Metal Hydrides for Efficient Hydrogen Storage in Fuel Cells

Integrated system for purifying, storing, and pressurizing hydrogen using metal hydride reactors. The system has multiple metal hydride reactors with different pressure ratings connected in stages. Hydrogen purification, storage, and pressurization is achieved by cycling between absorption and desorption reactions in the reactors using a common heat source. The reactors are heated to absorb hydrogen, then cooled to desorb it at higher pressure. Impurity tail gas is purged between stages using hydrogen from the storage tank. The multi-stage setup allows continuous purification and pressurization of hydrogen at different levels without separate filling stations.

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Efficiently powering electric vehicles like drones using hydrogen fuel cells with solid hydrogen storage materials. The system uses a metal hydride in a container as the hydrogen source. A heater heats the metal hydride to release hydrogen into a storage tank. A pressure sensor monitors tank pressure and the heater controller powers the heater based on the sensor. This ensures optimal hydrogen flow to the fuel cell without overpressure. The fuel cell powers the vehicle motor using the hydrogen from the tank. The solid hydrogen storage allows higher hydrogen density compared to compressed gas for longer range.

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A hydrogen storage tank for a fuel cell system that provides a high capacity hydrogen storage solution with reduced metal hydride leakage compared to existing tanks. The tank has a pressure-resistant container with a metal hydride inside that absorbs and releases hydrogen. The metal hydride is fixed within a porous matrix material. This prevents metal hydride particles from dislodging and leaking out of the tank.

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Hydrogen storage system for electric utility vehicles like fuel cell forklifts that solves the challenge of providing sufficient vehicle counterweight when replacing lead-acid batteries with lighter fuel cell power systems. The system uses metal hydride hydrogen storage integrated with the vehicle structure rather than adding separate ballast. The metal hydride storage tanks are distributed around the vehicle to provide counterbalance weight while storing hydrogen. This avoids the need for additional ballast and allows direct replacement of lead-acid batteries with fuel cell power systems.

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Hydrogen storage system for fuel cells and hydrogen engines that enables cold start capability without an external heating system. It uses two tanks: a starter tank with a high temperature hydride that can release hydrogen at low pressure and temperature, and an operating tank with a low temperature hydride that absorbs hydrogen at low pressure and temperature. The starter tank provides hydrogen to start the fuel cell or engine, then the operating tank takes over once it has warmed up. The starter tank is thermally insulated from the operating tank so it doesn't cool down.

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A propulsion system for aircraft that uses solid hydrogen storage instead of liquid fuel to enable sustainable aviation. The system replaces conventional jet fuel with solid aluminum hydride that can be stored safely on board. The hydride is heated to desorb gaseous hydrogen, which is then combusted in the engine to generate power. A heating system applies moderate heat to progressively desorb the hydrogen. This allows safe solid hydrogen storage and transportation compared to liquid hydrogen.

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Zero emissions hydrogen fuel vehicle that uses hydride storage and buffering to provide high power demand capability. The vehicle has a combustion engine with hydride tanks, a hydrogen buffer tank, injectors, and a controller. The hydride tanks store hydrogen at low pressure, the buffer tank stores hydrogen at high pressure, and the controller optimizes injection timing. This allows using low pressure hydride tanks for normal driving, then rapidly filling the buffer tank for high power demands. The buffer tank provides high pressure hydrogen to the engine injectors for boosted power. The controller coordinates injection timing and tank filling to optimize combustion and emissions.

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Electrochemical compressor driven metal hydride heat pump system that can operate at low humidity levels. The system uses an electrochemical compressor to move hydrogen between metal hydride reservoirs for heating and cooling. The electrochemical compressor decomposes hydrogen into protons that pass through a proton conducting membrane. The protons reform into hydrogen on the other side. This allows the compressor to operate with dry hydrogen. The system uses metal hydride compounds with low density, high hydrogen absorption, and high recycling capacity for efficient heating and cooling. The metal hydride reservoirs are thermally connected to heat exchangers for direct or indirect heat transfer. The system optimizes hydrogen flow between reservoirs using closed loops and valves. The electrochemical compressor can also be used to transfer hydrogen from a separate desiccant unit.

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A method for dehydrogenating hydrogen storage materials using a fuel cell system. The method involves heating the hydrogen storage material to release hydrogen into the fuel cell, where it is consumed to generate electricity. Unreacted hydrogen from the fuel cell exits and is mixed with hydrogen from the storage tank, then pumped back into the fuel cell. This recirculation allows continuous hydrogen supply without sintering the storage material at high temperatures. The fuel cell also has a heat recovery unit to capture the generated heat and supply it back to the storage tank.

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Hydrogen storage system with multiple metal hydride tanks that enables efficient charging and discharging of hydrogen while maintaining a compact size and avoiding the need for active heating. The system uses a parallel configuration of metal hydride tanks with different operating temperature ranges. The tanks are connected in parallel through valves that open/close at different pressures. This allows filling and emptying the tanks in sequence based on their valve pressures. By combining tanks with overlapping operating ranges, the system can charge/discharge from the lowest to highest temperature tanks without heating. This improves efficiency compared to sequentially charging/discharging all tanks. The control system monitors tank fullness using pressure and temperature sensors.

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Power supply using hydrogen storage for decentralized, modular, and scalable power generation. The power supply has a set of hydrogen storage devices with modular inlet/outlet connections. Each storage device contains hydrogen stored in a material like metal hydrides or hydrogenated organic compounds. Heaters in the storage devices heat the hydrogen to release it. This hydrogen is then used to generate electricity in modular generators. The storage devices and generators can be scaled and swapped out as needed to match power requirements.

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Hydrogen storage system with improved lifetime by using an expandable composite material to accommodate volume changes during hydrogen absorption and release. The composite contains a hydrogenatable material intercalated in an expandable matrix like polymer. This compensates for expansion/contraction due to hydrogen storage. The composite can have layers like heat-conducting metals and graphite. The expandable matrix absorbs volume changes and prevents breakdown of the hydrogen material.

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A hydrogen storing method that improves energy efficiency by reusing heat from the hydrogen compressor through a heat circulation structure. The method involves compressing hydrogen, storing it in a device containing solid hydrogen storage material, and transferring the heat generated during compression to the storage device. This allows using the compressor's heat to release hydrogen from the storage device instead of dissipating it externally. A closed loop circulates fluid to carry the heat between the compressor and storage.

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High energy density fuel cell system for powering applications like unmanned vehicles, portable devices, backup power, etc. The system uses a fuel cell stack to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electrical power, and a hydride-based hydrogen generator to produce hydrogen from a hydrogen-rich material like magnesium hydride. The hydrogen is generated by steam hydrolysis, which favors exothermic reaction. This allows the hydrolysis heat to sustain the reaction without external input. The fuel cell and hydrogen generator can be scaled for various power levels. The fuel cell efficiency and hydrogen density improve overall system energy density vs batteries.

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A hydrogen storage system using a canister filled with metal hydride that releases hydrogen when heated. The canister has a single internal volume with a uniformly heating metal hydride bed inside. A heater element embedded in the hydride bed heats it to release hydrogen. The canister provides high energy density (1 kWh/kg) and can power fuel cells for applications like electric aircraft, UAVs, and emergency power. The uniform heating avoids hotspots and maximizes hydrogen release.

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A regenerative fuel cell that can generate hydrogen from air instead of water to improve performance and longevity compared to conventional cells. The cell acts as both an electrolyzer and a fuel cell. It extracts hydrogen from the air stream on the anode side during electrolysis mode by reacting with the humidity in the air. This prevents flooding issues and catalyst degradation compared to using liquid water. The hydrogen is stored and then consumed during fuel cell mode by reacting with oxygen from the cathode side.

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Solid-state hydrogen storage system for vehicles that improves efficiency by using a reactor to hydrolyze non-reversible hydrogen storage material to release hydrogen. The system has a reversible hydrogen storage unit, a reactor in it, a fuel cell stack, and a water supply to the reactor. The non-reversible material is stored in the reactor where it hydrolyzes in water to release hydrogen. This avoids the need for high temperatures and continuous heating for hydrogen release. The hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell stack. The reactor and water supply eliminate the need for complex heat exchangers or heat sources. The reversible hydrogen storage unit provides the bulk hydrogen storage.

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