Thank you for Subscribing to Transportation Review Weekly Brief
Transportation Review | Thursday, June 30, 2022
Market opinion differs on the most efficient method of storing large volumes of H2 required for various power applications.
FREMONT, CA: Hydrogen is the lightest element and, possibly, the most potent. With these two realities, supplying sufficient hydrogen to a fuel cell or combustion engine begins. As a result, it must be kept at a high density to fit enough fuel into a small enough space to power a fuel cell in a mobile application such as a truck or train. The two most practical methods are storing the H2 as a highly compressed gas or a cryogenic liquid.
Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Because of its greatly smaller bulk, liquid storage can be more effective when large volumes are delivered. Cryogenics, for example, is frequently studied for transporting enormous volumes of hydrogen, as seen with the distribution of natural gas from the Middle East in massive tanker ships.
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.
Hydrogen gas must be stored and transported with care.
Hydrogen diffusion barriers: High costs and uncertainties involved with infrastructure conversion for production, delivery, and storage systems are a big challenge. The ambiguity surrounding the desired form of hydrogen (liquid, gas, or conversion into other fuels) is largely to blame, necessitating a case-by-case assessment of infrastructure choices. Existing infrastructure is a crucial factor to consider while encouraging hydrogen diffusion. One distribution method under consideration is hydrogen mixing with natural gas, resulting in hydrogen-enhanced natural gas (HENG). With few drawbacks, up to 30 percent hydrogen can be added to natural gas for home purposes.
Issues with cryogenic storage: As with any cryogenic liquid, storing hydrogen in this manner raises many issues. One of the biggest disadvantages is the cost; liquid hydrogen necessitates using well-insulated cryogenic storage tanks capable of maintaining the required temperature of -252.8°C.
The cost of conversion: Up to 30 percent of the stored hydrogen's energy is consumed in the gas-to-liquid conversion process. The risks of turning liquid hydrogen into a gas make this an especially undesirable alternative.
Speed and simplicity of delivery: The main benefit of using a compressed hydrogen gas storage system is that it allows people to recharge their automobiles quickly. Refueling with a high-pressure gas storage system takes minutes, whereas liquid storage refueling techniques and processes have yet to be available.
Storage footprint: Cryogenic solution storage could be more efficient and costly. To accommodate both holding the chemicals and executing onsite conversion, liquid storage necessitates extremely large footprints - almost three times the size of industry-standard gasoline tanks.
More in News