet and a liquid cooling pipe outlet are also provided on one side of the outer ring layer. The liquid cooling pipe inlet is connected to the liquid inlet, and the liquid cooling pipe outlet is connected to the liquid outlet.
[0014] According to the present invention, a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage is provided, wherein an inlet / outlet pressure gauge and an internal pressure gauge are provided on one side of the outer ring layer, and a base is provided below the outer ring layer.
[0015] The present invention discloses the following technical effects:
[0016] The hydrogen storage shell of this invention comprises a tightly fitted inner liner, a middle layer, and an outer ring. The inner liner has a nautilus shell-like corrugated structure, which has a better ability to absorb kinetic energy during collisions than traditional hollow structures. This structure also maximizes axial compressive strength and avoids stress concentration, resulting in improved compressive strength compared to traditional cylindrical structures. The middle layer has a honeycomb structure composed of periodically arranged hexagonal units. Under axial (longitudinal) support, axial compression dominates energy absorption. Each honeycomb unit wall gradually dissipates energy through buckling deformation and plastic folding under pressure, avoiding sudden stress spikes. The outer ring is a smooth steel ring structure with hemispherical ends, reducing stress concentration. The combination of the inner liner, middle layer, and outer ring prevents stress concentration during collisions that could cause tank deformation. The hydrogen storage components are evenly distributed within the inner liner, making full use of its space. A thermal management system is installed within the hydrogen storage components to facilitate temperature control during hydrogen absorption and desorption. Attached Figure Description
[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall internal structure of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inner liner structure in this utility model;
[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intermediate layer in this utility model;
[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hydrogen storage component in this utility model;
[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the hydrogen storage component of this utility model from another angle;
[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid cooling pipe and heat dissipation fins in this utility model;
[0025] The components are as follows: 1. Tank body; 2. Hydrogen storage assembly; 11. Inner liner; 12. Intermediate layer; 13. Outer ring; 14. Base; 15. Steel ring; 16. Inlet / outlet solenoid valve; 161. Inlet / outlet pressure gauge; 17. Safety solenoid valve; 171. Internal pressure gauge of the tank body; 18. Inlet / outlet port; 191. Liquid cooling pipe inlet; 192. Liquid cooling pipe outlet; 21. Storage chamber; 22. Cover; 221. Vent hole; 23. Liquid cooling pipe; 24. Heat dissipation fins; 25. PTC thermistor; 26. Liquid inlet manifold; 261. Liquid inlet; 27. Liquid outlet manifold; 271. Liquid outlet. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0027] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0028] like Figures 1-7 As shown, this utility model provides a solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage, including: a tank body 1, the tank body 1 including an inner liner layer 11, a middle layer 12 and an outer ring layer 13, the outer ring layer 13, the middle layer 12 and the inner liner layer 11 are sequentially attached, and at least one hydrogen storage component 2 is attached to the inner wall of the inner liner layer 11; the inner liner layer 11 has a nautilus shell layered corrugated structure, the middle layer 12 has a honeycomb structure, and the outer ring layer 13 has a smooth steel ring 15 structure, the hydrogen storage components 2 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the inner wall of the inner liner layer 11, and include at least a plurality of hydrogen storage components 2 of different sizes to adapt to the inner liner space; the hydrogen storage components 2 include a plurality of storage chambers 21 and a thermal management system, the storage chambers 21 are used to store metal hydrides, and both ends of the storage chambers 21 are provided with vents 221, the thermal management system includes a liquid cooling component for cooling during hydrogen absorption and a heating component for heating during hydrogen release.
[0029] The inner liner 11 has a nautilus shell-like corrugated structure. This structure has a better ability to absorb kinetic energy during collisions than traditional hollow structures. Simultaneously, this structure maximizes axial compressive strength and avoids stress concentration, significantly improving compressive strength compared to traditional cylindrical structures. The middle layer 12 is a honeycomb structure support layer, composed of periodically arranged hexagonal units. Under axial (longitudinal) support, axial compression dominates energy absorption. Each honeycomb unit wall gradually dissipates energy through buckling deformation and plastic folding under pressure, avoiding sudden stress spikes. The outer ring 13 includes two symmetrically arranged hemispherical structures and a columnar structure located between the two hemispherical structures. The hemispherical structures at both ends reduce stress concentration. A steel ring 15 is provided at the junction of the middle columnar structure and the two hemispherical structures in the outer ring 13. The steel ring 15 is used to disperse the stress at the junction, ensuring the stability of the tank 1.
[0030] An inlet / outlet port 18 is provided on one side of the outer ring 13. An inlet / outlet solenoid valve 16 is installed at the inlet / outlet port 18 to control air intake and exhaust. A safety solenoid valve 17 is also provided to control the safety of air intake and exhaust. When an abnormal pressure is detected, the safety solenoid valve 17 opens to release air to the external environment. An inlet / outlet pressure gauge 161 and an internal pressure gauge 171 are also provided. A liquid cooling pipe inlet 191 and a liquid cooling pipe outlet 192 are also arranged. A base 14 is provided at the bottom of the outer ring 13 to support the tank 1. The inlet / outlet solenoid valve 16 and the safety solenoid valve 17 are electrically connected to an external control system.
[0031] The inner liner 11, the middle layer 12, and the outer ring layer 13 are tightly bonded together to form the tank body 1. This structure has a better ability to absorb kinetic energy during a collision than traditional hollow structures. At the same time, this structure maximizes axial compressive strength and avoids stress concentration, thus improving compressive strength compared to traditional cylindrical structures.
[0032] The hydrogen storage components 2 are evenly distributed along the inner wall of the inner liner layer 11, and include at least a number of hydrogen storage components 2 of different sizes to adapt to the inner liner space. The size of the hydrogen storage components 2 can be adjusted according to the inner cavity space, and their structures are completely identical.
[0033] The hydrogen storage component 2 has several storage chambers 21 inside. In this embodiment, the hydrogen storage component 2 has 6 storage chambers 21 inside. The storage chamber 21 is a cylindrical cavity used to store metal hydrides. The metal hydrides fill two-thirds of the inner cavity. The two ends of the storage chamber 21 are threaded to a cover 22. The cover 22 has a vent hole 221. The vent hole 221 is connected to the inlet and outlet 18 and serves as a gas channel for hydrogen absorption and release.
[0034] The liquid cooling assembly includes a liquid cooling pipe 23, and heat dissipation fins 24 are arranged around the liquid cooling pipe 23. The liquid cooling pipe 23 and heat dissipation fins 24 are located in the storage chamber 21. The liquid cooling pipe 23 and heat dissipation fins 24 are in direct contact with the metal hydride. When the metal hydride absorbs hydrogen, the cooling system starts to work.
[0035] The hydrogen storage assembly 2 also includes an inlet manifold 26 and an outlet manifold 27. One end of the liquid cooling pipe 23 is completely connected to the inlet manifold 26, and the other end of the liquid cooling pipe 23 is completely connected to the outlet manifold 27. The inlet manifold 26 is provided with an inlet 261, and the outlet manifold 27 is provided with an outlet 271. The inlet 261 is connected to the external liquid cooling pipe inlet 191 through a pipe, and the outlet 271 is connected to the external liquid cooling pipe outlet 192 through a pipe, forming a complete liquid cooling system.
[0036] The heating component includes a PTC thermistor 25, which is located at the center of the hydrogen storage component 2. Six storage chambers 21 are evenly distributed around the PTC thermistor 25. The PTC thermistor 25 is used to heat the metal hydride in the storage chambers 21 when hydrogen is released.
[0037] When hydrogen enters through inlet / outlet 18, the metal hydride begins to absorb hydrogen, releasing heat in the process. This heat is absorbed by the liquid cooling pipe 23, and the heat dissipation fins 24 accelerate the heat absorption. When the internal pressure gauge 171 detects that the internal pressure has reached the set value, gas supply stops, and the inlet / outlet solenoid valve 16 closes. The liquid cooling pipe 23 is connected to the liquid cooling pipe inlet 191 and the liquid cooling pipe outlet 192, forming a complete cooling circuit. The PTC thermistor 25 starts working when the metal hydride begins to release hydrogen. The PTC thermistor 25 has a rapid and efficient heating effect, allowing the metal hydride to quickly reach the temperature required for hydrogen release.
[0038] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 utility model.
[0039] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present utility model by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present utility model should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage, characterized in that, include: Tank (1), the tank (1) includes an inner liner layer (11), an intermediate layer (12) and an outer ring layer (13), the outer ring layer (13), the intermediate layer (12) and the inner liner layer (11) are sequentially attached, and at least one hydrogen storage component (2) is attached to the inner wall of the inner liner layer (11). The inner liner layer (11) has a nautilus shell-like corrugated structure, the middle layer (12) has a honeycomb structure, the outer ring layer (13) has a smooth steel ring (15) structure, the hydrogen storage components (2) are evenly distributed along the inner wall of the inner liner layer (11) and include at least a plurality of hydrogen storage components (2) of different sizes to fit the inner liner space. The hydrogen storage assembly (2) includes several storage chambers (21) and a thermal management system. The storage chambers (21) are used to store metal hydrides. Both ends of the storage chambers (21) are provided with vents (221). The thermal management system includes a liquid cooling assembly for cooling during hydrogen absorption and a heating assembly for heating during hydrogen release.
2. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage chamber (21) is detachably connected to a cover (22) on both sides, and the cover (22) is provided with the ventilation hole (221).
3. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid cooling assembly includes a liquid cooling pipe (23) located in the storage chamber (21). Heat dissipation fins (24) are provided around the liquid cooling pipe (23). The liquid cooling pipe (23) and the heat dissipation fins (24) are in direct contact with the metal hydride, and the liquid cooling pipe (23) is used to remove the reaction heat through liquid cooling circulation when absorbing hydrogen.
4. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating component includes a PTC thermistor (25), which is used to rapidly heat the metal hydride during hydrogen release. The PTC thermistor (25) is located at the center of the hydrogen storage component (2), and several storage chambers (21) are evenly distributed around the PTC thermistor (25).
5. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 3, characterized in that: The hydrogen storage assembly (2) further includes an inlet manifold (26) and an outlet manifold (27). One end of the liquid cooling pipe (23) is connected to the inlet manifold (26), and the other end is connected to the outlet manifold (27). The liquid cooling pipe (23) is connected to an external liquid cooling system through the inlet manifold (26) and the outlet manifold (27). The inlet manifold (26) is provided with an inlet (261), and the outlet manifold (27) is provided with an outlet (271).
6. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer ring (13) includes two symmetrically arranged hemispherical structures and a column structure located between the two hemispherical structures. A steel ring (15) is provided at the junction of the column structure and the hemispherical structure. The steel ring (15) is used to disperse the stress at the junction.
7. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer ring (13) is provided with an air inlet (18) communicating with the vent (221), as well as a solenoid valve and a safety solenoid valve (17) for controlling the gas flow.
8. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer ring (13) is also provided with a liquid cooling pipe inlet (191) and a liquid cooling pipe outlet (192) on one side. The liquid cooling pipe inlet (191) is connected to the liquid inlet (261), and the liquid cooling pipe outlet (192) is connected to the liquid outlet (271).
9. The solid-gas coupled hydrogen storage tank structure based on metal hydride hydrogen storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer ring (13) is also provided with an air inlet / outlet (18) pressure gauge and a tank internal pressure gauge (171) on one side, and a base (14) is provided below the outer ring (13).