Preliminary analysis of refilling cold-adsorbed hydrogen tanks

Abstract

The effective storage of hydrogen is a critical challenge that needs to be overcome for it to become a widely used and clean energy source. Various methods exist for storing hydrogen, including compression at high pressures, liquefaction through extreme cooling (i.e. -253 °C), and storage with chemical compounds. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. MAST3RBoost (Maturing the Production Standards of Ultraporous Structures for High Density Hydrogen Storage Bank Operating on Swinging Temperatures and Low Compression) is a European funded Project aiming to establish a reliable benchmark for cold-adsorbed H2 storage (CAH2) at low compression levels (100 bar or below). This is achieved through the development of advanced ultraporous materials suitable for mobility applications, such as hydrogen-powered vehicles used in road, railway, air, and water transportation. The MAST3RBoost Project utilizes cutting-edge materials, including Activated Carbons (ACs) and high-density MOFs (Metal-organic Frameworks), which are enhanced by Machine Learning techniques. By harnessing these materials, the project seeks to create a groundbreaking path towards meeting industry goals. The project aims to develop the world’s first adsorption-based demonstrator at a significant kg-scale. To support the design of the storage tank, the project employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, which allows for numerical investigations. In this paper, a preliminary analysis of the tank refilling process is presented, with a focus on the impact of the effect of the tank and hydrogen temperatures on quantity of hydrogen adsorbed.