Abstract
The use of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels for vehicle propulsion is already a reality. However, due to its physical characteristics, storage is still a challenge. There is an innovative way, presented in this study, to store hydrogen in conventional vehicles propelled by spark-ignition reciprocating engines and fuel cells, using hydrogen as fuel; the storage of hydrogen will be at high pressure within small spheres randomly packed in a tank, like the conventional tank of fuel used nowadays in current vehicles. Therefore, the main purpose of the present study is to assess the performance of this storage system and compare it to others already applied by car manufacturers in their cars. In order to evaluate the performance of this storage system, some parameters were taken into account: The energy stored by volume and stored by weight, hydrogen leakage, and compliance with current standards. This system is safer than conventional storage systems since hydrogen is stored inside small spheres containing small amounts of hydrogen. Besides, its gravimetric energy density (GED) is threefold and the volumetric energy density (VED) is about half when compared with homologous values for conventional systems, and both exceed the targets set by the U.S. Department of Energy. Regarding the leakage of hydrogen, it complies with the European Standards, provided a suitable choice of materials and dimensions is made.
Highlights
Some experts predict that, in the future, hydrogen will be used as a general-purpose energy vector, either for storing or transporting energy [1,2]
The main purpose of the study is to assess the features of such a storage method regarding the energy stored per volume of the system (VED), energy stored per weight of the system (GED), leakage of hydrogen from the system, compliance with current standards, and comparison with other storage methods for hydrogen
For a determined pressure and ID, the energy energy of the hydrogen contained within a sphere has a value given by Equation (1)
Summary
In the future, hydrogen will be used as a general-purpose energy vector, either for storing or transporting energy [1,2]. Like the Chinese, [3,4,5], German [6], and Japanese [7] economies, and that of the United States [8], among others, are about to boost the use of hydrogen, since their leaders are prone to establishing a friendly economic and political background. To achieve this goal, a great amount of work is still needed because there is a lack of infrastructure, namely refueling stations [9,10]. In the cases of such surpluses, Tarkowski [12] studied the feasibility of underground hydrogen storage using salt caverns, deep aquifers, depleted gas fields, and depleted oil fields.
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