 Using
special vacuum technology from rare-earth and transition metals
can be melted alloys, which are able to absorb hydrogen from the
gas phase. These alloys, at room temperature and under certain hydrogen
pressure, are absorbing extremely large quantities of hydrogen by
forming solid metal hydrides. The chemical reaction of hydride formation
is accompanied with release of heat into environment. The hydrogen
absorption process can be reversed if the hydrogen pressure is lowered
below some certain value.In this case, desorption of hydrogen gas
is accompanied with heat absorption from environment.
The hydrogen storage alloys, based on rare-earth metals, Ti,
Zr, Fe, et. al, are extensively studied. However, only rare-earth
based so called AB5-type and transition metal based
AB2-type alloys has reached the stage of mass production
and commercialization. At the same time, as a reversible gas storage
material, only AB5-type alloys can operate at moderate
temperatures (from -20°C up to +60°C), while the AB2-type
ones require additional heating.
Developed by H Bank in 2000, our patented alloy compositions
are able to absorb hydrogen as high as 1.65wt.%, whereas the maximum
values for commercial AB5-type alloy is below 1.5wt.%
so far. Our alloy outperforms any existing AB5-type
alloy.
In 2004, we devoted in putting the solid state hydrogen storage
idea into the market. We have developed a big variety of hydrogen
storage tanks and containers with amount of stored hydrogen from
10 up to 100,000 litters. All our rights on these products are
protected with corresponding patents. We will devote every effort
to replace dangerous high-pressure hydrogen cylinders with safe
metal-hydride based storages.
|
