Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/0005—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes
  • C01B3/001—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes characterised by the uptaking media; Treatment thereof
  • C01B3/0018—Inorganic elements or compounds, e.g. oxides, nitrides, borohydrides or zeolites; Solutions thereof
  • C01B3/0021—Elemental carbon, e.g. active carbon, carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/0005—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes
  • C01B3/001—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes characterised by the uptaking media; Treatment thereof
  • C01B3/0084—Solid storage media characterised by their shape, e.g. porous compacts or hollow particles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
  • B01J20/02—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
  • B01J20/0203—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising compounds of metals not provided for in B01J20/04
  • B01J20/0225—Compounds of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt
  • B01J20/0229—Compounds of Fe
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
  • B01J20/28—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
  • B01J20/28014—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties characterised by their form
  • B01J20/28042—Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/0005—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes
  • C01B3/001—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes characterised by the uptaking media; Treatment thereof
  • C01B3/0018—Inorganic elements or compounds, e.g. oxides, nitrides, borohydrides or zeolites; Solutions thereof
  • C01B3/0026—Metals or metal hydrides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/0005—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes
  • C01B3/001—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes characterised by the uptaking media; Treatment thereof
  • C01B3/0018—Inorganic elements or compounds, e.g. oxides, nitrides, borohydrides or zeolites; Solutions thereof
  • C01B3/0031—Intermetallic compounds; Metal alloys
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/0005—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes
  • C01B3/001—Reversible storage of hydrogen, e.g. by hydrogen getters or electrodes characterised by the uptaking media; Treatment thereof
  • C01B3/0078—Composite solid storage media, e.g. mixtures of polymers and metal hydrides, coated solid compounds or structurally heterogeneous solid compounds
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C11/00—Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels
  • F17C11/005—Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels for hydrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
  • F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0323—Valves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
  • F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for storing hydrogen in solid form, in particular for producing compact and modular storage tanks for hydrogen in the form of metal hydrides at low pressure.
• Hydrogen is used in many industrial fields, in particular as a fuel or as a reagent.
• a fuel or as a reagent given its volume in the gaseous state and its explosiveness in air, it is desirable for the hydrogen to be stored in a form ensuring reduced bulk and safe confinement.
• the first consists of storing gaseous hydrogen under very high pressure (between 350 and 700 bars) to compress it in tanks designed to withstand such pressures and which are therefore expensive.
• This type of storage also requires a large amount of energy to compress the hydrogen and to cool it. The energy balance of the use of hydrogen with this mode of storage is therefore poor.
• the second technology consists of storing hydrogen in liquid form. It is then necessary to maintain a temperature below -252.87°C to liquefy the hydrogen in tanks. This type of storage requires a significant amount of energy to keep the hydrogen liquefied.
• the third technology consists of storing hydrogen gas in a solid support in the form of compacted metal hydride powder.
• Some metals or alloys can reversibly incorporate hydrogen atoms into the crystal lattice. Hydrogen is absorbed/desorbed by these materials depending on the temperature and pressure conditions. These are, for example, Palladium (Pd), Magnesium (Mg), ZrMn2, Mg2Ni or alloys such as Mg-Mg2Ni or alanates.
• metal hydride covers, depending on the process step, the metal partially or fully charged with hydrogen.
• heavy hydrides mainly LaNi5, and alloys such as ferro-titanium alloy or Ti-V-Cr-based alloy
• light hydrides mainly magnesium and lithium
• the absorption of hydrogen by the light metal hydride requires a higher temperature (about 300°C for MgH2). This reaction is very exothermic (75 kJ/mol H2). The energy input necessary to initiate the hydrogen absorption reaction is therefore moderate. On the other hand, the absorption reaction is interrupted spontaneously if the heat produced is not evacuated. In addition, during use, the desorption of hydrogen requires a large heat input, the reaction being endothermic.
• hydrides in particular light hydrides, therefore requires very precise thermal management, both during the absorption and the desorption of hydrogen.
• the absorption/desorption reactions generate swelling/deflation of the hydride, i.e. volume expansion/contraction of the hydride during charging. / hydrogen discharge.
• the present invention aims to provide a device and a tank for storing hydrogen in solid form that is safe (that is to say without risk of rupture under the mechanical stresses of volume variation during absorption/desorption), easy to manufacture, offering rapid hydrogen absorption kinetics.
• the document FR2939784 also aims to propose a hydrogen storage tank minimizing variations in volume. It proposes a hydrogen storage tank using a light metal hydride, in particular magnesium hydride, mixed and compacted with a thermally conductive matrix (selected from the group consisting of GNE, metal felts, non-oxide ceramics and foamed copper coated with non-oxide ceramics) and combined with a reversible absorption heat storage system.
• a light metal hydride in particular magnesium hydride
• a thermally conductive matrix selected from the group consisting of GNE, metal felts, non-oxide ceramics and foamed copper coated with non-oxide ceramics
• the compacted material may comprise 80 to 99% by weight of magnesium hydride and 20 to 1% by weight of GNE.
• the reservoir comprises at least one tubular container delimited by a thermally conductive wall, immersed in a phase change material.
• each tubular container In each tubular container are stacked vertically several solid wafers formed from a mixture of compacted material comprising metal hydride and particles forming a thermally conductive matrix of GNE.
• Each pellet has a central hole intended to receive a porous tube in fluid communication with the hydrogen inlet and outlet. Between each pellet are provided metal plates.
• the pellets are in heat transfer relationship with the outer phase change material through the wall of each container which is of stainless steel type steel. To manage expansion problems, this document proposes to provide mechanical means to keep the pellets in contact with the wall.
• This device is complex, expensive, and difficult to implement due to the presence of the phase change material.
• this device can present a hazard because, due to the use of vertically stacked pellets, hydride powder falls to the bottom of the tank during the decrepitation of the pellets and can trigger an explosion under certain operational conditions.
• the invention therefore aims to avoid this risk due to the natural and inevitable decrepitation of the metal hydride compact in the form of pellets.
• the object of the invention is therefore to propose a solution for storing hydrogen in the form of metal hydrides at low pressure allowing the design and production of compact, modular, safe hydrogen tanks (that is to say without risk of rupture of the wall under mechanical stresses and without risk of explosion) and improved energy efficiency (that is to say having an increased loading speed).
• the invention proposes a particular arrangement, in particular of metal hydride and GNE, which makes it possible to solve all these problems, namely to limit the mechanical stresses against the wall of the tank during the loading/unloading cycles of the hydrogen, limit the risks of explosion linked to decrepitation, while accelerating the loading speed and the loading capacity thanks to an improved heat exchange.
• the subject of the invention is more precisely a pellet for storing hydrogen in solid form intended to be integrated into a hydrogen storage tank, the pellet comprising a peripheral ring of external diameter determined in Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG) of height determined, surrounding a wafer of a metal hydride in the form of compacted powder.
• ENG Expanded Natural Graphite
• the invention proposes not to mix the metal hydride and the GNE, but to surround the pellet of compacted metal hydride with a ring of GNE, preferably of laminated structure, and to separate these two elements by plates of thermal conductive material.
• the peripheral ring of GNE can consist of an axial stack of annular sheets of GNE of height less than the height of the peripheral ring; and or • the annular sheets of GNE may have a height of the order of a tenth of a millimeter, preferably between 1 and 5 tenths of a millimeter.
• the invention also relates to a hydrogen storage tank in solid form comprising: - a hollow cylindrical container extending along a longitudinal axis, closed at a first end, open at a second end, delimited by a thermally conductive outer radial wall, and comprising an alternating stack of rigid discs of thermally conductive material of determined diameter and previous pellets, each pellet being interposed between two rigid discs, each rigid disc being pierced with a hole and each metal hydride wafer being pierced with a hole opposite the hole in the discs to provide an axial passage, and - a removable cover for leaktight reversible closure of the second end of the hollow cylindrical container, the cover comprising a hydrogen inlet/outlet orifice.
• the tank may further comprise a passive hydrogen diffusion tube extending axially along the hollow cylindrical container, through the holes of the rigid discs and the hydride wafers of the pellets, and in tight fluidic connection with the orifice of the removable waterproof reversible closing lid;
• the passive hydrogen diffusion tube can be made of a material porous to hydrogen;
• the hydrogen inlet/outlet orifice can be in fluidic connection with a closing/opening valve;
• the hollow cylindrical container may comprise, between a last rigid disk of the stack and the removable lid with reversible sealed closure, a free space for axial expansion of the stack of pellets; and or • the tank can be shaped to be used in the extended position in which the longitudinal axis of the container is horizontal with respect to gravity, the tank further comprising a compression spring between the last rigid disc of the stack and the removable lid with waterproof reversible closure.
• FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of a tank according to the invention used in the lying position.
• FIGs 1 and 2 illustrate a pellet 1 for storing hydrogen in solid form according to the invention. It is intended to be integrated into a hydrogen storage tank (see figures 5 and 6).
• Pellet 1 comprises a peripheral ring 4 of determined external diameter D4 in Expanded Natural Graphite (ENG) of determined height H4, surrounding a wafer of a metal hydride 5 in the form of compacted powder, also of height H4.
• the compacted powder is a powder having undergone a uniaxial force of several tons allowing the powder to become integral and resulting in a solid, that is to say self-supporting, wafer of metal hydride 5.
• the diameter D4 is equal to the inside diameter of the tank in which the pad 1 is intended to be integrated to ensure close contact between the GNE ring and the wall of the tank.
• the peripheral ring 4 of GNE consists of an axial superposition (along the axis XX in use) of a plurality of annular sheets 4a of GNE (in this figure only two leaves are illustrated). These sheets 4a have a height H4a lower than the height H4 of the peripheral ring 4.
• the annular sheets of GNE have a height of the order of a tenth of a millimeter, preferably between 1 and 5 tenths of a millimeter.
• the metal hydride 5 in the form of a compacted powder is a hydride of the family of metal hydrides AB2 which has a gravimetric storage capacity that can reach 1.8 wt% (kg_H2/kg metal hydride) for operating conditions moderate (moderate pressure, that is to say less than 100 bars, and temperature less than 100°, preferably at room temperature).
• a metal hydride that works particularly well with the structure of a pellet according to the invention is the metal hydride marketed under the name Hydralloy C5 which is an alloy based on Ti/Zr/Mn/V/Fe.
• the powder is initially in the form of particles with a size of less than 600 ⁇ m. After compaction, the apparent density (mass of the powder / apparent volume of the powder) of the metal hydride is 2.93 g/cm3. Its absolute density is 6.41 g/cm3.
• the volume compression/decompression cycles due to the charging/discharging of the hydrogen are particularly well absorbed laterally by the GNE ring, while maintaining the heat transfers, and the charge/discharge speed is greatly accelerated compared to known systems having no peripheral GNE ring.
• the pellets 1 are stacked alternately with rigid discs 2 made of thermally conductive material.
• the discs 2 are spaced apart from each other by the peripheral ring 4 of expanded natural graphite (ENG) and the wafer of a metal hydride 5 against which the discs rest freely, this is that is, without being fixed there.
• ENG expanded natural graphite
• the peripheral ring 4 in GNE performs the role of a spacer providing between the discs 2 a space for receiving the metal hydride wafer 5.
• Each disc 2 has a diameter D2 slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tank in which it is intended to be stacked to allow the expansion of the discs 2 during heat transfer and their bringing into contact with the wall 11b of the tank without applying stresses to it.
• Each disc 2 is pierced with at least one hole 3 (here a single central hole 3).
• the metal hydride wafer 5 also comprises a hole 5a arranged in an annular manner with respect to the holes 3, so as to leave a free passage through the stack.
• This free passage allows the circulation of hydrogen to and from the metal hydride 5 of the pellets 1, and its evacuation through the holes 3 and 5a.
• a tube permeable to hydrogen is advantageously introduced through the holes 3-5a to lead the hydrogen into the circuit of the tank and the hydrogen storage system.
• This tube also makes it possible to filter the hydrogen, that is to say to prevent any particle of metal hydride coming from the wafers 5 from polluting the hydrogen leaving the tank.
• this tube also has a mechanical guiding role during the stacking in the tank and allows the pellets 1 and the rigid discs 2 to be perfectly centered.
• the discs 2 are made of aluminum and have a diameter D2 of 111.8 millimeters and a thickness E2 of 1 millimeter.
• Hole 3 has a diameter D3 of 10.2 millimeters.
• the peripheral ring in GNE 4 has a height H4 of 15 millimeters, and a width L4 of 5.6 millimeters.
• the peripheral ring in GNE 4 has a height H4 equal to 5 to 15% of the radius (D4/2).
• the ratio width L4 of the peripheral ring in GNE / diameter D2 of the discs is between 3 and 8.
• the material of the discs 2 is chosen to optimize the heat transfers and allow the evacuation of the heat in contact with the wall of the tank and the metal hydride wafers 5. It is also chosen to have the lowest possible density. It can, for example, be chosen from stainless steel, copper, but it is advantageously made of aluminum which optimizes the thermal conduction/density ratio. For example, aluminum discs are about 1 millimeter thick E2.
• FIGS 4 and 5 illustrate a hydrogen storage tank 10 in solid form according to the invention, used vertically. It is shaped to incorporate a plurality of pellets 1 according to the invention.
• the tank 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical container 11, extending along a longitudinal axis X-X, closed at a first end 11a and delimited by a thermally conductive outer radial wall 11b.
• the container 11 has a second open end 11c to allow access to the interior of said container.
• the reservoir 10 also comprises a removable cover 12 for reversible leaktight closure of the second end 11c of the hollow cylindrical container 11 to allow access to the interior of the container and to arrange the pellets therein, and to seal the container in view. of its use of storage/destocking of hydrogen.
• the cover 12 also includes a hydrogen inlet/outlet orifice 12a in fluid connection with a closing/opening valve 14.
• the wall 11b of the container in contact with the storage pellets 1 is as thin as possible to optimize heat removal. Of course, this wall must make it possible to withstand the hydrogen service pressure and the mechanical compression of the pellets 1 without deformation. Thanks to the pellets according to the invention, the mechanical compression of the pellets 1 is very limited since it is absorbed by the peripheral ring of GNE. At the level of the second end 11c, the wall 11b is advantageously thicker to allow the fixing of the cover 12.
• the tank 10 also comprises a passive hydrogen diffusion tube 13 extending axially along the hollow cylindrical container, through the holes 3 of the discs 2 and the holes 5a of the pellets.
• the tube 13 is also in leaktight fluidic connection with the orifice 12a of the removable lid with reversible leaktight closure.
• the tube 13 also facilitates the insertion of the pellets 1 and the discs 2 into the container 11 by centering the assembly and therefore ensuring their optimal positioning, in particular as regards the contact between the peripheral ring of GNE 4, the discs 2 and the wall 11b of the container 11.
• the tube 13 also allows filtering of any residues of metal hydride powder during desorption.
• the passive hydrogen diffusion tube 13 is a tube made of hydrogen-porous material so as to allow the absorption/desorption of hydrogen in and out of the metal hydride 5.
• the passive hydrogen diffusion tube 13 extends axially (parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X) throughout the container and is connected to a closing/opening valve 14 outside the tank 10 to prohibit/authorize the circulation of hydrogen. hydrogen out or to tank 10.
• valve 14 can be controlled manually and/or automatically by a central unit of the storage system (not shown).
• the hollow cylindrical container 11 comprises, between a last disk 2a of the stack and the removable closing lid 12, a space 16 for axial expansion of the stack of pellets.
• the GNE ring 4 of the pellets 1 is arranged between the wall 11b of the reservoir 10 and the compacted metal hydride 5. In this way, the GNE ring 4 makes it possible to reduce the mechanical stresses exerted on the wall 11b of the tank by absorbing this stress, and improves the thermal conductivity to evacuate the heat.
• the discs 2 not only allow thermal conduction towards the walls of the tank, but also, by their weight, to radially guide part of the expansion stresses of the metal hydride 5 towards the GNE ring 4 during the compression cycles. volume/decompression due to the charging/discharging of the hydrogen, the peripheral ring of GNE thus absorbing a large part of the increase in volume of the metal hydride 5 without transmitting the stress to the wall of the tank.
• pellets 1 - discs 2 - expansion space 16 assembly allows a sort of "breathing" of the stack which generates very little radial stress against the tank, and no axial mechanical compression since the space 16 allows the axial expansion of the pellets. The latter only results in an increase in hydrogen pressure, compatible with the service pressure, and which the tank can easily withstand without mechanical risk.
• This time saving is particularly improved with a GNE ring consisting of sheets 4a superimposed axially, as illustrated in .
• This layering of layers has anisotropic thermal conductivity properties. In the direction perpendicular to the axis XX, the conductivity is much greater.
• the wall 11a is made of aluminum alloy and has, in its part intended to be in contact with the pads 1, a thickness E1a of approximately 5 millimeters, and in its fixing part of the cover 12, a thickness E1b of approximately 20 millimeters.
• the 12 cover also made of aluminum alloy, has an E12 thickness of approximately 12 millimeters.
• the container 11 has an internal diameter D11 substantially equal to the diameter D4 of the rings 4 of GNE of the pellets 1.
• Substantially equal means a diameter equal to D4 to the nearest manufacturing clearance, necessary to pass the pellets into the reservoir.
• the discs 2 have a diameter D2 slightly less than the diameter D4 of the rings 4 of GNE to allow their expansion during heat transfer and to come into contact with the wall 11b of the tank without applying significant stress to it.
• the internal diameter D11 is equal to 112.1 millimeters
• the diameter D4 of the rings of GNE is equal to 112 millimeters
• the diameter D2 of the discs is equal to 111.8 millimeters
• the container 11 has a height H11 greater than the height of the stack of pellets 1 to leave an axial expansion space 16 free between the last pellet 1a of the stack of pellets and the removable cover 12 of sealed reversible closure.
• the height H11 is approximately 320 millimeters, i.e. the possibility of storing seventeen pellets 1 of 17 millimeters in overall height while leaving an expansion space 16 of 31 millimeters in height.
• the tank according to the invention can easily be lengthened or shortened depending on the storage capacity chosen, and therefore the number (and the height at equal diameter) of pellets that one wishes to be able to install.
• the structure of the stack according to the invention of pellets 1 and discs 2 also makes the tank particularly safe.
• the metal hydride pellets 5 decrepitate, that is to say they tend to become powdery again.
• this metal hydride powder is maintained between the discs. Thanks to this peripheral GNE ring 4, very little powder can fall by gravity against the wall 11a of the first end of the tank. On the contrary, in the known tanks, which do not include peripheral rings of GNE, a lot of powder falls by gravity to the bottom of the tank and presents an explosive risk.
• the tank is used in a horizontal position, that is to say that its longitudinal axis XX is substantially horizontal.
• the pellets 1 are alternated with discs 2 around the tube 13.
• the reservoir further comprises, in the expansion space 16, a compression spring 17 between the last rigid disk 2a of the stack and the removable lid 12 with reversible sealed closure.
• This spring 17 makes it possible to maintain the alternate stack of pellets 1 and discs 2 against the wall of the first end 11a of the tank while allowing axial expansion during the hydrogen loading/unloading cycles.
• This embodiment is particularly safe. Indeed, thanks to the peripheral rings of GNE, this metal hydride powder is maintained between the discs. If, despite everything, powder manages to pass between the GNE ring and the discs, it falls by gravity against the wall 11d located at the bottom of the tank, in the position of use.
• This wall 11d being much larger than the wall 11a, the powder cannot accumulate and presents even less risk of explosion than in the vertical position.
• This device according to the invention is simple while being able to absorb the mechanical stresses due to the expansion of the metal hydride during hydrogen loading and being particularly effective in terms of hydrogen loading time and safety.
• This loading time efficiency is linked, surprisingly, to the specific design of the pellets according to the invention allowing a differentiated absorption of the mechanical stress within the pellets 1 which limit the axial expansion thanks to the rigid plates 2, and promotes the lateral (or radial) expansion absorbed by the peripheral ring 4 of GNE.
• the invention allows the design and production of hydrogen tanks that are compact, light (because a very large part of their wall is thin), modular, safe (that is to say without risk of the wall breaking under the mechanical constraints or risk of explosion) and improved energy efficiency (i.e. having an increased loading speed).

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• Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-02-11 FR FR2201193A patent/FR3132706B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-02-03 CA CA3247453A patent/CA3247453A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-02-03 JP JP2024547759A patent/JP2025506195A/ja active Pending
  • 2023-02-03 CN CN202380021057.7A patent/CN118891225A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-02-03 WO PCT/EP2023/052686 patent/WO2023152046A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-02-03 EP EP23702600.0A patent/EP4476165B1/fr active Active
  • 2023-02-03 US US18/835,103 patent/US20250214834A1/en active Pending

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