CA2427725A1

CA2427725A1 - Hydrogen storage container

Info

Publication number: CA2427725A1
Application number: CA002427725A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stephane Gendron; Patrick Larochelle; Frederic Gagnon; Robert Schulz
Original assignee: Hera Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-01
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2004-11-01
Also published as: CN1784571A; US20050072786A1

Description

ROlILIY JTlJ.LCd"641.G C'Jl'4 alillyr.iE
OLD ~?F 'THE IN VENT.It~l~1 The present invenrion relates tn hydrogen storage cantainexs, and, particularly, to containers tbr coritainLng xrletal laarticles capanle of tomamg meter t~ryanaes:
BAC'L~.CrROUN.A C1~ THE llV'VEI'~"fI(~lrT
Metal hydrides are used to score hydrogen in :many different sizes and. shaped canisters.
ht order to facilitate the a6sarpxion ox desorption of the hydrogen, ~~e canister and, consequently, tile metal hydride, needs to be cooled or heated To facilitate good perforn2ance-~f thp firr~rapP
canister (desorption rate, fzllitlg time, etc.), the inside of the caxti stet requires efficient heat exchange means to improve the ahsaxptianldesorptiozt l~netics.
.Also, during absorption of the hydrogen, the metal hydride expatxds due to its reaction ~~T~'~~l~Il~~'' ~"ere~Y3t~~q8'.~~ ~3fQf ~~e in the canister. It is desirable to a 1 1: 4 i a wssw4svaar wssrua+.-.sv ~ w canistez is mitigated ar avoided.
BRIEF DESCRll'TIUN CAF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a franc elevation view of a container of the presemt invention;
Figure 2 is a partly fragmentary side elevation view of the container in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the eontainer in p'igure 1, taken. along lines A-As Figure 4 is a top-perspective view of the liner o f the container in Figure l;
and fiigure 5 is a tap-plan view ofthe liner illustrated in Figure ~..

DETA1R.ET.S DESCRIPTION
Referriatg to figure 1, the present ixwention provides a cautainer 10 for contaizzixtg metallic particles 12 capable of forming hydrides. The metallic particles 12 are capable of absorbing hydrogen to assume an absoxbed state and are also capable of desorbirag the absorbed hydrogen to assume a desorbed state. In the absorbed state, the metallic particles 12 occupy greater volume than. in the desorbed state.
The container 10 includes a pressure vessel 14 including an inner surface I6 defining a storage volume 20. A structure 18 is disposed within the storage vaiume 20 a'nd is configured to effect thermal communication between the i~er surface i~ attd the metallic particles 12 disposed within the storage volume 20. A resilient liner 22 is also disposed in the storage volume 24 and is configured to isolate metal particles 12 disposed in the stoxage volume ZO from the inner surface 1~. A space is defined between the liner 22 and the ixxuer surface 16. As the raetallic particles 12 in the storage volume 20 assume au absorbed state from a desorbed state, the space contracts in response to forces imparted by the metallic particles an the liaxer 22. This is because the metallic particles t2 expand upon absorption of hydrogen, causing the liner 22 to defaxm and move closes to the ituu'r surface i6.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the container 10 of the present uavention including a pressure vessel 1~ having an tinier surface 1~ defining a storage volume 20. A nozzle 24 is provided at cite end 2$ of the container 10, defuung an inlet far effecting fluid communication between the storage volume 20 azid the extexiox of the container iC~. The atozzle extends 24 ~rom a dome 2fi formed at the end 28 of the container 10. The aaz2le 24 is configured for quid coupling to a conduit for effecting delivery of hydrogen from within the storage volume 20 to a d4wtastxeam apetatlon, such as a fuel cell or irtterxtal combustion engine. The conduit also facilitates supply of hydrogen to the pressure vessel i~ to effect charging of the metallic particles 12. In one embodiment, the pressure vessel I O has a length of 3S~ rnm, an outside maximum. diameter of 89 mm, and a wall thickness of 2.54 uzut. The material of construction of the pressure vessel 14 is aluminum.

The storage volume 20 of the pressure vessel 14 is configured to receive nxetallic particles 12 capable of forming hydrides. Such metallic particles 12 iraust be capable of absorbing hydrogen t~ effect storage of hydrogen for l2ter use, such as for use as a fuel in a fuel cell or in an internal combustpon engine. Further, such metallic particles 12 mast be capable of desorbing the absorbed hydxogen upon demand from. au unfit operation, such as when ~°equired for use as a fuel in a fuel cell or in. an internal combustion engine. Upon absorption of hydrogen, the metallic particles 12 have a tendency td expand, and thereby increase Che volume occupied.
T~uriug desorption, the metallic particles 12 have a tendency to contract, and thereby reduce the volume occupied.
Absorption of hydrogen by the metallic particles 12 is an exotheamic process.
rxt contrast, desorption of the absorbed hydrogen and gas from the metallic particle I2 is an endothermic process, To effect heat transfer >aetween the mr~tallic particles 12 and the environment external to the pressure vessel 14, the structure 18 is disposed in the storage volume 20 and is configured to effect thermat communication between the inner surface 16 and the metallic particles 12 disposed within the storage volume 20. Heat is imparted to, and dissipated from, the pressure vessel by contacting the pressure vessel with a fluid (liquid or gas, such as water or ambient aix) which acts as a heat sink or heat source as required, deferring to Figures 2 and 3, the Structure 1 g includes a plurality of elongated aluminum tubes 30 disposed in a storage volume 20. The aluminum tubes 30 extend from the bottom 32 of the pressure vessel 34. and ate just below the dome 25 of the pressure vessel l~. bath of the aluminum tubes 30 has an outside diameter of 12.7 mm, a wall thickness of X1.8 mm, and a length of 280 mm. for a pressure vessel 14 having the dimensions specified above, 31 of these tubes 30 can be disposed in the storage volume 20 of the pressuxe vessel 14 to facilitate the desired heat transfer.
To facilitate migration of hydrogen gas during absorption and desozption fmm the metallic particles 12, the aluminum tubes 30 can include a plurality of very small circular holes or other shaped pexforations. These circular holes or perforations have a diameter of 1132" or smaller. This would be small enough to allow the migration of the hydrogen gas hut not allow the metallic particles 12 within the tubes 30 to migrate outside of the tubes 30 and thereby exert additional forces on adjacent materials or surfaces during expansion.

At least one of the plurality of tubes 3b can be in the farm of a solid sintered ~3ter cube that Would provide a permeable solid to assist in _ _the absorption-and.-!le..>~~..~i~on-ofhyr_lrnge" gac while not allowing the xxligratiou of metallic particles.
To take up the expansion of the metallic particles 12 as they absorb hydrogen, the resilgent liner 22 is disposed within the storage volume 20 of the pressure vessel 1~ and s~y , _ ~ . . .,. _ _. _.._"~ _ ~ ~_a__ , n s_~. ..A.a ...:.~L:.e .t _ ~.__..~.. ....7....,... '9n .~...,... 41"..
inner surface 16. den metallic particles 12 axe disposed in the storage volume 20 in a desoxbed state, a space is defined between the liner 22 and the inner surface 1 ~ of the pressure vessel 14.
lUpon absorption of hydrogen by the metallic particles 12, the metallic particles 12 a>xpand, occupying a larger volume of space within the storage volume 20, and press upon the liner 22 so as to effect a reduction in volume irt the space deigned laetween the liner 22 and the il7nex surface 16. Yn this respect, the disposition of the litter 22 within the storage volume 20 of the pressure vessel 14 provides space around the inside periphery of the pressure vessel 14 to allow volume to be taken up by the expansion of the metallic particles 12, Furdxer, the liner 22 provides a means to better distribute stress then the pressure vessel 14 wall due to localized conglomeration of the expanding metallic particles 12. In this respect, the liner 2~! carl be comprised of spring steel.
Deferring to Figures 4 and S, in one erubodixnent, the liner 22 is in the form of a cube with a corrugated profile. The corrugated profile provides wall space between the inner wall 1 ~i of the pressure vessel 1~4 and the liner 22 wkten the liner 22 is disposed in the storage volume 20 of the pressure vessel 14. Upon expansion of the trcetallic particles 12, the metallic particles 12 apply a force to the liner 22, causing the corrugations to flatten out. 'fhe tubular form of the liner 22 de.~tes a space which receives the aluminum tubes ~0 and the metallic particles 12. Vahen assembled. the liner 22 contains the aluminum tubes 30 arid the metallic particles 12. In relation to the aluminum tubes ~dl, the metallic particles 12 occupy a space inside the tubes 3Q and tha void space between the tubes 30. ~'he metal particles 12 taxi also occupy the space within the dome 26 of the pressure ves$el 12. 'The liner 22 has a length of 280 mm, a diameter of267 mxn, arid is O.1S mm thick.

Claims

-~-Claims:

1. A container for containing metallic particles capable of absorbing hydrogen to assume an absorbed state, and also capable of desorbing the absorbed hydrogen, to form a desorbed state, wherein, in the absorbed state, the metallic particles occupy a greater volume than in a desorbed state, comprising:

a pressure vessel including an inner surface defining a storage volume;
a structure configured to effect thermal communication between the inner surface and metallic particles disposed within the storage volume;

a resilient liner disposed within the storage volume and configured to isolate metallic particles disposed in the storage volume from the inner surface; and a space defined between the liner and the inner surface;

such that, as the metallic particles assume and absorbed state, the space contracts in response to forces imparted by the metallic particles on the liner.