GB2122330A

GB2122330A - Gas storage

Info

Publication number: GB2122330A
Application number: GB08317111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clemens Halene; Karl-Ludwig Strack; Ernst Lange; Franz-Josef Henrichs
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1982-06-24
Filing date: 1983-06-23
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: GB2122330B; IT1161184B; DE3223777A1; FR2529294A1; GB8317111D0; IT8320786A0; JPS58225300A; BR8302026A; DE3223777C2; FR2529294B1; BR8303026A

Abstract

The invention relates to pressure gas container apparatus broadly of the type described in our Patent Application No.82 18303 (Serial No. 2103348) in which radially directed partition sheets are provided at intervals around a central gas pipe. The block (1) of storage material disclosed herein when installed, defines a cavity (3) adjacent the gas pipe (5), into which the blocks swells as the container apparatus is filled. This results in the block having a density differential between its radially inner and outer extremities which results in various benefits. In addition to reducing the risk of distortion or other damage to the apparatus as it is filled, gas flow to and from the gas pipe (5) is enhanced as is the heat transfer between the container wall and the block (1). The size of the cavity (3) preferably corresponds to at least to 5% of the net volume of the compartment of the storage container in which it is located. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gas storage The invention relates to apparatus for storing gas on the basis of a gas/solid combination, particularly for use in hydrogen technology. Apparatus similar two that disclosed herein is described and claimed in our copending Application No. 82.18303 (Serial No.

2,103,348) to which reference is directed. It is to be understood that the teachings of that Application can be applied to the present disclosure, and vice versa.

It is known that in the storage of hydrogen in the form of a gas/solid matter combination, the storage matter is introduced either in a loose charging, in block, or in pressed form. Particularly with the use of prefabricated pressed blocks, a good utilization of volume can be achieved with a high degree of compactness, but disadvantages can arise in which the gas kinetics are impaired. An impairment of the gas kinetics becomes more clearly apparent if, for example, supplements of aluminium powder are added to improve the heat conductivity of the storage material.

It is also known that in gas/solid matter combinations the active storage material expands considerably on the intake, for example, of hydrogen.

Investigations have shown that the injurious expansion can result in damage to the pressure vessel. For this reason, manufacturers use pressed pieces, which are of smaller dimension in external diameter than the internal diameter of a container, with the aim of utilizing the given annular clearance such that the latter is filled exactly on expansion of the prefabricated block. The dimension of the block must therefore be dependent upon the alloy composition, the compactness of the storage material and the charging density, and a sufficient passage of heat from the container wall into the storage material must be assured.

Difficulties arise in the technical co-ordination of the above mentioned factors. Further, it is conceivable that in the initial charging with hydrogen the annular clearance fills up irregularly. The result of this may be a partial expansion of the pipe or container and an impairment of the heat conduction through less condensed zones.

According to the present invention apparatus for storing gas on the basis of a gas/solid combination comprises a central gas pipe arranged within a container with partition walls extending radiallyfom the pipe to the container wall to define a plurality of storage compartments, and an annular block of solid storage material in each compartment, which block defines a cavity between its inner boundary and the pipe. This arrangement permits a controlled variable filling density as the gas container is filled or loaded.

Input and removal of gas is substantially unhindered heat conductivity can be maintained to a high degree, and damage to the wall of the vessel as a result of expansion is obviated.

The apparatus may comprise a single tubular individual container or a cluster of individual containers collected together, each having a gas inlet, a gassing and degassing pipe and a gas holder; and partition sheets which form a tight seal against the inner wall of the or the respective container and against a central gas pipe.

The internal bore or cavity which, amongst other things also facilitates the installation of a gas supply and discharge pipe, is dimensioned such that with increased internal diameter a cylindrical torus is produced which is not filled with storage material.

On the initial charge with hydrogen, the storage material, preferably arranged in the form of an annulus or cylinder in its pre-pressed form expands, such that it fills the centrally preset torus. This produces the situation that the storage material at larger diameters is largely unchanged in its density, whereas toward the centre its density decreases.

Through the selection of the diameter of the torus it is possible firstly to arrange the mean density of the storage material variably and secondly to influence the gas kinetics variably. It is of great importance in this that in the outer zones a high compression density is maintained and hence the heat transfer from the pipe wall into the storage material is maintained undiminished. By dividing the storage space into a plurality of compartments, for example as described in Application No. 18303, harmful movement of the storage material can be substantially prevented.

Afurther improvement in the gas kinetics can be obtained by the provision of radial passageways for gas in the blocks of storage material. These may take the form of impressed grooves in a radial direction provided on one or both sides of the block, or of separate radial components, possibly mounted in such grooves. Typical such components are sintered filter bars. With containers of large diameter, e.g. 200 mm, it is normally preferred to use gas-carrying components such as sintered filter bars. These passageways are filled up on initial charging with gas; e.g. hydrogen, similarly to the torus and with storage material, likewise at a lower density, where there is space.These radially directed gas channels or passageways, in their plurality (dependent on the number per block and the number of blocks) enable highly effective gasification and degasification of the storge material.

The invention also provides a prefabricated block of gas storage material for use in apparatus as described above having known pipe and container dimensions, which block is annular and has radially outer dimensions substantially the same as said internal dimensions of the container, and radially inner dimensions largerthan said external dimensions by an amount sufficient to define, when the block is located in the apparatus, a cavity between the pipe and the block corresponding to at last 5% of the space between the pipe and container in which the block is located.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference of the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows in cross-section a portion of a gas container with cylindrical pressed blocks of storage material inserted between partition sheets; Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail from Figure 1 after initial charging with hydrogen; and Figure 3 shows a pre-fabricated annular or cylindrical block of storage material with gas distribution channels.

The cylindrical pressed blocks 1 represented in Figure 1, are housed in compartments defined around a gas pipe 5 and separated by partition sheets 2 within the container. Each block 1 substantially fills the radially outer part of the respective compartment, but leaves a cavity 3 at the inner part adjacent the pipe 5. The cavities 3 are confined outwardly by the bore diameter 4 of the pressed blocks 1 and toward the interior by the pipe wall of the gas pipe 5.

After charging with gas (e.g. hydrogen) the storage material swells to substantially fill the compartment as shown in Figure 2. As shown, the density of material adjacent the pipe 5 is lower than elsewhere, and in the outer part of the compartment, the density is substantially unchanged. To minimize the risk of distortion and/or other damage to the container, we have found that each cavity should correspond to at least 5% of the net volume of the respective compartment, or the total volume of the cavities would correspond with at least 5% of the net container volume. Figure 3 shows a pre-fabricated pressed block 1 with radially directed gas distribution channels 6. In the active storage material 1, either with or without the grooves 6 provided on one or both sides, in addition radially directed channels (not shown) of gas-carrying components which do not store hydrogen (e.g. sintered filter bars) may be arranged.

Claims

1. Apparatus for storing gas on the basis of a gasisolid combination comprising a central gas pipe arranged within a container with partition walls extending radially from the pipe to the container wall to define a plurality of storage compartment, and an annular block of solid storage material in each compartment, which block defines a cavity between its inner boundary and the pipe.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the size of the cavity in each compartment is such that the sum total of the cavity volumes corresponds to at least 5% of the net volume of the storage container.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each block of storage material is formed with radially directed grooves on at least one side.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein each block of storage material includes radially directed components for the passage of gas.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 and Claim 4 wherein said components are located in said grooves.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein said components comprise sintered filter bars.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the material of each block comprises an hydrogen storage material.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said material comprises a metal hydride.

9. Apparatus for storing gas substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. A prefabricated block of active gas storage material for use in apparatus according to any preceding Claim having given the internal dimensions of the container and external dimensions of the pipe, which block is annular and has readially outer dimensions substantially the same as said internal dimensions of the container, and radially inner dimensions larger than said external dimensions by an amount sufficient to define, when the block is located in the apparatus, a cavity between the pipe and the block corresponding to at least 5% of the space between the pipe and container in which the block is located.

11. A block of material according to Claim 10 having formed a plurality of grooves on at least one side thereof.

12. A prefabricated block of active gas storage material substantially as described herein with reference to the accmpanying drawing.