Compressed Hydrogen Storage Compacts with Polymer Binder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen storage devices face challenges in meeting international standards with high production costs and complexity, particularly in aligning hydrogen-storing materials with container shapes, which affects efficiency and stability during hydrogen storage and release cycles.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen storage device comprising bulk material made of compressed compacts with a hydrogen-storing material and a polymer binder, allowing for flexible container shapes and interstitial compensation for volume changes during hydrogen absorption and release, using polymers like EVA, PMMA, and EEAMA for enhanced stability and adhesion, and potentially incorporating a compressible third material for volume expansion compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen-storing material is aligned with container shape according to international standards, then device compliance and structural stability are improved, but production cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen-storing material is divided into numerous small compacts (each containing pulverulent first material and binder) that are distributed as bulk material throughout the container. This segmentation allows the material to adapt to any container shape without requiring precise alignment, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural stability through the distributed compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and arrangement parameters of the hydrogen-storing material from fixed-shaped blocks to loose bulk compacts with variable positioning. This parameter change enables the material to conform to different container geometries without precise alignment, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring compliance through adequate hydrogen storage capacity distribution.
2Reliability
If hydrogen-storing material is compressed into fixed shapes to meet container specifications, then device compliance is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk compact material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it complies with container volume requirements, adapts to various container shapes, simplifies manufacturing procedures, and maintains hydrogen storage capacity. This universal approach eliminates the need for expensive custom-shaped components while ensuring device compliance through proper bulk material placement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pulverulent hydrogen-storing material is used without binder, then material flexibility is improved, but particle separation and stability during hydrogen cycles deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material system where pulverulent hydrogen-storing first material is combined with binder second material in specific proportions. This composite structure maintains the flexibility and hydrogen storage capacity of the pulverulent material while the binder provides particle cohesion and structural stability during hydrogen absorption and release cycles, preventing particle separation.
4Quantity of substance
If compacts are compressed at high pressure to increase density, then packing density is improved, but manufacturing complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies compression pressure sufficient to achieve adequate packing density for hydrogen storage, but not excessive pressure that would create manufacturing complexity. The compacts are compressed to a degree that ensures high packing density (at least 60% of container volume) while maintaining simplicity in the compression process and equipment requirements.
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 enables cost-effective production of hydrogen storage devices with high stability over multiple cycles, maintaining hydrogen storage capacity and preventing particle separation, while ensuring thermal and mechanical stability, achieving a packing density of at least 60% and supporting efficient hydrogen absorption and release kinetics.
Implementation Method 1
a second material as binder for the first material that was in pulverulent form before the production by compression
Implementation Method 2
Interstices are formed here between the compacts, which, in the course of intercalation and release of hydrogen, are variable in relation to their size to compensate for the change in size of the compacts
Implementation Method 3
The individual layers of the hydrogen storage elements are aligned relative to one another and functionally connected to one another, for example for conduction of heat
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen storage device at least comprising a container with a first volume. A bulk material is arranged in the container, the bulk material comprising at least a plurality of pellets produced by a pressing method. Each pellet comprising at least a first material capable of storing hydrogen and a second material as binder for the first material provided in powder form prior to production by way of a pressing method.