Preliminary test results on a compressed multilayer insulation system for a liquid- hydrogen-fueled rocket.
Jacketed multilayer insulation system design, fabrication and compression testing for liquid hydrogen storage tank
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Jacketed multilayer insulation system design, fabrication and compression testing for liquid hydrogen storage tank
This webinar will highlight the status and initial performance of the grid-integrated megawatt-scale hydrogen electrolysis, compression, storage, and fuel cell generator system at NREL's Flatirons campus. The presentation will also include information about on-going research using this capability as well as future areas of research asset development.
Hydrogen is pivotal in the transition to sustainable energy systems, playing major roles in power generation and industrial applications. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising mediums for efficient hydrogen storage. However, identifying potential candidates for deployment is challenging due to the vast number of currently available synthesized MOFs. This study integrates molecular simulations, machine learning, and techno-economic analysis to evaluate the performance of MOFs across broad operation conditions for hydrogen storage applications. While previous screenings of MOF databases have predominantly emphasized high hydrogen capacities under cryogenic conditions, this study reveals that optimal temperatures and pressures for cost minimization depend on the raw price of the MOF. Specifically, when MOFs are priced at $15/kg, among the 9720 MOFs tested, 9692 MOFs achieve the lowest cost at temperatures between 170 K and 250 K and a pressure of 150 bar. Under these optimal conditions, 362 MOFs deliver a lower levelized cost of storage than 350 bar compressed gas hydrogen storage. Furthermore, this study reveals key material properties that result in low system cost, such as high surface areas (>3000 m2/g), large void fractions (>0.78), and large pore volumes (>1.1 cm3/g).
The transport of hydrogen into Earth's deep interior may have an impact on lower mantle dynamics as well as on the seismic signature of subducted material. Due to the stability of the hydrous phases δ-AlOOH (delta phase), MgSiO 2 (OH) 2 (phase H), and ε-FeOOH at high temperatures and pressures, their solid solutions may transport significant amounts of hydrogen as deep as the core-mantle boundary. Here we have constrained the equation of state, including the effects of a spin crossover in the Fe 3+ atoms, of (Al, Fe)-phase H: Al 0.84 Fe 3+ 0.07 Mg 0.02 Si 0.06 OOH, using powder X-ray diffraction measurements to 125 GPa, supported by synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on (Al, Fe)-phase H and δ-(Al, Fe)OOH. The changes in spin state of Fe 3+ in (Al, Fe)-phase H results in a significant decrease in bulk sound velocity and occurs over a different pressure range (48–62 GPa) compared with δ-(Al, Fe)OOH (32–40 GPa). Changes in axial compressibilities indicate a decrease in the compressibility of hydrogen bonds in (Al, Fe)-phase H near 30 GPa, which may be associated with hydrogen bond symmetrization. The formation of (Al, Fe)-phase H in subducted oceanic crust may contribute to scattering of seismic waves in the mid-lower mantle (~1,100–1,550 km). Accumulation of 1–4 wt.% (Al, Fe)-phase H could reproduce some of the seismic signatures of large, low seismic-velocity provinces. Our results suggest that changes in the electronic structure of phases in the (δ-AlOOH)-(MgSiO 2 (OH) 2 )-(ε-FeOOH) solid solution are sensitive to composition and that the presence of these phases in subducted oceanic crust could be seismically detectable throughout the lower mantle.
Quantitatively accurate computational predictions of metal hydride thermodynamics are challenging but critical for alloy performance optimization across a multitude of technological domains, including hydrogen storage, compression, purification, and getters. Recent machine learning approaches have demonstrated great success in this area, but can potentially suffer from several shortcomings since they rely on imbalanced experimental training data and can have poor out-of-distribution (ood) test performance. Here, in this study, we circumvent such pitfalls by developing a computationally efficient, first principles-based workflow for direct prediction of metal hydride phase equilibrium, i.e., the pressure-composition-temperature (PCT) diagram. We then demonstrate its utility on predicting low stability hydrides derived from compositionally complex C14 Laves phase AB2 alloys. Specifically, we computationally predict and then experimentally validate an AB 2 alloy series (z < 0.6 for Ti 2−z Zr z CrMnFeNi) with ideal hydriding thermodynamics for a two-stage metal hydride-based compressor for pressurizing boil off from liquefied hydrogen. Importantly, this study lays the groundwork for accurate and efficient discovery/optimization of ood, low-stability hydrides for which purely data-driven approaches lack sufficient accuracy.
Hydrogen energy storage (HES) transforms and stores electric energy from the grid into hydrogen, and supplements other energy storage and demand response resources in addressing challenges in renewable-intensive power systems. Understanding how to optimally utilize an HES system to maximize its economic benefits from stacked value streams is highly important to its development and deployment. Here, in this paper, we present a techno-economic assessment framework for an HES system considering three common energy delivery pathways and multiple grid and end-user services. Models are developed to capture the operational capability, flexibility, and constraints associated with hydrogen production, compression, storage, and utilization as well as different grid services in an economic assessment. To define the technically achievable benefits, an optimal dispatch formulation is proposed to maximize the economic benefits over a representative year with an hourly time step considering the trade-offs among different value streams. Representative case studies are designed and carried out to show how system configuration, energy delivery pathways, and grid services may affect economic benefits. It was found that value streams from bundling grid services account for up to 76% of the total benefits and are critical for an HES project to be financially viable.
An investigation was made to determine whether a sufficient amount of hydrogen could be efficiently burned in a compression-ignition engine to compensate for the increase of lift of an airship due to the consumption of the fuel oil. The performance of a single-cylinder four-stroke-cycle compression-ignition engine operating on fuel oil alone was compared with its performance when various quantities of hydrogen were inducted with the inlet air. Engine-performance data, indicator cards, and exhaust-gas samples were obtained for each change in engine-operating conditions.
It is necessary to understand the safety implications and risk mitigation options for fuel cell electric bus fleet deployment, especially for related facilities responsible for operations such as production, storage, compression, and dispensing of hydrogen for use by the buses. In this report, we present a quantitative risk assessment for a potential fuel cell electric bus fleet that was motivated by efforts to improve resilience at the Portland International Airport but can be applicable to a range of hydrogen case studies and use cases. We estimated risk for a facility that produces, stores, compresses, and dispenses hydrogen for the fleet of buses, with a focus on individual risk to people in terms of annual frequency of fatality. We considered the frequency of hydrogen leaks that could result in harmful physical outcomes like jet fires or explosions, and the consequences of those outcomes for people. We created customized fault trees to calculate the frequencies of different sizes of leaks and event sequence diagrams to calculate ignition probabilities for the various leak sizes. We also leveraged the HyRAM+ toolkit to use these inputs to calculate overall risk for the facility, which we separated into one section responsible for producing, storing, and compressing hydrogen, and one section responsible for dispensing the hydrogen to the buses. We found that the dispensing area seemed to have a higher risk than the production/storage/compression area of the facility, largely because of the inclusion of a component with a high leak frequency (the heat exchanger used to cool the hydrogen before entering the vehicle, to prevent overheating and expansion of hydrogen in the onboard tank). For the example production and refueling facility we evaluated and the data we used for the analysis, the leak frequency had a larger impact on the risk differences between the two sections on the facility, compared to the physical outcome consequence, which was slightly different due to the varying fuel conditions, but not substantially different. Actions can be taken to prevent these hazards (e.g., lowering leak frequencies in system components) or to mitigate the consequences if they do occur (e.g., installing barriers to protect people if ignition events occur). The choice of which actions to take depends not only on safety considerations but also on space, time, staffing, feasibility, and financial constraints. Therefore, the quantitative risk assessment approach can help understand relative risk contributions from different components, leak sizes, consequences, and human actions, to prioritize risk reduction strategies and balance these parameters. The outcomes of this report may be useful for a variety of stakeholders working in the hydrogen, transportation, vehicle, and aviation sector, including those responsible for aspects like facility design, operations, and regulations. There is not a single value of risk that determines whether a hypothetical system is “safe” or not. The insights about risk mitigations may be leveraged, and the quantitative risk assessment approach can be applied to other case studies to understand risk priorities and contributions specific to different FCEB and hydrogen facility uses.
Hydrogen absorption and desorption isotherms have been measured for several metal hydride alloys identified as possible candidates in the high-pressure (i.e. >80 MPa) stage of a two-stage hydrogen compressor. The isotherms were obtained using two independent Sieverts volumetric test systems built specifically for measuring hydrogen absorption and desorption parameters from 0.10 to 100 MPa. The results obtained enabled us to identify the alloy Ti 0.8 Zr 0.2 Fe 1.6 V 0.4 as the most viable of the candidates investigated for use in the high-pressure stage of a prototype two-stage 80+ MPa compressor, as it produced the highest desorption pressures at moderate temperatures. Issues and challenges in determining reliable isotherms at pressures >50 MPa are also described.
The cost-effective and sustainable deployment of hydrogen supply and demand networks, especially in large economic regions like California, can be challenging considering the spatial-temporal availability and variability of the different actors across the network such as production processes, distribution modes, and end-users. In this presentation, we will provide an overview and demonstration of a modeling framework used to assess the environmental, economic, and human health impacts of plausible hydrogen production and supply chain networks in California. Scenarios focus on green hydrogen production pathways using water electrolysis and biomass gasification. End-use applications included in the model are transit, medium and heavy-duty trucking, port authorities, and power and aviation companies that currently consume natural gas, diesel, and aviation fuel for their day-to-day operation. Representative locations for hydrogen production and end-use are based on recent projections of the hydrogen economy in California. All mass and energy flows, as well as estimated emissions, are based on H2A process model designs and projections of technology performance, literature review, and LBNL process, economic and life cycle modeling, and not on company data for the sake of this presentation. Human health impacts are included following methodologies developed for the University of California Irvine HyDeal project. Life cycle phases associated with hydrogen production include feedstock preparation (water and biomass), energy production and consumption (renewable, grid, and combination of renewable and grid electricity), maintenance (chemical utilization in electrolysis and natural gas combustion in gasification), carbon sequestration, hydrogen storage (compression and liquefaction), and distribution (truck and pipeline). We apply the framework utilizing California specific emission factors, financial data, and human health damages and explore the impact of network characteristics on results. Example variations include: the inclusion of policy incentives or not, different representations of the electricity grid and source, electrolysis versus gasification versus combinations of both for production, liquefaction versus compression based on producer capacity cutoffs, transportation truck versus pipeline based on existing infrastructure, and ultimate end use. Comparison of these different scenarios can help inform future projects by demonstrating the trade-offs among environmental, economic, and human health impacts. This model, automated in R, is a starting platform upon which new analysis, modeling capabilities, locations, and emission factors can be rapidly tested and integrated.
The goal of this work was to develop unique LLNL capabilities for the computational prediction of electrical, optical and thermal transport properties from quantum simulations. Using a recently developed theory of microscopic quantum transport, we were able to model compressed metallic hydrogen and it’s non-linear and out-of-equilibrium contributions in electrical and thermal transport. This theory was implemented in the open-source, real-space time-dependent density functional theory code Octopus. This model is general and widely applicable to high energy density systems that are important to LLNL and NNSA mission areas.
The overarching mission of the Center for Mechanistic Control of Unconventional Formations (CMC-UF) was to garner cross-cutting, fundamental, geoscience knowledge to achieve mechanistic control over the strongly coupled nonequilibrium physical and geochemical processes in extreme geological environments including shale, mudstone, marls, and other tight rocks with nanoscale pores. Collectively, these are referred to as unconventional formations and they often play the role of seals for other subsurface storage formations. The fundamental knowledge garnered by CMC-UF enabled science-based management of US unconventional formations for subsurface storage of carbon dioxide and TWh quantities of renewable energy as hydrogen and/or compressed air over longer timeframes as well as for natural gas production, with reduced environmental impacts, in the short term.
Summary of Phase 1 work
Solid normal hydrogen was compressed in a diamond-anvil cell to pressures above 200 GPa. Spontaneous Raman spectra demonstrate that the solid undergoes a structural phase transformation beginning at 145 GPa at 77 K, as evidenced by an abrupt discontinuity in the intramolecular vibron frequency as a function of pressure. The magnitude of the vibron-frequency shift and the pressure-temperature conditions of the phase transformation are consistent with its identification as the theoretically predicted pressure-induced orientational ordering of the molecular solid.
Cumulative composite damage in composite pressure vessels (CPVs) currently is not monitored on-orbit. Consequently, hazards due to catastrophic burst before leak (BBL) or compromised CPV reliability cannot be ascertained or mitigated, posing a risk to crew and mission assurance. The energy associated with CPV rupture can be significant, especially with high pressure gases are under containment, and the energy releases can be severe enough to cause injury, death, loss of assets or mission. Dual-Use Rationale: CPVs similar to those used by NASA on ISS, for example, are finding increasing use in automotive and transportation industry applications. These CPVs generally have a nonload sharing liner and are repeatedly filled over their service lifetime, typically with hydrogen or compressed natural gas (CNG). The same structural health monitoring equipment and software developed by NASA WSTF for evaluating, in real-time, the health of NASA CPVs on ISS will be used to evaluate the health of automotive CPVs, the only differences being the type and design of the CPV, and the in-service lifetime pressure histories. HSF Need(s)/Performance Characteristic(s) Supported: 1) Enable on-board vehicle systems management for mission critical functions at destinations with > 3 second time delay 2) Enable autonomous nominal operations and FDIR for crewed and un-crewed systems 3) Reduce on-board crew time to sustain and manage vehicle by factor of 2x at destinations with > 6 second time delay (see Crew Autonomy sheet) 4) Reduce earth-based mission ops "back room engineering" requirements for distant mission support delay (see Mission Autonomy sheet)
This paper describes testing that was conducted using a mass gauge in a liquid hydrogen environment. The mass gauge, herein referred to as the 'compressibility gauge,' is being developed as a means to accurately determine the mass of liquid contained in a tank in a low-gravity environment. The concept is based on the thermodynamic principle that the pressure of gas or vapor changes when its volume changes. Previous work has been conducted by Southwest Research Institute in collaboration with NASA Lewis Research Center. This consisted of testing the concept with water and other cryogenic simulant fluids. The purpose of conducting liquid hydrogen tests is to test the concept in actual cryogenic conditions, and address hardware issues that arise in fabricating a test article for use in liquid hydrogen.
One of the challenges associated with transitioning our nation’s transportation economy to any alternative fuel is bringing fuel production, storage, transportation, and end-customer delivery infrastructure online. There are challenges associated with planning and implementing hydrogen fueling stations at locations relevant to the parallel effort of bringing the related transportation vehicles into the market. There are additional challenges associated with the operation of hydrogen fueling stations and reducing operating costs through energy reduction. Through calculation and design efforts it was concluded that elevating the pressure of a PEM cell stack and further developing hydrogen processing equipment that support elevated pressures while maintaining similar characteristics to their current production counterparts will yield in energy savings and by extension cost reductions. In this report, the design of a 57-bar (827-psig) electrolysis system and electrolysis cell stack is described. Furthermore, the fabrication, component verification, and integrated testing are summarized. Prior to this development effort, Proton had demonstrated thousand of hours of durability on 30-bar (435-psig) differential pressure PEM electrolysis hardware. Proton has sold and installed many of these 30-bar devices at customer sites. Through this project, Proton has developed and tested 57-bar PEM electrolysis, thereby extending the proven capability of PEM electrolysis as a hydrogen generation and electrochemical compression device. A design and validation effort to arrange hydrogen processioning equipment for refueling OEM vehicles was also undertaken within this project. By arranging equipment within two 6-meter ISO shipping containers and further developing NFPA 2 Hydrogen Technologies Code to support containerized hydrogen equipment, efforts to site, install, and commission, and approve hydrogen fueling stations were reduced and now provide a groundwork for future installations.
Multilayer graphane (hydride of graphite) is a crystalline hydrocarbon of composition CH, which can be synthesized from graphite and molecular hydrogen at pressures above 2GPa [V.E. Antonov et al. Carbon 100 (2016) 465]. Using X-ray diffraction, this compound was tentatively identified as the “graphane II” phase of 3D-graphane predicted by ab initio calculations [X.-D. Wen et al. PNAS 108 (2011) 6833] and consisting of layers of 2D-graphane in the “chair” conformation. When heated in a vacuum, the compound does not form any intermediate hydrocarbons and reversibly decomposes back into graphite and hydrogen at 770–920 K. In the present work, almost single-phase samples of graphite hydride and deuteride were synthesized at 7.4 GPa and 870 K. Their investigation by inelastic neutron scattering supplemented by ab initio calculations gave spectra g(E) of the phonon density of states with a gap of about 15 meV at approx. 100 meV, which is a unique identifier for the chair form of graphane. The equation of state V(P) of the hydride was studied at room temperature and hydrogen pressures up to 53 GPa by synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. Further, the graphane II phase did not react with the surrounding hydrogen and did not undergo any phase transformations upon the compression and after heating to 1500 K at 53GPa. The high thermal and pressure stability of this exotic phase makes it an important part of the C–H system. The obtained g(E) spectra of graphite hydride and deuteride were used to calculate temperature dependences of their heat capacity. Measurements of the heat capacity at temperatures 120–673 K confirmed the good accuracy of these calculations.