Hydrogen Pressure Research Articles

Multi-objective optimization of airfoils with integral tubular high-pressure tanks for hydrogen storage

Reducing the environmental impact of air transport is one of today's most important challenges in aviation industry and research. A promising key enabler is the use of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels. The development of hydrogen-powered aircraft poses new engineering challenges due to its low volumetric energy density requiring high-pressure or cryogenic storage. If the volume in the wing shall be further used for storing hydrogen under high pressure, new demands arise to airfoil design. The present work focuses on this issue by presenting a multi-objective optimization approach aiming for airfoils with both low drag and high volume for internal tubular high-pressure tanks. This allows to directly address the new design objective and to find novel airfoil shapes providing the best compromise between aerodynamic efficiency and high storage volume for pressurized hydrogen. The resulting optimization problem is solved using Evolutionary Algorithms. For an efficient aerodynamic evaluation, the open source viscous-inviscid panel method XFOIL is used. An application example, based on the flight conditions of a general aviation aircraft, demonstrates the applicability of the method. Comparisons of the resulting aerodynamic characteristics obtained by XFOIL with RANS simulations confirm the feasibility of the results.

Physically activated resorcinol-formaldehyde derived carbon aerogels for enhanced hydrogen storage

Carbon aerogels have great potential as hydrogen storage materials owing to their exceptional specific surface area, low weight, and high porosity. These characteristics improve the ability to increase hydrogen adsorption capacity, making them promising candidates for hydrogen storage materials. Nevertheless, the implementation encounters obstacles such as limited storage capacity under ambient temperature and pressure. The present study reports the improved hydrogen storage capacity of carbon aerogels synthesized by Pekala's sol-gel method and optimized by physical activation. This study aims to optimize specific surface area and micropore volumes by physical activation to enhance hydrogen adsorption via the physisorption mechanism. The as-synthesized carbon aerogel has a specific surface area of 579.53 m2/g with a pore volume of 0.34 cm3/g whereas this surface area and pore volume have been tuned using its physical activation. The physically activated carbon aerogel shows a significantly higher specific surface area of 799.68 m2/g with a pore volume of 0.47 cm3/g as compared to the pristine carbon aerogel. This optimization in the specific surface area has enhanced the hydrogen storage capacity of carbon aerogel. The activated carbon aerogel exhibits a promising hydrogen storage capacity of 5.28 wt% at liquid nitrogen temperature under a hydrogen pressure of 22 atm whereas 3.39 wt% of hydrogen storage capacity has been seen in the unactivated carbon aerogel under the same conditions. In addition, activated carbon aerogel showed good hydrogen adsorption and desorption kinetics up to 30 cycles at room temperature (27 °C) under 22 atm hydrogen pressure. The reason behind enhanced hydrogen adsorption capacity in activated carbon aerogel has been put forward using various characterization techniques like XRD, TEM, SEM, and BET and discussed in the mechanism section.

Preparation of Ni-Cu-C composite catalysts prepared from mixed nickel and copper hydroxides for selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol

A high-performance Ni-Cu-C composite catalyst was prepared from mixed nickel hydroxide and copper hydroxide, which were obtained by coprecipitation, by thermal treatment with acetylene-containing gas at 120 °C followed by hydrogen reduction at 180 °C. The characterization results of XRD, TEM, XPS, and H2-TPR measurements confirmed the presence of nickel carbide (Ni3C), copper carbide (CuxC), Cu, and Ni in the matrix of amorphous carbon in the composite catalyst. The mild preparation temperature and the porous carbon shell layers prevented the nano-sized particles from aggregation. The formation of interstitial Ni3C and CuxC significantly enhanced the dissociation of molecular hydrogen, accelerating the selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to yield 4-aminophenol (4-AP) at relatively mild conditions (80 °C and 1.0 MPa hydrogen pressure). The catalytic performance of the composite catalysts depended strongly on the Ni/Cu molar ratio, with an optimal Ni/Cu molar ratio of 4. In addition, the composite catalyst showed high conversion and selectivity to the corresponding aniline in the selective hydrogenation of other nitroarenes, including nitrobenzene, 4-nitrotoluene, 4-nitrochlorobenzene, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 4-nitroacetophenone, and 2-nitroaniline. The catalyst offers a novel approach to rational design and preparation of high-performance abundant metal catalysts for selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Hydrogen activation and surface exchange over La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-z

Hydrogen mass-transfer between molecular hydrogen and La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-z (LSGM) has been studied by means of hydrogen isotope exchange with gas phase equilibration. The measurements were carried out within a temperature range of 300–700 °C, with molecular hydrogen pressures of 100, 150 and 200 Pa. It was found that LSGM is capable of consuming hydrogen from the gas phase. The relative number of hydrogen atoms in the LSGM structure varied between 1 and 4 mol.%. The kinetics of hydrogen isotope redistribution revealed that the mass-transfer mechanism between molecular hydrogen in the gas phase and LSGM includes at least three steps. The first two relate to dissociative and associative/molecular adsorption of molecular hydrogen, while the third, identified as the rate-determining step in the exchange process, relates to hydrogen incorporation into LSGM structure. The kinetic and thermodynamic isotope effects of the exchange were estimated.

Hydrothermal liquefaction of southern yellow pine with downstream processing for improved fuel grade chemicals production

The hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technique for liquefying lignocellulose biomass feedstock is often associated with low biocrude yield and poor fuel properties. This study examined the HTL of southern yellow pine sawdust and the hydrotreatment (HYD) of produced biocrudes in an effort to address these challenges. Pine HTL treatment was performed within water and water–ethanol mixed reaction medium at 250, 300, and 350℃ temperatures using metallic iron (Fe) as a catalyst. The rising reaction temperature in a water medium and increasing ethanol content in a mixed reaction medium were found to be effective in enhancing the biocrude yield from the non-catalytic pine HTL process. Maximum non-catalytic biocrude yield of 18 wt.% was produced in water at 350℃, whereas the ethanol and water (1:1 on mass basis) mixture generated the highest biocrude yield of 34 wt.% at 300℃ without any catalyst. The iron catalyst facilitated a maximum of 29 wt.% of biocrude yield as opposed to 18 wt.% without the catalyst at 350℃ in water. The use of an iron catalyst also raised the calorific value of produced biocrudes by 2.5–14 % within 250-350℃ in both water and water–ethanol media. The catalytic and non-catalytic biocrude products were chosen to undergo HYD treatment at 400 °C under high hydrogen pressure (initial 1000 psi) using an alumina-supported cobalt-molybdenum catalyst. The HYD treatment reduced the oxygen content of upgraded oils by 36–60 % compared to the parent HTL biocrudes with 35–37 MJ/kg calorific values. The simulated distillation detected the maximum gasoline range compounds in upgraded oil from catalyst and water–ethanol conditions, whereas the GC–MS analysis revealed the production of increased aromatic hydrocarbons in all upgraded HYD oils. This work has demonstrated the potential of ethanol and inexpensive iron catalyst in enhancing the biocrude production from pine, which could be upgraded to better fuel using the HYD process.

Structure analysis (XRD and Neutrons) and hydrogen storage properties of Hf1-xTixNbVZr BCC high entropy alloys

The hydrogen storage properties of Hf1-xTixNbVZr high entropy alloys (HEAs) synthesized by arc melting have been investigated. The first hydrogenation of the alloys was performed at room temperature under 20 bars of hydrogen pressure. Results show an increase in gravimetric hydrogen content with Ti substitutions. Upon hydrogenation, the multiphase alloys (x = 0 and x = 0.25) exhibit a combination of faces-centred-cubic (FCC) hydride and C15 Laves phases, while single-phase alloys (x = 0.5, 0.75, and 1) display FCC structures.The crystal structure evolution during dehydrogenation of HfNbVZr (x = 0) and TiNbVZr (x = 1) HEAs was examined using in-situ neutron diffraction. The analysis demonstrates temperature-dependent desorption behaviour, with HfNbVZr displaying lower desorption temperatures compared to TiNbVZr. Additionally, in-situ neutron diffraction experiments during deuterium desorption indicate a two-step phase transition from FCC dihydride to BCT monohydride, followed by a transition to BCC.

Design and test of a module of a breathable Electrostatic Shield for the MITICA 1 MV negative ion Beam Source

The electrical insulation of the MITICA Beam Source at 1 MV is a challenging issue, which has not been fully addressed so far on the basis of experimental results and of theoretical models available in literature. Being MITICA the full-size prototype of the Heating Neutral Beam Injector for the ITER fusion experiment, its electrical insulation is constituted just by vacuum gaps and alumina insulators, since other insulating materials such as SF6 gas or fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) would be quickly degraded by the expected neutron flux produced by fusion reaction. Extrapolations based on HV tests on reduced-scale models have recently indicated the risk of electrical breakdowns in the vacuum gap between electrodes nominally operating at -1 MV and the vacuum vessel (at ground potential). The risk of electrical breakdown can be mitigated by introducing an intermediate Electrostatic Shield (ES), which essentially is an equipotential (metallic) enclosure surrounding the HV electrode, so as to divide the vacuum gap in two independent insulating gaps of 400 kV and 600 kV respectively. However, for optimal negative ion production, the ion source shall operate in H2 or D2 at a pressure of ∼ 0.3 Pa and unavoidably produces a flow of gas leaking out in the surrounding vacuum. Thus, the presence of an intermediate shield can substantially increase the background gas pressure in the vacuum gaps, and, due to the large gap length (0.6 m), exacerbate the risk of breakdown when the pressure approaches the conditions of Paschen-type discharges. In addition to this, RF-induced breakdowns were found on the rear side of the ion source during the operation of the prototype source SPIDER, which were somewhat correlated to a relatively high hydrogen pressure in that area. For these reasons, a structure capable of constituting a full equipotential barrier all around the BS and, at the same time, having sufficient gas conductivity (breathability) to allow efficient pumping of background gas, has been designed. In the first part of the paper, the requirements and design optimization of a breathable module of the intermediate ES are described. Then, an experimental campaign for the validation of the electrode implementation the test configurations and the experimental procedure is discussed.

Investigation into the Suppression Effect of Water Mist on the Self-ignition and Flame Propagation of High-pressure Hydrogen Release

Abstract The self-ignition accident of pressurized hydrogen leakage is regarded as one of the big potential risks in its wide utilization. In this work, a detailed investigation into the suppression effect of water mist on the hydrogen self-ignition and flame propagation is performed. A parametric study of the effect of water concentration and droplet size on flame dynamic is conducted. The results show that the fine water mist effectively reduces the shock-heating temperature, significantly prolonging the ignition time and distance. The water droplets have a direct contact with the fast growing flame, which leads to more intense two-phase interaction that results in the decoupling of shock wave from the leading flame and a more pronounced bimodal flame structures. The droplet size is found to have small effect when the water concentration is low, and the mist with a medium size of 50 μm shows a better inhibitory performance.

Sustainable Rubber Nanocomposites for Hydrogen Sealings: Impact of Carbon Nano-Onions and Bio-Based Plasticizer

Additives play a crucial role in modifying and enhancing the properties of rubbers, improving mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance to make them more suitable for various applications. The rubber industry faces challenges related to high resource consumption and toxic emissions, which are further impacted by the use of performance-enhancing additives. In hydrogen storage systems, tailored additives are required for rubbers to withstand elevated temperatures and high pressures, preventing hydrogen-induced swelling, a major cause of sealing failure. Herein, a novel form of carbonaceous material, carbon nano-onions (CNOs), and the bio-based plasticizer additive epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) are utilized in conventional silica-filled nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) nanocomposites to develop low-carbon manufacturing high pressure hydrogen resistant O-rings for sealing applications. The results reveal that the incorporation of CNOs increases the crosslinking density (vc), assisted by ESO, in silica-filled NBR nanocomposites. While the conventional adipate-based plasticizer and ESO were found to be susceptible to high pressure hydrogen exposures, ESO demonstrated sustained compressive sealing properties with increase in von-Mises stress and in elevated thermo-oxidative conditions over time. The results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) recommend ESO for low-carbon manufacturing in rubber processing over conventional plasticizers.

Pore coarsening mechanism during hot rolling induced by hydrogen gathering in Al-Mg alloy

A novel mechanism for pore coarsening during hot rolling was proposed that the hydrogen in the ingot, driven by non-uniform hydrostatic pressure, accumulates into the tortuous shrinkage cavities at the thickness center of the slab. High pressure hydrogen gas gradually changes the stomatal curvature and finally leads to pore coarsening.

The regulation of dislocation and precipitated phase improving hydrogen embrittlement resistance of pipeline steel in high pressure hydrogen environment

In this study, the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of quenched pipeline steel tempered at 550 °C to 650 °C in a high-pressure hydrogen environment was analyzed. Hydrogen permeation tests and microstructural analyses indicated that the dislocation density of the steel decreases with increasing tempering temperature, while precipitates gradually nucleate and grow. These hydrogen traps interact with hydrogen atoms, resulting in significantly higher diffusible hydrogen content in steel tempered at 550 °C compared to that tempered at 600 °C and 650 °C. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) test results show that steel tempered at 600 °C and 650 °C exhibits significantly better hydrogen embrittlement resistance than steel tempered at 550 °C. This is primarily due to the combined effect of the high hydrogen concentration, high dislocation density and low nano carbide content in the steel tempered at 550 °C, which inhibits dislocation slip and emission, leading to high crack tip stress and rapid crack propagation. In contrast, the low dislocation density and and dispersed nano carbides in steel tempered at 600 °C and 650 °C facilitate some dislocation slip and emission, result in crack tip stress relaxation and reduced crack propagation rate. Properly controlling the initial dislocation density and increasing the density of irreversible hydrogen traps can enhance the strength of materials while improving their resistance to hydrogen embrittlement.

Opportunities and challenges for direct electrification of chemical processes with protonic ceramic membrane reactors

Abstract The necessity of developing sustainable energy storage and process electrification technologies has built an unprecedented momentum for protonic ceramic membrane reactors (PCMRs). PCMRs are practically electrolytic cells (or even fuel cells in case of cogeneration) that extend beyond the classical approach of electrolysis towards producing a variety of value-added chemicals or fuels. The use of a ceramic electrolyte membrane to electrochemically supply or remove hydrogen offers unique advantages, such as process intensification, cogeneration of chemicals and electricity, as well as the shift of the chemical equilibrium to the desired products. During the last few years, rapid progress has not only been made in the cell components, but also for upscaling, which reveals their high potential in terms of efficiency and flexibility. Herein, we discuss recent innovations and breakthroughs in the PCMR concepts and components for different processes, while we attempt to identify challenges that may hinder their wide deployment. Closer to commercialization is the production of pressurized hydrogen from sustainable sources, i.e. biogas and ammonia, while significant advancements have been made in reversible H2O electrolysis systems. CO2/H2O co-electrolysis, hydrocarbon conversion and ammonia synthesis have been also successfully demonstrated, albeit with different obstacles related to the product selectivity and stability of the cell reactors. We conclude that future projects should target beyond the experimental discovery of materials, such as, multiscale modeling that would aid optimization of the involved surfaces, interfaces, and the operating parameters towards enhancing the viability of electrosynthesis in PCMRs.

Intensifying cyclopentanone synthesis from furfural using supported copper catalysts.

This work addresses catalytic strategies to intensify the synthesis of cyclopentanone, a bio-based platform chemical and a potential SAF precursor, via Cu-catalyzed furfural hydrogenation in aqueous media. When performed in a single step, using either uniform or staged catalytic bed configuration, high temperature and hydrogen pressures (180°C and 38 bar) are necessary for maximum CPO yields (37 and 49%, respectively). Parallel furanic ring hydrogenation of furfural and polymerisation of intermediates, namely furfuryl alcohol (FFA), limit CPO yields. Employing a two step configurationwith optimal catalyst bed can curb this limitation. First, the furanic ring hydrogenation can be suppressed by using milder conditions (i.e., 150°C and 7 bar H2, and 14 seconds of residence time). Second, FFA hydrogenation using tandem catalysis, i.e., a mix of β-zeolite and Cu/ZrO2, at 180°C, 38 bar H2 and 0.6 gFFA g-1 cat hr-1, allows sufficient time for CPO formation and minimises polymerisation of FFA, thereby resulting in 60% CPO yield. Therefore, this work recommends a split strategy to produce CPO from furfural. Such modularity may aid in addressing flexible market needs.

Modeling The Hydrogen Crossover Through Membrane With And Without Catalyst Layers

The hydrogen crossover flux is expressed as a function of the difference in the partial pressure of hydrogen and total pressure difference between the supply and permeate sides of a membrane. The hydrogen crossover rate was measured under several operating conditions by micro gas chromatography. The permeation flux was not influenced by the total pressure difference up to 50 kPa. A bare Nafion membrane and the membrane with catalyst layers were modeled as a stack of bulk and skin layers. Hydrogen permeability of both samples showed identical bulk layer expressed by a power-law equation of the moisture content and an Arrhenius equation of temperature with an activation energy of 22.8 kJ mol–1. The measurement of skin layer resistance wasn’t successful since the skin layer resistance was too low to be measured. A skin layer of Nafion with a catalyst layer wasn’t observed due to formation of fused layer.

Modeling The Hydrogen Crossover Through Membrane With And Without Catalyst Layers

The hydrogen crossover flux is expressed as a function of the difference in the partial pressure of hydrogen and total pressure difference between the supply and permeate sides of a membrane. The hydrogen crossover rate was measured under several operating conditions by micro gas chromatography. The permeation flux was not influenced by the total pressure difference up to 50 kPa. A bare Nafion membrane and the membrane with catalyst layers were modeled as a stack of bulk and skin layers. Hydrogen permeability of both samples showed identical bulk layer expressed by a power-law equation of the moisture content and an Arrhenius equation of temperature with an activation energy of 22.8 kJ mol–1. The measurement of skin layer resistance wasn’t successful since the skin layer resistance was too low to be measured. A skin layer of Nafion with a catalyst layer wasn’t observed due to formation of fused layer.

Features of crystallization of andesite melt at moderate hydrogen pressures (experimental study)

Features of crystallization of andesite melt at moderate hydrogen pressures (experimental study)

Synergic effects of temperature and pressure on the hydrogen diffusion and dissolution behaviour of X80 pipeline steel

Gas-phase hydrogen permeation experiments were conducted on X80 steel at temperatures from −15℃ to 60℃ and hydrogen pressures of 1, 4, 8 MPa. Hydrogen trap densities were determined, and a method for calculating nonlinear hydrogen concentration distribution was established and verified. Results reveal different temperature dependencies for hydrogen concentrations at varying pressures. At 4 and 8 MPa, the hydrogen concentration increases with temperature, whereas at 1 MPa, it initially decreases before increasing. Additionally, the influences of hydrogen pressure, hydrogen trap binding energy, and hydrogen trap density on this trend are discussed.

Turbulent Burning Velocity of High Hydrogen Flames

Abstract The turbulent burning velocity (ST) is one of the most important combustion properties controlling combustor operability limits, directly influencing blowoff, flashback, and combustion instabilities. Hydrogen has particularly significant influences on the turbulent flame speed. This paper presents new H2/CH4 data of high pressure, high hydrogen turbulent burning velocities. The datasets were designed to address fundamental questions as well as provide engineering/design relevant insights. This paper presents new scaling analysis of fuel composition, pressure, and preheat temperature effects on turbulent burning velocity. We also discuss the importance of considering what is being held constant (temperature, flame speed, Reynolds number, etc.) when one is analyzing these sensitivities. Data show that hydrogen fraction and pressure cause an increase in turbulent flame speed; whether quantified as raw ST,GC or normalized as ST,GC/SL,0 or ST,GC/SL,max (where SL,0 and SL,max are the unstretched and stretched laminar flame speed, respectively). We also propose that observed increases in ST,GC with pressure are due to increases in Reynolds number and not a kinetics/stretch sensitivity effect. With increasing preheat temperature, ST,GC increases while its normalized value (ST,GC/SL,0 and ST,GC/SL,max) can either increase or decrease, depending upon fuel composition. We also show how these sensitivities vary, depending on whether these comparisons are made at constant raw turbulence intensity urms or at constant normalized urms/SL,0 or urms/SL,max.

Laboratory Tests in Cyber-Physical Mode for an Energy Management System Including Renewable Sources and Industrial Symbiosis

Abstract The aim of this paper regards the laboratory validation of an energy management system (EMS) for an industrial site on the Eigerøy island (Norway). It will be the demonstration district in the ROBINSON project for a consequent concept replication. This activity in cyber-physical mode is an innovative approach to finalize the EMS tool with real measurement data with prime movers available at laboratory level, considering the necessary EMS robustness and flexibility for replication on other industrial islands. This EMS was designed and developed to minimize variable costs, producing on/off and set-point signals that, through a model predictive control (MPC) software, establish the system status. This smart grid includes renewable sources (e.g., solar panels, a wind turbine, and syngas) and traditional prime movers, such as a steam boiler for the industry needs. Moreover, an energy storage device is installed composed of an electrolyzer with a hydrogen pressure vessel. The main results reported in this work regard 26-h tests performed in cyber-physical mode thanks to the real-time interaction of hardware and software. So, a real microturbine and real photovoltaic (PV) panels were managed by the EMS in conjunction with software models for components not physically present in the laboratory. Although the optimization target was cost minimization, significant improvement was also obtained in terms of efficiency increase and CO2 emission decrease.

Investigation of ruthenium loaded beta zeolite catalyst performance in vanillin hydrodeoxygenation yielding both monomeric and dimeric cycloalkanes

The valorization of lignin-derived bio-oil is studied extensively due to its promising contribution to sustainability. Among these studies, many have focused on the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of phenolic model compounds as it is a crucial process in obtaining valuable oxygen-free hydrocarbons. In this work, vanillin HDO was performed on various bifunctional ruthenium-based zeolite catalysts with different zeolite supports (Y, ZSM-5, and beta) in a batch reactor. Ru-loaded beta zeolite catalysts (Ru/Hβ) exhibited the highest HDO activity among them, and the formation of dimeric cycloalkanes of high value were also observed specifically when using the Ru/Hβ catalyst. Due to their benefits of direct use in blending of biofuel, factors promoting the dimerization of phenolic monomers were extensively examined through a series of experiments using a mix of phenolic model compounds as HDO reactants. Specific oxygen containing functional groups contributed to the aldol condensation of aromatic species, and the structure and kinetic diameter of the monomers had a profound effect on the ability to participate in dimerization. Additionally, the metal loading of the catalyst and reaction conditions such as temperature and hydrogen pressure were varied to observe each of their effects on the product distribution. The change in metal loading had a remarkable impact on the preferred reaction pathway and product selectivity, while a high temperature of 200 °C and hydrogen pressure of 50 bar was determined to be necessary to fully achieve HDO to cycloalkanes. Consequently, this study has provided useful information on the production of both monomeric and dimeric cycloalkanes and has contributed to the development of the bio-oil upgrading process.