Hydrogen Storage in Cryogenic, Cybernetic, and Catalytic Vessels for Transport Vehicles

Abstract

Most of the hydrogen storage vessels meant for vehicles to run the electric motor via a fuel cell during transport are designed for drives of only a few tenths of kilometers per day. The present report, however, describes a vessel model that is conceived to hold the hydrogen energy only for short periods during transport, such as a few hours. This would include transport via a light-duty vehicle, a taxi, or a bus, which would load liquid hydrogen at a station every morning for the day. This is a simple model based on the novel concept of Double Open Vessel (DOV), in which the liquid H2 is loaded inside an open container inserted inside another open container. The walls of this DOV are constituted of simplified linings that allow the entry of thermal heat nearly a hundred times greater than that allowed by the cryo-compressed vessels with higher insulation. After loading, the liquid evaporates, while the gas flows around its initial container into which it was loaded, passes through a few porous plugs, and is gradually released towards the Fuel Cell (or toward an ignition motor). Such a counter-flow of the gas creates a retroaction effect that insulates the inner container, thereby delaying the increases in temperature and pressure. The successive porous plugs installed in the space between the two containers form a system of barrages that regulate the gas flow through successive expansions of decreasing pressures. In addition, these catalytic plugs convert a portion of the loaded hydrogen into its ortho variety, acting as a heat pump, while temporarily storing the other portion. Collectively, these effects maintain the internal pressures below 150 bar. The proposed design for the DOV models is convenient to manufacture and has a lighter weight, and consequently, a low cost.