Hydrogen storage containers

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen storage container that can readily store and carry hydrogen and in which the stored hydrogen can be used directly from it.SOLUTION: A hydrogen storage container 10 is configured to hermetically seals a storage space 15 for storing gaseous hydrogen at a prescribed pressure with a wall surface. In the hydrogen storage container 10, the wall surface is constituted of a material in which an opening 33 is at least partially formed by being heated so as to be capable of causing gaseous hydrogen to flow to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen storage container used for storing and transporting hydrogen.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to solve the problem of climate change, reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide has been widely demanded. And hydrogen, which does not generate carbon dioxide even when burned, has been attracting attention as one of the candidates for energy sources in a decarbonized society.

[0003] Hydrogen can be used, for example, as a fuel for thermal power generation or as a fuel cell by chemically reacting with oxygen. Therefore, hydrogen is expected as an energy source useful for achieving carbon neutrality.

[0004] On the other hand, since hydrogen exists as a gas at normal temperature, when storing and transporting it, for example, it is compressed at high pressure and stored in a dedicated container such as a pressure-resistant tank or cylinder. In the following description, hydrogen in a gaseous state is also referred to as "gaseous hydrogen". Alternatively, hydrogen liquefied at low temperature is also stored in a dedicated container having heat insulation properties. Such a dedicated container has a problem that its handling is not easy because it has a large volume and is heavy.

[0005] For the purpose of solving such problems, a hydrogen storage device in which a hydrogen water absorption material such as an occlusion alloy is enclosed inside hollow glass microspheres having a large number of pores in the wall portion has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, a container in which fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, etc. are arranged inside a capsule that permeates hydrogen has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

[0007] The technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above are easy to handle compared to conventional dedicated containers such as cylinders and tanks due to their small size. However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that handling is not easy when dealing with many capsules because the storage alloy is heavy. In addition, the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have the problem that when using the stored hydrogen, it is necessary to perform a process such as heating to extract the hydrogen held inside, which is time-consuming.

[0008] This disclosure was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and discloses a hydrogen storage container that facilitates the storage and transportation of hydrogen and allows the stored hydrogen to be used as is. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this disclosure provides the following means: The hydrogen storage container of this disclosure is a hydrogen storage container in which a storage space for storing gaseous hydrogen at a predetermined pressure is sealed by a wall, wherein a portion of the wall can be heated to allow the gaseous hydrogen to leak out to the outside. It is made of a material that allows for the formation of an open opening.

[0010] According to the hydrogen storage container of this disclosure, for example, when the hydrogen storage container is placed in a combustion furnace of a thermal power plant and its wall is heated, an opening is formed in a part of it, and the gaseous hydrogen stored at a predetermined pressure flows out through that opening. Therefore, the stored hydrogen can be used as is without any processing to extract it. In addition, unlike conventional dedicated containers such as tanks and cylinders, it can be easily transported and stored.

[0011] In the above, it is preferable that the wall surface comprises a first region in which the opening is formed in at least a part thereof, and a second region made of a different material from the first region and arranged adjacent to the first region.

[0012] By doing so, since a second region made of a different material than the first region is positioned adjacent to the first region where the opening is formed, it is prevented that the entire wall surface will disappear simultaneously in a short period of time. In other words, it is prevented that the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space will not all leak out of the hydrogen storage container in a short period of time. Furthermore, as long as a second region made of a different material than the first region is positioned adjacent to the first region, the shape of the hydrogen storage container may be any desired shape, such as a sphere, rectangular prism, cube, cylinder, or hexagonal prism.

[0013] In the above, it is preferable that the second region is arranged around the first region and forms the portion around the opening.

[0014] In this way, when an opening is formed in the first region, the second region forms the area surrounding the opening. That is, when an opening is formed, the surrounding area is enclosed by the second region, so that the entire wall surface does not disappear simultaneously in a short period of time, for example, by the opening becoming larger than the first region. In other words, it is prevented that the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space does not all leak out of the hydrogen storage container in a short period of time. Furthermore, in order to further prevent the hydrogen from leaking out of the hydrogen storage container in a short period of time, it is preferable to reduce the size of the first region.

[0015] In the above, the wall surface may be provided with a plurality of the first regions.

[0016] In this way, gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space flows out of the hydrogen storage container through multiple openings formed by heating. That is, gaseous hydrogen can be supplied from the storage space in various directions. Furthermore, since these openings are surrounded by the second region and isolated from other openings, it is prevented that multiple adjacent openings connect to form an even larger opening. In other words, it is prevented that a large opening will be formed and that all of the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space at a predetermined pressure will flow out of the hydrogen storage container in a short time.

[0017] In the above, it is preferable that the second region is composed of a plurality of second region components.

[0018] In this way, a second region is formed by combining and connecting multiple second region components. That is, hydrogen storage containers of any desired three-dimensional shape, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, cube, hexagonal prism, or cylinder, can be easily formed.

[0019] In the above, it is preferable that the first region is a plate-like member with a regular pentagonal shape, and the second region component is a plate-like member with a regular hexagonal shape.

[0020] In this way, a roughly spherical hydrogen storage container can be easily formed. That is, by combining a first region and a second region component of a predetermined shape and connecting them, a roughly spherical hydrogen storage container can be easily formed.

[0021] In the above, it is preferable that the second region is surrounded by the first region and occupies the region demarcated by the first region.

[0022] By doing so, openings are formed around the second region portion. That is, many openings are formed in the wall surface, and the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container in a short period of time. In other words, the combustion speed of the stored gaseous hydrogen can be increased. Further, since the second region portion occupies a certain region surrounded and partitioned by the first region portion, all the wall surfaces disappear within a short time, and it is prevented that all the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container in an extremely short time.

[0023] In the above, a plurality of the second region portions are provided on the wall surface, the first region portion is composed of a plurality of first region components, the first region component is a regular hexagonal plate-like member, and the second region portion is preferably a regular pentagonal plate-like member.

[0024] By doing so, more openings are formed in the wall surface, and the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container in a shorter time. Further, since a plurality of second region portions are provided, it is further prevented that all the wall surfaces disappear within a short time and all the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container in an extremely short time. Also, a substantially spherical hydrogen storage container can be easily formed. That is, by combining and connecting the second region portion and the first region component having a predetermined shape, a substantially spherical hydrogen storage container can be easily formed.

[0025] In the above, it is preferable that the first region portion is composed of a combustible material and the second region portion is composed of a self-extinguishing material.

[0026] In this manner, when the wall surface is heated, at least a portion of the first region burns, forming an opening. Since the second region is made of a self-extinguishing material, it does not easily burn even if the first region burns. In other words, the opening does not immediately expand beyond the first region. This prevents the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space from leaking out of the hydrogen storage container in a short amount of time.

[0027] In the above, it is preferable that at least the boundary between the first region and the second region is covered with a thin film that prevents hydrogen permeation.

[0028] This prevents gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space from unintentionally leaking out of the hydrogen storage container through the boundary between the first and second regions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] This disclosure provides a hydrogen storage container that facilitates the storage and transportation of gaseous hydrogen, and allows the stored gaseous hydrogen to be used directly without any extraction or processing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is an external view showing one embodiment of a hydrogen storage container in the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is an exploded view of the hydrogen storage container disclosed herein. [Figure 3] This is an external view showing one embodiment of a hydrogen storage container in the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the usage status of the hydrogen storage container in this disclosure. [Figure 5] This is an external view showing a modified example of a hydrogen storage container according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is an external view showing a hydrogen storage container relating to another modification of the present disclosure. [Figure 7]Figure 7(a) is an external view illustrating a hydrogen storage container (cylindrical shape) according to another modification of the present disclosure. Figure 7(b) is an external view illustrating a hydrogen storage container (cubic shape) according to another modification of the present disclosure. Figure 7(c) is an external view illustrating a hydrogen storage container (rectangular parallelepiped shape) according to another modification of the present disclosure. Figure 7(d) is an external view illustrating a hydrogen storage container (hexagonal prism shape) according to another modification of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] 1. Explanation of the structure A hydrogen storage container 10 according to one embodiment of this disclosure will be described mainly with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The hydrogen storage container 10 is a hollow container with a roughly spherical shape, in which the storage space 15 is surrounded by a wall surface 20. The storage space 15 is not shown in Figure 1.

[0032] The hydrogen storage container 10 is used for the storage and transport of gaseous hydrogen, with its storage space 15 filled with gaseous hydrogen at a predetermined pressure. In the following description, the side of the hydrogen storage container 10 where gaseous hydrogen is stored, i.e., the side with the storage space 15, will be referred to as the inside or the inside region. The side opposite the storage space 15, separated by the wall 20, will also be referred to as the outside or the outside region.

[0033] The wall surface 20 is composed of a plurality of first region sections 30 and a plurality of second region components 41, each corresponding in size to the first region section 30. The hydrogen storage container 10 of this embodiment is composed of 12 first region sections 30 and 20 second region components 41.

[0034] The first region section 30 is a plate-shaped member with a roughly regular pentagonal shape. The second region component 41 is a plate-shaped member with a roughly regular hexagonal shape. The wall surface 20 is composed of a plurality of first region sections 30 and a plurality of second region component 41 arranged according to a predetermined rule. Specifically, the wall surface 20 is composed of a plurality of first region sections 30 arranged at predetermined intervals and second region component 41 arranged to surround the periphery of each first region section 30. The first region section 30 is the part shown with diagonal lines in Figures 1 to 4. Note that in Figures 1 to 4, the first region section 30 is shown with diagonal lines for explanatory purposes, but these diagonal lines do not limit the appearance or other characteristics of the first region section 30.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen storage container 10 has the shape of a truncated icosahedron, composed of a plurality of roughly regular pentagonal first region sections 30 and a plurality of roughly regular hexagonal second region components 41, which are combined in a predetermined arrangement. The first region sections 30 and the second region components 41 that constitute the hydrogen storage container 10 are bonded together at their respective boundaries and fixed as a single unit.

[0036] The portion of the wall surface 20 that is composed of the second region component 41 is the second region 40. In other words, the portion of the wall surface 20 that surrounds the first region 30 is the second region 40. The first region 30 occupies a roughly pentagonal area that is enclosed and demarcated by each side of the second region component 41.

[0037] The first region 30 is made of a material that has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range. Furthermore, the first region 30 is made of a material that burns when heated to a predetermined temperature. In other words, when the first region 30 is placed in a high-temperature environment together with the second region component 41, at least a portion of it burns before the second region component 41, forming an opening. Preferably, the first region 30 is made of a flammable material with an oxygen index of 22 or less.

[0038] In this embodiment, the case in which the first region 30 is made of glass fiber reinforced polyimide will be described as an example. The first region 30 may be made of any other known material, as long as it has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen, possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range, and is more flammable than the second region component 41.

[0039] The first region 30 may be made of other materials, as long as it has the characteristic of forming an opening in at least a part of it when heated to a predetermined temperature. For example, the first region 30 may be made of a material that melts in at least a part of it to form an opening when heated to a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, it may be made of a material that deforms or evaporates when heated, or which forms an opening in at least a part of it due to other physical actions.

[0040] The second region component 41 is made of a material that has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range. Furthermore, the second region component 41 is made of a material that is less flammable than the first region 30. In other words, the second region component 41 is made of a material that, even when placed in a high-temperature environment together with the first region 30 and the first region 30 burns, will remain without forming holes due to combustion or melting for at least a predetermined time afterward, and will maintain its shape. Preferably, the second region component 41 is made of a self-extinguishing material with an oxygen index of 22 or higher and less than 27.

[0041] In this embodiment, the case in which the second region component 41 is made of PA6 resin (polyamide 6) will be described as an example. PA6 resin is also called nylon 6 resin. The second region component 41 may be made of any other known material, as long as it has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen, possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range, and is less likely to form openings due to combustion than the first region 30.

[0042] A rectangular thin film 50 is positioned from the outside to cover the boundaries between adjacent first region 30 and second region component 41, and is adhered to the outer surface of the wall surface 20. Similarly, a thin film 50 is positioned from the outside to cover the boundaries between adjacent second region component 41, and is adhered to the outer surface of the wall surface 20 (see Figure 3).

[0043] The thin film 50 is a component formed in a rectangular shape from a material with low permeability to gaseous hydrogen. The thin film 50 is configured to adhere to the outer surface of the wall surface 20 by performing a predetermined treatment.

[0044] In this embodiment, the case in which an aluminum laminate film is used as the thin film 50 will be described as an example. Other known materials may be used for the thin film 50 as long as they have low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and can adhere to the outer surface of the wall 20. The thin film 50 may also be formed in a shape other than a rectangle, as long as it can cover the boundary between the first region 30 and the adjacent second region component 41, and the boundary between adjacent second region component 41s. The thin film 50 may also have a size and shape that can cover the entire outer surface of the wall 20, and may be arranged to cover the entire outer surface of the wall 20.

[0045] 2. Assembly of hydrogen storage container 10 Next, we will explain how to assemble the hydrogen storage container 10.

[0046] First, the first region section 30 and the second region component 41 are arranged as shown in Figure 2. Note that the arrangement of the first region section 30 and the second region component 41 may differ from the arrangement shown in Figure 2, as long as the assembled structure forms a truncated icosahedron as shown in Figure 1.

[0047] The adjacent first region portion 30 and the second region component 41 are fixed at the boundary where they are in contact with each other. In addition, the second region component 41 and the second region component 41 adjacent to it are fixed at the boundary where they are in contact with each other.

[0048] The boundaries between adjacent first region 30 and second region component 41, and between adjacent second region component 41, are fixed using an adhesive. Specifically, an insoluble adhesive made of a material that does not permeate water or gaseous hydrogen is used to bond them together. These bondings may be carried out using other known bonding methods, such as thermal bonding, as long as they have the necessary strength and do not permeate water or gaseous hydrogen.

[0049] Next, the first region section 30 and the second region component piece 41, which are arranged and fixed together as shown in Figure 2, are assembled by folding them at their respective boundaries. During assembly, the adjacent first region section 30 and second region component piece 41 are glued and fixed at their boundaries. The boundaries between adjacent second region component pieces 41 are also fixed with adhesive.

[0050] The above process is repeated to assemble a roughly spherical (truncated icosahedron) hydrogen storage container 10. Note that, in order to fill the storage space 15 with gaseous hydrogen, one of the boundaries is left unattached and unfixed. That is, when the first region 30 or the second region component 41 adjacent to the unfixed boundary is pushed towards the storage space 15, a gap is created at the boundary, connecting the storage space 15 to the outer region. Note that the above assembly method is illustrative; other methods may be used to assemble the container, as long as the first region 30 and the second region component 41 can be combined and fixed to form the truncated icosahedron shape shown in Figure 1.

[0051] 3. Filling with gaseous hydrogen Next, we will explain the method for filling the hydrogen storage container 10 with gaseous hydrogen. In the following explanation, we will use the water displacement method as an example to explain how to fill the hydrogen storage container 10 with gaseous hydrogen. Note that the filling of the hydrogen storage container 10 with gaseous hydrogen may also be carried out by other filling methods, such as the upward displacement method.

[0052] The assembled hydrogen storage container 10 is submerged in water. Then, a gap is created at the boundary by pushing the first region 30 adjacent to the unfixed boundary, or the portion of the second region component 41 near the unfixed boundary, toward the storage space 15. Water is then allowed to flow in through this gap, filling the storage space 15 with water.

[0053] Using a device for filling gaseous hydrogen, gaseous hydrogen is filled into the storage space 15 through the gap. Specifically, for example, the tip of the filling device is inserted into the inside of the hydrogen storage container 10 through the gap to fill the storage space 15 with gaseous hydrogen at a predetermined pressure. In this embodiment, the following explanation will use the case where the predetermined pressure is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure as an example, but the predetermined pressure may be even higher than the above pressure. Alternatively, the predetermined pressure may be the same as atmospheric pressure.

[0054] As gaseous hydrogen fills the storage space 15, the water that filled the storage space 15 is pushed out, and the storage space 15 is replaced with gaseous hydrogen. Once the storage space 15 is replaced with gaseous hydrogen, the gap that was left open for filling with gaseous hydrogen is closed, and the boundary is bonded and fixed in water using an underwater-curing adhesive. In this way, the hydrogen storage container 10 is sealed with the storage space 15 filled with gaseous hydrogen at a predetermined pressure. Once the boundary is fixed, the hydrogen storage container 10 is removed from the water and the entire container is dried. In this embodiment, an underwater curing epoxy-based filling adhesive is used for filling with gaseous hydrogen. The following explanation will use the case of bonding the boundary underwater as an example. The bonding of the boundary used for filling with gaseous hydrogen may be carried out using other known adhesives or other known bonding methods, as long as the material is made of a material that does not permeate water or gaseous hydrogen and allows for bonding work underwater.

[0055] The thin film 50 is placed from the outside of the wall surface 20 so as to cover each boundary. Once the thin film 50 is placed so as to cover at least all of the boundary areas, a predetermined process is performed to adhere the thin film 50 to the outside of the wall surface 20 (see Figure 3).

[0056] 4. Instructions for use In the following section, we will explain how to use the hydrogen storage container 10, using the example of using the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage container 10 as fuel for thermal power generation. When using the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage container 10 as fuel, the hydrogen storage container 10 is directly inserted into the combustion furnace of the thermal power generation equipment.

[0057] When the hydrogen storage container 10 is placed in the combustion furnace, the wall surface 20 is heated from the surrounding area. When the wall surface 20 is heated to a predetermined temperature, at least a portion of the first region 30 burns. That is, at least a portion of the first region 30 burns and disappears, and an opening 33 is formed in the first region 30. In other words, an opening 33 is formed in a part of the wall surface 20, through which the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 can flow out.

[0058] Since the second region component 41 is made of a material that is less flammable than the first region 30, even if the first region 30 burns, the second region 40 will not burn for at least a predetermined time afterward, remaining without an opening being formed and forming the area surrounding the first region 30. For this reason, even if the first region 30 burns further and the opening 33 expands, the opening 33 will not immediately become larger than the area of ​​the first region 30. Furthermore, the opening 33 will not connect with other openings 33 to form an even larger opening.

[0059] When the opening 33 is formed, the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 is released to the outside through the opening 33. Since the hydrogen storage container 10 has multiple first regions 30, multiple openings 33 are formed in the wall surface 20. Then, from each of the formed openings 33, the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 is released in various directions (see Figure 4).

[0060] According to the hydrogen storage container 10 described above, when the wall surface 20 of the hydrogen storage container 10 is heated, an opening 33 is formed in at least a part of it. That is, when the wall surface 20 is heated, an opening 33 is formed in a part of the wall surface 20, and the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container 10. For this reason, the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 can be used as is without any processing required to extract the stored gaseous hydrogen. Since the wall surface 20 is made of resin plate material, it is easier to handle than conventional dedicated containers such as tanks and cylinders. In addition, the stored gaseous hydrogen can be used simply by putting the hydrogen storage container 10 directly into the combustion furnace of a thermal power generation facility. For this reason, gaseous hydrogen can be used without changing the equipment of the thermal power generation facility.

[0061] Furthermore, the wall surface 20 is composed of a first region 30 and a second region 40. The first region 30 is made of a material that, when heated to a predetermined temperature, forms an opening 33 in at least a part of it. The second region 40 is made of a different material than the first region 30 and is arranged adjacent to the first region 30.

[0062] Therefore, even if the wall surface 20 is heated to a predetermined temperature, the entire wall surface 20 disappears, and the storage space This prevents the gaseous hydrogen stored in the space 15 from completely leaking out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a short time. Furthermore, by changing the proportion of the first region 30 to the wall surface 20, it becomes possible to adjust the rate at which gaseous hydrogen leaks out of the storage space 15 to the outside of the hydrogen storage container 10 due to heating.

[0063] Furthermore, the second region 40 is positioned to form the area surrounding the opening 33 when the opening 33 is formed in the first region 30. That is, when the wall surface 20 is heated to a predetermined temperature and the opening 33 is formed in the first region 30, the second region component 41 remains without the opening being formed for at least a predetermined time, forming the area surrounding the first region 30. In other words, the second region 40 forms the area surrounding the opening 33 when the opening 33 is formed in the first region 30. And even when the entire first region 30 is burned and the opening 33 becomes the same size as the area where the first region 30 was located, the second region 40 remains without burning immediately, forming the area surrounding the opening 33.

[0064] Therefore, even if the wall surface 20 is continuously heated to a predetermined temperature, the opening 33 will not immediately expand beyond a predetermined size. In other words, heating prevents the entire wall surface 20 from being destroyed by combustion, thus preventing the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 from leaking out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a short amount of time.

[0065] Furthermore, the wall surface 20 is provided with multiple first regions 30. As a result, multiple openings 33 are formed in the wall surface 20 by heating. The gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 then flows out of the hydrogen storage container 10 through each of these openings 33. In other words, the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 can be released in various directions. This makes it possible to efficiently supply gaseous hydrogen to the outside. In addition, since each first region 30 is surrounded by a second region 40, it is prevented that the openings 33 will widen further and connect with other adjacent openings 33 to form a large opening. In other words, it is prevented that a large opening 33 will be formed and that all of the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 will flow out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a short time.

[0066] Furthermore, the second region 40 is composed of multiple second region components 41 combined together. Therefore, by changing the shape of the second region components 41 or changing the combination of the second region components 41, a hydrogen storage container 10 of a desired shape can be easily formed.

[0067] Furthermore, the first region 30 has a regular pentagonal shape, and the second region component 41 has a hexagonal shape. Therefore, by arranging a predetermined number of the first region 30 and the second region component 41 in a predetermined arrangement and fixing them, a roughly spherical (truncated icosahedron) hydrogen storage container 10 can be formed. By making the hydrogen storage container 10 roughly spherical, the force due to the pressure from the gaseous hydrogen being filled is applied uniformly to the entire wall surface 20. In other words, the force due to the pressure from the gaseous hydrogen being filled is prevented from concentrating at specific points on the wall surface 20, making it possible to fill the hydrogen storage container 10 with gaseous hydrogen at a higher pressure.

[0068] Furthermore, the first region 30 is made of a flammable material. In addition, the second region component 41 is made of a self-extinguishing material. That is, the second region 40 is made of a self-extinguishing material.

[0069] Therefore, when the wall surface 20 is heated, at least a portion of the first region 30 burns, forming the opening 33. Then, when the wall surface 20 is heated further, the burnt portion spreads, and the first region 30 burns away. On the other hand, the second region 40 remains open for at least a predetermined time. Until that point, it remains without burning and forms the area around the first region 30, that is, the area around the opening 33. Therefore, the opening 33 does not immediately expand to a size larger than the area in which the first region 30 is located. In other words, a large opening 33 is formed, preventing all of the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 from flowing out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a short time.

[0070] Furthermore, the boundary between the first region 30 and the second region 40 is covered with a thin film 50 made of a low-transmittance material. Also, the boundary between adjacent second region components 41 is covered with a thin film 50 made of a low-transmittance material.

[0071] Therefore, it is prevented that the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 will not unintentionally leak out from the boundaries between these spaces. In other words, the hydrogen storage container 10 can be made suitable for long-term storage of gaseous hydrogen.

[0072] <First variation> In the above embodiment, the case in which the second region 40 is arranged to surround the first region 30 has been described, but the technical scope of this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0073] For example, the shapes of the first region 30 and the second region 40 in the above embodiment may be swapped. In other words, the hydrogen storage container 10A may be configured such that the first region 30 surrounds the second region 40.

[0074] In the following section, a modified hydrogen storage container 10A, in which the shapes of the first region 30 and the second region 40 in the above embodiment are swapped, will be described mainly with reference to Figure 5. Components identical to those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0075] The wall surface 20 of the hydrogen storage container 10A is composed of a first region 30A and a second region 40A. The first region 30A is composed of a plurality of first region constituent pieces 31. The first region constituent pieces 31 are plate-shaped members having a substantially regular hexagonal shape. The second region 40A is a plate-shaped member having a substantially regular pentagonal shape corresponding to the size of the first region constituent pieces 31.

[0076] The first region component 31 is made of a material that has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range. Furthermore, the first region component 31 is made of a flammable material that ignites and burns when heated to a predetermined temperature.

[0077] The second region 40A is made of a material that has low permeability to gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and possesses a predetermined strength over a relatively wide temperature range. Furthermore, the second region 40A is made of a material that, when placed in a high-temperature environment together with the first region component 31 and the first region component 31 burns, remains intact without immediately burning or melting and maintaining its shape for at least a predetermined time.

[0078] The first region component 31 is arranged to surround the second region 40A and is fixed to the second region 40A by adhering to it at the boundary with an adjacent second region 40A. In other words, the second region 40A occupies a regular pentagonal area that is enclosed and partitioned by multiple first region component pieces 31.

[0079] Furthermore, the first region components 31 are bonded and fixed at the boundary between adjacent first region components 31. That is, the hydrogen storage container 10A is composed of the first region components 31 and the second region 40 The structure has a roughly spherical (truncated icosahedron) shape, with A arranged in a predetermined sequence and fixed at each boundary.

[0080] When the wall surface 20 of the hydrogen storage container 10A, configured in this way, is heated to a predetermined temperature, an opening 33 is formed in at least a part of the first region component 31. That is, multiple openings 33 are formed around the second region 40A. As a result, compared to the above embodiment, the gaseous hydrogen that was filled in the storage space 15 flows out to the outside of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a shorter time. In other words, the gaseous hydrogen that was filled in the storage space 15 can be supplied to the outside at a faster rate than in the above embodiment. In other words, the combustion speed of the gaseous hydrogen that was filled in the storage space 15 can be increased.

[0081] On the other hand, even if an opening 33 is formed in the first region component 31, the second region 40A remains unburned for at least a predetermined time, maintaining its state of occupying the region partitioned by the multiple first region components 31. In other words, heating prevents the entire wall surface 20 from disappearing in a short time, thus preventing the gaseous hydrogen that was filling the storage space 15 from flowing out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a short time.

[0082] Furthermore, the wall surface 20 is provided with multiple second regions 40A, and the first region components 31 surround them. As a result, when the wall surface 20 is heated, openings 33 are formed at various positions, and the gaseous hydrogen stored in the storage space 15 flows out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a shorter time than in the hydrogen storage container 10 of the above embodiment. In addition, because multiple second regions 40A are provided, it is prevented that a large opening 33 is formed in the wall surface 20 in a short time. That is, it is prevented that all of the gaseous hydrogen filled in the storage space 15 flows out of the hydrogen storage container 10 in a very short time.

[0083] <Second variation> In the above embodiments, the example described was that the shape of the hydrogen storage containers 10 and 10A is a truncated icosahedron, but the technical scope of this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Hereafter, hydrogen storage containers 10B having other shapes will be described.

[0084] The hydrogen storage container 10B in this modified example has a spherical shape as shown in Figure 6. Specifically, the plate-shaped wall surface 20B is formed so that its outer shape is spherical, and is configured to surround and seal the inner storage space 15.

[0085] The wall surface 20B consists of a first area 30B and a second area 40B made of a different material from the first area 30B, which is arranged adjacent to the first area 30 so as to surround it.

[0086] The first region 30B is made of a material that, when heated to a predetermined temperature, burns or melts, forming an opening in at least a part of it. The second region 40B is made of a material that, when the hydrogen storage container 10B is heated to a predetermined temperature and an opening is formed in the first region 30B, remains without immediately burning or melting and maintaining its shape for at least a predetermined time.

[0087] The second region 40B is formed from a plate-like member of a predetermined thickness, with an outer shape that is spherical. A circular hole 34 is provided in a part of the second region 40B. The hole 34 is provided through the second region 40B so as to connect the storage space 15 with the outer region. In other words, the second region 40B has the shape of a container that is sealed except for the part with the hole 34. This hole 34 is used when filling the storage space 15 with gaseous hydrogen from the outside. That is, when filling the hydrogen storage container 10B with gaseous hydrogen, gaseous hydrogen is stored through this hole 34. The space 15 is filled with it. Note that the shape of the hole 34 may be other than circular.

[0088] The first region 30B is a plate-like member that is thicker than the second region 40B and is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the size of the hole 34. When inserted into the hole 34, the first region 30B is large enough to completely seal the hole 34. The first region 30B is inserted into the hole 34 after gaseous hydrogen has been filled into the storage space 15 and is fixed to the second region 40B with an adhesive or the like. In other words, the first region 30B acts as a plug that seals the hole 34.

[0089] The shape of the first region 30B corresponds to the shape of the hole 34, and it may have a shape other than circular as long as it can properly seal the hole 34. Also, the first region 30B may be composed of a plate-like member with approximately the same thickness as the second region 40B, or a member of other shapes, as long as it can properly seal the hole 34.

[0090] With the hydrogen storage container 10B configured as described above, the first region 30B where the opening is formed is surrounded by the second region 40B, thus preventing the entire wall surface 20B from disappearing simultaneously in a short period of time. Furthermore, the opening is formed only in the one region of the wall surface 20B where the first region 30B is located. Therefore, it is prevented that all of the gaseous hydrogen in the storage space 15 will leak out to the outside in a short period of time. In addition, because the hydrogen storage container 10B has a spherical shape, the internal pressure is distributed, allowing for filling with gaseous hydrogen at a higher pressure.

[0091] The shape of the hydrogen storage container 10B is not limited to the above, and may have other three-dimensional shapes. For example, it may have a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, or a hexagonal prism shape (see Figures 7(a) to 7(d)). Alternatively, it may have any other three-dimensional shape suitable for storing gaseous hydrogen. The position where the first region 30B is placed is not limited to the positions shown in Figures 7(a) to 7(d). For example, it may be provided at any position on the side of the three-dimensional shape shown in Figures 7(a) to 7(d).

[0092] The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the first region 30 is composed of a plate-like member having a substantially regular pentagonal shape, and the second region 40 is composed of a plurality of second region constituent pieces 41 made of plate-like members having a substantially regular hexagonal shape. On the other hand, the shapes of the first region 30 and the second region constituent pieces 41 may be different from those described above, as long as the desired shape of the hydrogen storage container 10 can be formed.

[0094] Furthermore, in the hydrogen storage container 10 of the above embodiment, the example described was one in which the second region 40 is composed of a plurality of second region constituent pieces 41 having a substantially regular hexagonal shape. On the other hand, the second region 40 may be composed of a plurality of second region constituent pieces 41, each with a different shape. Alternatively, the second region 40 may be formed by processing a single plate material into a predetermined shape.

[0095] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is sufficient to be consistent with the intent of the disclosures described in the embodiments described above. Therefore, it may be a configuration in which at least two of the embodiments described above are combined, or a configuration in which any of the illustrated components or components described with reference numerals in the embodiments described above are omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 10, 10A, 10B... Hydrogen storage containers 15... Storage space 20, 20B... Wall surfaces 30,30A,30B...First area portion 31...First area constituent piece 33...Opening 34...hole 40,40A,40B...second area part 40A, 41...Second area component piece 50...Thin film

Claims

1. A hydrogen storage container having a storage space for storing gaseous hydrogen at a predetermined pressure, sealed by its walls, The aforementioned wall surface is made of a material in which, upon heating, an opening is formed in at least a part thereof that allows the gaseous hydrogen to escape to the outside. The wall surface comprises a first region in which the opening is formed in at least a part thereof, It comprises a second region made of a different material from the first region and arranged adjacent to the first region, The first region is made of a flammable material, and the second region is made of a self-extinguishing material. Hydrogen storage container.

2. The aforementioned second region is, Arranged around the first region and forming the portion around the opening, A hydrogen storage container according to claim 1.

3. The wall surface is provided with a plurality of the first region sections. The hydrogen storage container according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned second region is composed of a plurality of second region components. A hydrogen storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The first region is a plate-like member with a regular pentagonal shape, The second region component is a plate-like member with a regular hexagonal shape. The hydrogen storage container according to claim 4.

6. The second region is surrounded by the first region and occupies the region demarcated by the first region. A hydrogen storage container according to claim 1.

7. Multiple second regions are provided on the aforementioned wall surface. The first region is composed of a plurality of first region components, The first region component is a plate-like member with a regular hexagonal shape, The second region is a plate-like member with a regular pentagonal shape. A hydrogen storage container according to claim 6.

8. The hydrogen storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least the boundary between the first region and the second region is covered with a thin film that prevents hydrogen permeation.

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