Engineering Safe and Efficient Hydride-Based Technologies

Imagine providing a small, safe and energy efficient hydrogen refueller that can be installed in a domestic garage or industrial warehouse that will ensure that consumers can have an easy and resilient method of refuelling, reducing the reliance on refuelling stations whilst the hydrogen economy infrastructure develops. Current technology provides options which are bulky, take a long time to refuel and require storage at high pressures.

This work uses metal hydrides as a solid state storage option for hydrogen, reducing the pressure at which hydrogen is stored and reducing the spatial footprint, at the same time using a metal hydride compressor to provide further compression of hydrogen to on-board vehicle requirement levels. The challenge is in designing a compact system that can deliver the flow rates of hydrogen to compete with conventional petrol refuelling or by providing an alternative method that fits in with the lifestyle of a consumer. This work is meeting that challenge and ensuring that it puts safety at the forefront of its design philosophy.

Fundamental modelling is required to underpin this work, with materials developments combined with advanced mechanical design to deliver a robust safe design of system and components.

This project will address the need for efficient, safe hydride-based technologies (from distributed small scale refueling facilities for topping up a commuter vehicle to servicing a small fleet) this will help diversify the UK hydrogen infrastructure and facilitate within the UK a more rapid growth of, and a more sustainable, hydrogen vehicle market.

Beneficiaries

Academia
Enhancing the knowledge economy through dissemination of discoveries in peer reviewed journals and at national and international conferences; New understanding of how hydride-based technologies can be safely integrated into refuelling systems. Augmenting knowledge and developments of value to the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Supergen Hub.

Industry
Providing valuable studies for SME developments in this area by providing new learning on the safety of metal hydride powders, their combustion and explosive behaviour and on the issues faced when integrating hydrogen generators, compressors and stores into a single, compact modular unit. Understanding of the optimisation of hydride-based systems already developed and new understanding of technologies that could help the role-out of hydrogen vehicles.

Policy Makers
Impact on policymakers on future technology options in transport and the introduction of H2 from low-carbon sources; this project supports policy by broadening the range of technologies available for deployment.

Societal and Economic Impact
The Societal and economic impact will be enhanced by developing new technology that will help to support the roll-out of hydrogen vehicles in the UK and these cleaner vehicles will help improve local air quality and thereby reducing incidents of associated health conditions such as asthma; Increasing the variety in the range of technologies available for the refuelling of vehicles. In addition the development of home refuelling (the focus of this project's technology) would contribute towards more geographically fair access to hydrogen vehicles, rather than communities that are local to deployed infrastructure and give consumers choice. There will also be a benefit from an increased public knowledge and acceptance of the safety issues associated with hydrogen based technologies. New scientific discoveries through dissemination in peer reviewed journals and at national and international conferences. New understanding of how hydride-based technologies can be safely integrated into refuelling systems.