Activated Carbon Composition for Low-Pressure Methane Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carbon materials for natural gas storage face challenges in achieving optimal pore structure and density adjustments for low-pressure storage, limiting their efficiency and versatility in gas storage devices.
Innovation Solution
Development of carbon materials with tailored physicochemical properties and particle size distributions, resulting in enhanced packing efficiency and increased gas storage capacity, including activated carbon particles with specific surface areas, pore volumes, and tap densities, optimized for methane storage at 50 bar pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon materials are used for natural gas storage at low pressure (30-50 bar), then storage safety and tank design flexibility are improved, but the volumetric storage efficiency is insufficient compared to high-pressure CNG storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs activated carbon with optimized pore structures (microporous and mesoporous) to enhance gas adsorption capacity. The porous material provides high surface area for gas interaction while maintaining low operating pressures, resolving the contradiction between safety and storage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite carbon materials combining different pore size distributions and densities to achieve both high volumetric storage capacity and safety. The composite structure integrates materials with complementary properties to maximize adsorption while maintaining structural integrity at low pressures
2Ease of manufacture
If activated carbon is synthesized from existing organic materials (coconut fibers, carbon fibers, tire rubber), then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to engineer pore structure and density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies synthesis parameters (temperature, activation time, chemical treatment) of carbon materials to precisely control pore structure and density. By changing these parameters, the material properties can be engineered for specific storage applications while maintaining cost-effective manufacturing processes
3Quantity of substance
If carbon particles with high surface area and pore volume are used, then gravimetric methane adsorption is improved, but particle packing efficiency and volumetric density deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates carbon particles with heterogeneous pore structures where different regions of the particle have optimized properties for both adsorption and packing. Surface regions have high surface area for adsorption while internal structures are optimized for dense packing, resolving the contradiction between gravimetric and volumetric performance
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 optimized carbon materials achieve high packing ratios and gravimetric methane adsorption, enabling efficient gas storage with improved safety and flexibility in tank design.
Implementation Method 1
natural gas adsorbed on a microporous medium such as activated carbon. Adsorbed natural gas (ANG) has demonstrated storage performance competitive with CNG
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is generally directed to gas storage materials such as activated carbon comprising enhanced gas adsorption properties. The gas storage materials find utility in any number of gas storage applications. Methods for making the gas storage materials are also disclosed.