Hydrogen transportation and storage components made with metal hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing

The rising demand for renewable energy requires development of innovative energy storage technologies. Hydrogen is a versatile fuel that can be produced using wind, solar, and nuclear energy. Moreover, hydrogen can be stored and transported to provide on-demand access to energy at the point-of-need. However, the domestic hydrogen infrastructure is not yet ready to meet the demands of domestic decarbonization targets. Therefore, innovative new research is required. The overarching objective for this Small Business Innovation Research effort is to evaluate the feasibility of hybrid metal additive and subtractive manufacturing solutions for manufacturing cryogenic valves used throughout the hydrogen transportation and storage network. The proposed approach builds on the proposing team’s expertise, facilities, and equipment to produce key components necessary for the development of domestic hydrogen infra-structure. In Phase I of this effort, the team will determine the range of technical requirements necessary for valve operation specific to hydrogen storage. Computational design work will identify materials and optimize designs for the highest likelihood of long-term survivability in the harsh cryogenic environment. Rapid prototyping, testing, and validation activities will lead to an analysis of the technical performance and commercial viability. If the proposed technology is feasible, future efforts will seek to mature the manufacturing technology and expand into other systems including mechanical components, tubulars, and nozzle designs. In situ testing will be conducted by qualified customers or stakeholders. The technical effort will lead to commercial insertion of the technology into customer systems in the energy industry. Overall, the proposed effort supports the Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s goals by enabling deployment of advanced hydrogen storage and transport technologies.