Anisotropic Adsorbent Pellet for Hydrogen Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing gaseous fuels like hydrogen and natural gas face challenges in achieving high energy density at a low cost, with liquefied fuels requiring extreme temperatures and compressed gases needing high pressures, which increase costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A compressed gaseous fuel storage pellet is developed, comprising alternating layers of gas adsorbent material and thermally conductive material, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and expanded natural graphite (ENG), to enhance thermal conductivity and permeability, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and gas storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If liquefied fuel storage is used to reduce volume and increase tank capacity, then energy density is improved, but special equipment and periodic venting are required due to extremely low temperature storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from extreme cold (liquefied fuel) to moderate temperatures (ambient or slightly elevated), eliminating the need for cryogenic equipment while maintaining high energy density through adsorption mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/thermal system of liquefaction and cryogenic storage with a chemical adsorption system that operates at moderate temperatures, substituting complex thermal management equipment with simpler adsorbent materials
2Device complexity
If compressed gas storage is used to store fuel at room temperature, then equipment complexity is reduced, but significantly more space is required compared to liquid fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite adsorbent materials combining metal-organic frameworks with thermally conductive fillers to create a material that achieves high gas storage density while maintaining structural integrity and thermal management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes porous metal-organic framework materials that provide high surface area and pore volume for gas adsorption, enabling high energy density storage in a compact form factor without requiring extreme compression
3Quantity of substance
If adsorbent material is used for gas storage, then storage density is improved, but thermal conductivity is insufficient for efficient heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material system where metal-organic framework adsorbents are integrated with thermally conductive fillers (graphite, metal particles, or aluminum oxide) to simultaneously achieve high gas storage capacity and improved thermal conductivity for efficient heat dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally conductive filler acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the thermal gap between the adsorbent material and the external environment, facilitating efficient heat transfer from the adsorption sites to the surroundings
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 solution increases thermal conductivity by up to 900% and gas permeability by 300% in the cross-compression direction, enabling faster fueling and improved hydrogen storage density, thus addressing the limitations of existing storage methods.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive material extending substantially an entire dimension of the pellet and having a thermal conductivity of at least 75 W/mK
Implementation Method 2
a gas adsorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one embodiment, a compressed gaseous fuel storage pellet is provided comprising a gas adsorbent material and a thermally conductive material extending substantially an entire dimension of the pellet and having a thermal conductivity of at least 75 W/mK. The pellet may include at least two layers of gas adsorbent material spaced apart along a compression direction of the pellet and a substantially continuous layer of the thermally conductive material disposed between the at least two layers of gas adsorbent material. The pellet may further include thermally conductive projections which intersect the layer(s) of thermally conductive material.