Hydrogen Storage Tank with Activated Carbon Sorbent
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing storage systems for hydrogen face challenges in efficiently dissipating sorption heat during the refueling process, leading to prolonged refueling times and increased energy expenditure due to the need for high cooling capacity, which also reduces volumetric and gravimetric storage capacities and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A gas station system where sorbents loaded with hydrogen are exchanged externally, with used sorption materials being reloaded for reuse, utilizing high-performance activated carbon sorbents with a high microporosity and abrasion resistance to facilitate efficient sorption and desorption processes, and a storage container design that includes an inner pressure vessel and an outer insulating container for thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If adsorption storage using high-surface sorbents is used to store hydrogen, then storage capacity is improved, but thermal conductivity deteriorates leading to poor heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance that circulates through channels in the storage container, mediating between the adsorption material and the external environment to facilitate efficient heat transfer without compromising the high-surface area characteristics of the sorbent
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container is segmented into multiple regions with integrated cooling channels that distribute heat transfer fluid throughout the adsorption material, dividing the thermal management task into multiple parallel heat exchange pathways
2Reliability
If conventional storage systems dissipate sorption heat during refueling, then storage function is maintained, but refueling time increases and energy expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is pre-configured with heat transfer fluid channels and circulation mechanisms ready before refueling begins, allowing immediate heat dissipation from the start of the adsorption process rather than requiring delayed thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer fluid circulates continuously through the storage container during the entire refueling process, maintaining constant heat dissipation capability throughout the adsorption operation to prevent thermal buildup that would slow down refueling
3Temperature
If high cooling capacity is provided to dissipate sorption heat, then thermal management is improved, but volumetric storage capacity decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container incorporates porous thermal management materials or structured cooling channels that provide high surface area for heat exchange within minimal volume, allowing effective thermal management without significantly reducing the space available for hydrogen storage
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes the physical parameters of the heat transfer fluid and cooling channel configuration to maximize heat transfer efficiency per unit volume, enabling effective thermal management with minimal impact on volumetric 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
This approach significantly shortens the refueling process, reduces energy expenditure, and enhances storage capacity while minimizing contamination and safety risks, allowing for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen storage and retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
It is already known in principle to adsorb hydrogen on suitable adsorbents (e.g. based on carbon) - also referred to synonymously in the context of the invention as sorbents
Implementation Method 2
The hydrogen is removed via what is known as desorption. This is the process opposite to adsorption. During desorption, the hydrogen adsorbed on the adsorption material is released or detached or separated from the sorbent or sorption material by applying energy
Implementation Method 3
a storage container design that includes an inner pressure vessel and an outer insulating container for thermal management
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a storage tank for storing a sorbent material. Said storage tank comprises a pressure vessel, a connecting element to an external supply system, at least one sorbent material which contains a sorbent and an adsorbate that adsorbs thereto, especially a gaseous fuel, preferably hydrogen, and which is stored in the storage tank at least during proper use of the storage tank, and a conduit for feeding and/or discharging sorbent material into/from the storage tank. At least one second duct is provided for supplying and/or evacuating a gas (gas duct). The sorbent is formed on the basis of heavy-duty adsorbents based on activated carbon in the form of discrete, activated carbon grains, preferably spherical ones. At least 70 percent of the entire pore volume of the heavy-duty adsorbents are formed by micropores having a diameter of ≤ 20 Å.