AB2 Laves Hydrogen Storage Alloy Composition for Non-Pyrophoric Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen storage alloys are pyrophoric, making them unsafe for transportation and limiting their commercial use due to spontaneous combustion, and they have a high pressure composition temperature (PCT) curve slope, reducing reversible storage capacity and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
Development of non-pyrophoric AB2-type Laves phase hydrogen storage alloys with specific compositions, including Zr, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Al, and optional nickel, which have a low A-site to B-site elemental ratio, reduced hysteresis, and tailored plateau pressures, enhancing safety and storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrogen storage alloys are used, then hydrogen storage capacity is achieved, but pyrophoricity causes safety hazards and limits commercial use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the AB2-type Laves phase alloy by controlling the ratio of A-site to B-site elements and specifying precise compositional ranges of constituent elements (Zr, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Al, Ni) to eliminate pyrophoricity while maintaining hydrogen storage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-element composite alloy system combining Zr, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Al, and optional Ni elements in specific proportions to achieve non-pyrophoric properties while maintaining AB2-type Laves phase structure and hydrogen storage capacity
2Quantity of substance
If high PCT curve slope alloys are used, then hydrogen storage capacity is increased, but reversible storage capacity is reduced and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the PCT curve characteristics by adjusting the alloy composition parameters, specifically controlling the A-site to B-site element ratio and individual element concentrations to achieve a flatter PCT curve slope, which enables both high hydrogen storage capacity and high reversible storage capacity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The non-pyrophoric AB2-type Laves phase hydrogen storage alloys achieve high reversible hydrogen storage capacity, low desorption temperature, flat PCT isotherm curve, reduced hysteresis, and lower material costs, addressing safety and efficiency issues in hydrogen storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
The alloy may have a total hydrogen storage capacity of at least about 1.7 wt % or 1.8 wt % at about 500 psi and about 20° C.
Implementation Method 2
Overall reversible reaction is written as: M(s)+x/2H2(g)⇔MHx(s)+ΔH
Implementation Method 3
Such materials will generally release heat upon charging, take-up of hydrogen, absorption of hydrogen, or hydriding. Conversely, heat is necessary to release stored hydrogen from the metallic structure.
Implementation Method 4
The absorption reaction is exothermic, whereas the desorption reaction is endothermic.
Implementation Method 5
The hydridable alloy surfaces serving to catalyze the breakup of hydrogen molecules into hydrogen atoms will be helpful prior to this reaction.
Implementation Method 6
During this reaction, the metal lattice expands with the absorption of hydrogen, and the metal structure shrinks with the desorption of hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A non-pyrophoric AB2-type Laves phase hydrogen storage alloy and hydrogen storage systems using the alloy. The alloy has an A-site to B-site elemental ratio of no more than about 0.5. The alloy has an alloy composition including about (in at %): Zr: 2.0-5.5, Ti: 27-31.3, V: 8.3-9.9, Cr: 20.6-30.5, Mn: 25.4-33.0, Fe: 1.0-5.9, Al: 0.1-0.4, and/or Ni: 0.0-4.0. The hydrogen storage system has one or more hydrogen storage alloy containment vessels with the alloy disposed therein.