Development of high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage technologies

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 1048 - 1057
• Main Authors: Zheng, Jinyang, Liu, Xianxin, Xu, Ping, Liu, Pengfei, Zhao, Yongzhi, Yang, Jian
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Bulk transporters; Diffusion; Economics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; High pressure hydrogen storage; Hydrogen; Hydrogen embrittlement; Hydrogen safety; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen storage vessels; Transportation; Vessels; Hydrogen safety; Hydrogen storage vessels; High pressure hydrogen storage
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.02.125

Economic, efficient and safe hydrogen storage is the key to hydrogen economy. High pressure gaseous hydrogen storage offers the simplest solution in terms of infrastructure requirements and has become the most popular and highly developed method. There are three types of high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage vessel, namely: stationary, vehicular, and bulk transportation. First, recent progress toward low-cost, large capacity and light-weight on high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage vessels is reviewed. Then, three important aspects of high pressure gaseous hydrogen safety, i.e., hydrogen embrittlement of metals at room temperature, temperature rise in hydrogen fast filling, and potential risks such as diffusion, deflagration, and detonation after hydrogen leakage are introduced. A concise overview of the development on code and standard for high pressure hydrogen storage is also presented. Finally, some suggestions on the further research are proposed.
► Recent progress on high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage vessels, high pressure gaseous hydrogen safety and related codes and standards is reviewed in this article. Then some suggestions on the following aspects are proposed: ► Light-weight and low-cost bulk transportation high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage vessel. Significant challenges have been optimizing manufacturing issues, increasing service pressure, and minimizing production expenses. Methods for various tests, such as rail impact test, bonfire test, sub-length cycle test, sub-scale cycle test, etc. should be developed to validate manufacturing process and design. ► Durability of components in contact with high pressure hydrogen. It is necessary to establish a property database for fatigue and hydrogen embrittlement of materials used in high pressure hydrogen service and to develop related evaluation method for components in contact with high pressure hydrogen. ► Performance test method for high pressure hydrogen system and its key components. Performance-based tests ensure high pressure hydrogen system and its key components are fully capable of avoiding failure (rupture, leakage) under extreme conditions of usage that include extensive fueling frequency, physical damage and harsh environmental conditions. Methods are to be established and validated. ► Prediction and control of risk due to leakage of high pressure hydrogen. There is interaction between obstacles and hydrogen flow, hydrogen flame, detonation wave, and its impact on deflagration to detonation transition (DDT). Such interaction should be considered during establishing method for prediction and control of risk caused by leakage of high pressure hydrogen.