Microporous Carbon Monoliths for Low-Pressure Natural Gas Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-pressure compressed natural gas systems for vehicular use are costly and pose safety risks due to the high-pressure requirements, necessitating a more efficient and safer storage solution for natural gas.
Innovation Solution
Development of high purity microporous carbon adsorbents derived from renewable natural sources, which can reversibly adsorb and desorb natural gas at significantly lower pressures, reducing storage tank costs and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-pressure compression is used to store natural gas, then storage capacity is improved, but safety risks and system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs microporous carbon adsorbent materials with controlled pore sizes (0.5-2 nm) that provide high surface area for gas adsorption. The porous structure enables natural gas storage at low pressures through adsorption mechanisms rather than compression, achieving high storage capacity while eliminating safety risks associated with high-pressure systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the storage mechanism from pressure-based compression to adsorption-based retention by utilizing the surface properties of carbon materials. By controlling pore size distribution and surface chemistry parameters, the system achieves high gas capacity at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressures, resolving the contradiction between storage quantity and safety
2Quantity of substance
If high-pressure compression equipment is used, then natural gas storage capacity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes carbon adsorbent materials with optimized pore structures that provide high gas capacity without requiring expensive compression equipment. The adsorption-based storage system eliminates costly high-pressure tanks, compressors, and safety systems, significantly reducing overall system manufacturing costs while maintaining high storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical compression system with a chemical/physical adsorption system. Instead of using mechanical compressors and high-pressure containment systems, the patent employs carbon materials that naturally adsorb gas molecules through surface interactions, eliminating the need for expensive mechanical compression infrastructure
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 carbon adsorbents enable substantial natural gas storage at lower pressures, reducing storage tank costs and enhancing safety by allowing natural gas to be stored and dispensed efficiently and safely, thus advancing the use of natural gas as a vehicular fuel.
Implementation Method 1
a high capacity, high efficiency natural gas storage medium on which natural gas is sorptively retained in inventory
Implementation Method 2
from which natural gas can be readily desorbed under dispensing conditions
Implementation Method 3
high purity microporous carbon adsorbents prepared from renewable natural sources
Data Source
AI summary
A carbon pyrolyzate material is disclosed, having utility as an adsorbent as well as for energy storage and other applications. The pyrolyzate material comprises microporous carbon derived from low cost naturally-occurring carbohydrate source material such as polysaccharides. In adsorbent applications, the carbon pyrolyzate may for example be produced in a particulate form or a monolithic form, having high density and high pore volume to maximize gas storage and delivery, with the pore size distribution of the carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent being tunable via activation conditions to optimize storage capacity and delivery for specific gases of interest.