Development of lightweight hydrides

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6670666· OSTI ID:6670666

Nachman, J. F.; Rohy, D. A.; Argabright, T. A.

Automotive use of hydrogen as a fuel (energy carrier) is a future option in a world with low petroleum reserves. Hydrogen has a high energy content per pound and produces relatively few emissions when burned. Two basic problems restrict the exercise of that option; methods must be developed to produce hydrogen economically from renewable or solid fossil fuel sources and the need for practical onboard systems to store hydrogen in a safe, dense and relatively lightweight configuration. The authors have concentrated their efforts on the development of the metal hydride approach for hydrogen storage. Metal hydrides can store more hydrogen per unit volume than normal high pressure or even cryogenic hydrogen techniques. Little energy is required to store the hydrogen in the hydride, and high stability at room temperature ensures low losses over long storage periods. Safety features of metal hydride storage are favorable. Because of its low weight and high hydrogen storage densities, modified magnesium alloy-based hydrides appear to offer the greatest potential for automotive storage of hydrogen. Recent experimental and analytical work has been directed toward the optimization of this storage system. Due to the relative stability of MgH/sub 2/, modifications of the form MgMHx (M = metal atom) have been made to decrease the dissociation temperature while retaining high hydrogen capacity. This parameter is crucial since vehicle exhaust will supply the thermal energy to dissociate the hydride in an automobile. System studies indicate that hydride dissociation temperature should be 200/sup 0/C or lower to ensure uninterrupted fuel flow at all driving and idle conditions. This report describes the authors' modifications to magnesium hydride based families of materials.

• Research Organization: Solar Turbines, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-78CS52059
• OSTI ID: 6670666
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/52059-1; ON: DE83004227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080201* -- Hydrogen-- Chemisorption Storage
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800 -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM HYDRIDES
AUTOMOBILES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER HYDRIDES
DEHYDRIDATION
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN STORAGE
ISOTHERM
LITHIUM ALLOYS
LITHIUM BASE ALLOYS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HYDRIDES
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
MAGNESIUM BASE ALLOYS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM HYDRIDES
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL HYDRIDES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STORAGE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES