Pulverulent Intermetallic Hydrogen Storage via Co-fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hydrogen storage in the form of metal hydrides, such as using alloys with a centered cubic crystal structure, face limitations in reversible storage capacity, reactivity, and require costly and difficult mechanical grinding processes, which are not scalable for industrial use.
Innovation Solution
A process involving co-fusion and hydrogenation of specific metallic mixtures, including alloys with titanium, vanadium, chromium, and zirconium, nickel, and copper, to create a composite material that fragments into a powder with enhanced hydrogen storage properties without the need for additional grinding or pretreatment steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical grinding is used to increase surface area for hydrogen storage, then reactivity improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter from solid alloy blocks to pulverulent (fine powder) form through a novel process. This parameter change dramatically increases the specific surface area without requiring complex mechanical grinding equipment, thereby improving reactivity while avoiding manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical grinding system with a chemical/metallurgical process. Instead of using ball mills or other mechanical devices to pulverize the alloy, the process uses controlled oxidation and reduction reactions to directly produce fine powder, eliminating complex mechanical equipment
2Quantity of substance
If alloy composition is optimized for reversible storage capacity, then hydrogen storage performance improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials consisting of multiple alloying elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W) in specific proportions. This composite approach allows optimization of reversible storage capacity while controlling manufacturing cost through selective combination of expensive and inexpensive metals
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating a pulverulent structure with specific surface area characteristics. The fine powder form provides locally optimized surface properties that enhance hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics, improving overall storage performance without requiring expensive bulk material composition changes
3Productivity
If particle size is reduced to improve hydrogen diffusion, then hydrogenation kinetics improve, but mechanical processing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical size reduction methods with a metallurgical process that directly produces fine powder. By substituting mechanical grinding with controlled chemical reactions and phase transformations, the process achieves fine particle sizes without the equipment complexity and processing difficulties associated with mechanical pulverization
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions during the manufacturing process to naturally produce fine powder. By controlling oxidation, reduction, and phase transformation sequences, the material self-fragmentates into fine particles, achieving the desired particle size for improved hydrogen diffusion without mechanical intervention
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 process results in a material with improved reversible storage capacity, reactivity, and faster hydrogenation kinetics, achieving stable performance over multiple charge and discharge cycles with a finer particle size, optimizing hydrogen diffusion and reducing costs and energy input.
Implementation Method 1
preparation of a composite metallic material, by co-fusion, then cooling, of the following metallic mixtures... said composite material obtained following the co-fusion step having: a major phase based on titanium, vanadium and chromium and/or manganese, dispersed in the form of grains, this phase having a body-centered cubic crystalline structure
Implementation Method 2
hydrogenation of the resulting metallic composite material, allowing the conversion of at least a portion of the metals present into metal hydrides, and leading to fragmentation of the material in the form of a powder
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to pulverulent materials suitable for storing hydrogen, and more particularly to a method of preparing such a material, in which: (A) a composite metallic material having a specific granular structure is prepared by co-melting the following mixtures: a first metallic mixture (m1), which is an alloy (a1) of body-centred cubic crystal structure, based on titanium, vanadium, chromium and/or manganese, or a mixture of these metals in the proportions of said alloy (a1); and a second mixture (m2), which is an alloy (a2), comprising 38 to 42% zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, tantalum and/or tungsten and 56 to 60 mol% of nickel and/or copper, or else a mixture of these metals in the proportions of said alloy (a2), with a mass ratio (m2)/(m1+m2) ranging from 0.1 wt% to 20 wt%; and (B) the composite metallic material thus obtained is hydrogenated, whereby said composite material is fragmented (hydrogen decrepitation).