H2COOL - dual energy store for refrigerated transportation

This research is part of H2COOL, a University of Nottingham £1m research project, with the aim to produce an innovative and cost-effective dual-use energy storage technology. The dual-use hydrogen store is an integrated hydrogen technology, which will simultaneously provide the controlled release of hydrogen for a fuel cell and cooling for refrigeration. An important target application for the dual-use store are hydrogen fuel cell heavy goods vehicles transporting perishable goods i.e. refrigerated HGV's. Conventionally, hydrogen is stored at high pressure typically 35 MPa (350 bar) or greater but storing hydrogen using metal hydrides alloys offers some significant advantages. These include a higher round trip efficiency and a higher level of safety. In addition to these advantages, the dual-use energy store utilises the endothermic dehydrogenation of a metal hydride to generate useful cooling, whilst also supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell.
The success of the H2COOL project relies on the formulation and validation of new metal hydrides suitable for use in the dual-use store. The PhD student will work within a creative multidisciplinary team. This PhD project is focussed on the synthesis and characterisation of novel metal hydrides and will be working alongside scientists using materials modelling for the discovery of new formulations, engineers investigating the design of a dual-use energy store and business sociologists investigating barriers to the market. This PhD will suit candidates who are enthusiastic about applied theory and experimentation. An interest in material science and sustainable energy technologies would be beneficial. There will be opportunity for industrial engagement with both UK and international companies from the cold economy. There is also the potential opportunity for a secondment through collaboration activities with Sandia National Laboratories based in the US.
Deliverables
-New family of higher capacity metal hydrides with suitable thermodynamic characteristics to provide cooling for refrigeration.
-Proven formulation of intermetallic alloy suitable for use in dual-use metal hydride store.