Gas storage within porous materials

R&D Focus Areas:
Compressed gas, Nanomaterials

Lead Organisation:
The University of Melbourne

Funding:
Future Energy Exports CRC (PhD Project)

Status:
Active

Start date:
2021

Completion date:
2024

Project summary description:
Hydrogen is often regarded as a crucial component of the future energy landscape due to its zero greenhouse gas emissions and high gravimetric energy density. It serves as an energy storage medium for excess energy generated from intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar power. Conversely, methane plays a significant role in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, both hydrogen and methane face challenges in storage and transportation due to their low volumetric density and high flammability, which raise safety concerns.

Current storage methods include compression, liquefaction, adsorption, and absorption. The choice of storage technology is highly dependent on the application, whether large or small scale, portable or stationary. Ongoing research in each storage method focuses on increasing storage density and reducing costs.

This project will initially explore novel vessel designs inspired by the cellular structure of cuttlebones, aimed at improving space utilization and safety. Subsequently, the project will propose an innovative approach to hydrogen storage using nanoporous materials encapsulated in a readily available medium—ice. In this approach, the nanoporous particles function as “mini pressure vessels,” eliminating the need for thick, bulky pressure vessels. The temperature requirements for storage are less demanding than those for liquefaction or adsorption at high storage capacities, and gas release is simply achieved by raising the temperature above the melting point of ice.

Further information:
https://www.fenex.org.au/connect/

 

September 2024