High Density Liquid Hydride Based Hydrogen Storage System

A liquid chemical hydride-based hydrogen storage system is proposed for high density hydrogen supply for fuel cell power generation applications. Research works performed at MER showed that certain liquid hydrides can be catalytically dehydrogenated at temperatures as low as 150¿C. The released hydrogen gas can be withdrawn from the system through a hydrogen permeable membrane to achieve completed dehydrogenation. The gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen capacities of these hydrides are about 7.25 wt% and 65 kg/rn3, respectively. Compared with metal hydride (AB5 or AB2) or solid chemical hydride (LiBH4 or LiAlH4) based systems, the proposed technology has advantages of being single component liquid, high storage densities, easiness to control hydrogen releasing rate and pressure, stability at ambient conditions, recycleability, and low cost. During the Phase I program, the feasibility of using liquid hydrides for high density hydrogen storage will be determined, i.e., the optimal catalysts for liquid hydride dehydrogenation process will be identified, the operating conditions for hydrogen releasing will be optimized, energy requirement will be estimated, and conceptual design of the liquid hydride based hydrogen storage system will be performed. The proposed high density, low cost, recyclable hydrogen storage system based on liquid-hydride will find many applications in military and commercial sectors, such as power pack for field soldiers, hydrogen storage tank for fuel cell powered electrical vehicles, and fuel tank for hydrogen internal combustion engines