Pressure Resistance of Glass Capillaries for Hydrogen Storage

Abstract

A crucial problem in the development of new hydrogen technologies is the need for lightweight and safe storage of acceptable amounts of hydrogen, in particular for portable or mobile applications. A new and innovative technology based on capillary arrays has been developed. These systems ensure the safe infusion, storage, and controlled release of hydrogen gas, even when storage pressures of up to 1200 bar are applied. This technology enables the storage of a significantly higher amount of hydrogen than other approaches. It has already surpassed the US Department of Energy's 2010 target, and is expected to meet the DOE's 2015 target in the near future. The main determinant in this storage technology is the pressure resistance of glass capillaries. It is well known that quartz, for example, is three times stronger than steel. At the same time, the density is about three times lower which means that much less material is necessary to reach the same pressure resistance. The pressure resistance of single capillaries has been determined in relation to various capillary materials and dimensions, wall thicknesses etc. in order to find out optimal parameters for the “final” capillaries.

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“…Employing a gas-permeable membrane is not an option in the case where hydrogen needs to be contained in a relatively pure form. A hydrogen-impermeable barrier is needed, and silica provides such a barrier [27,28]. This, along with the abundance of silica in volcanically introduced atmospheric dust, are reasons to consider a diatom as a candidate for life in the lower stratosphere.…”

A Proposed Diatom Stratospheric Life-Form

“…Employing a gas-permeable membrane is not an option in the case where hydrogen needs to be contained in a relatively pure form. A hydrogen-impermeable barrier is needed, and silica provides such a barrier [27,28]. This, along with the abundance of silica in volcanically introduced atmospheric dust, are reasons to consider a diatom as a candidate for life in the lower stratosphere.…”

An atomistic perspective on the diffusion and permeation of hydrogen and isotopes through an engineered nanoporous silica membrane using molecular dynamics simulations

“…8,11,12 These membranes would provide costeffective, safe, and long-term storage of pressurized hydrogen in microcontainers shaped as hollow microspheres and capillaries. 6,7,13 The demand of hydrogen storage in glass microcontainers has received progressive attention in recent years due to options of closed-packed polymer-coated structuring along with a prompt fueling ability and wellestablished manufacturing technology. 6,14 Amorphous silica is a potential candidate for glass membranes due to strong performance and minimal crystallization tendency.…”