Optimization design of solid-state hydrogen storage device for fuel cell forklift

Abstract

Solid-state hydrogen storage device using metal hydride have enormous advantages for fuel cell forklifts. In addition to high volume hydrogen storage density, the solid-state hydrogen storage device can also be used as a counterweight for the forklift. At the same time, the solid-state storage device has low hydrogen storage pressure and safety, and the fuel (H2) refueling is convenient and low-cost. In this paper, a two-dimensional heat and mass transfer numerical model has been developed to predicting the performance of the metal hydride tank filled with Ti0.9Zr0.1Cr0.35Mn1.4V0.2Fe0.05 alloy. The validity of this numerical model was tested by comparison with the experimental data of the metal hydride hydrogen storage tank with a hydrogen capacity of 1 kg, achieving a good agreement between all the data. And a solid-state hydrogen storage device with an effective hydrogen capacity of 1.5 kg is optimally designed for 3.5 T fuel cell forklift. The completion rate of hydrogen refueling in the solid-state hydrogen storage device will reach 97.6 % within 30 min, and continuously discharging over 1.5 kg H2 under flow rates of 150 SL/min and 250 SL/min. The optimized solid-state hydrogen storage device was integrated in a power module for 3.5 T fuel cell forklift which allows uninterrupted operation for at least 6 h 8 min under rated operation.