Overview of the main methods currently available to store hydrogen for the purpose of fuel, with main differences among them mentioned.
Here’s an article posted in Spectra
According to the article,
- There are four main ways of storing hydrogen: compressed gas, liquid hydrogen, metal hydrides, and chemical storage.
- Compressed gas is the most common method, but it requires high-pressure tanks and is not very energy-efficient.
- Liquid hydrogen is more energy-efficient, but it requires extremely low temperatures and is expensive to produce.
Here is a small comparison between the four main ways to store hydrogen, which will help us gain a better understanding of these methods, and also help us differentiate among them:
| Storage Method | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geological Storage | Involves storing hydrogen in underground formations like salt caverns or depleted oil fields. | Large capacity, suitable for long-term storage. | High initial costs, geological stability concerns. |
| Liquefied Hydrogen | Hydrogen stored as a liquid at cryogenic temperatures (-253°C). | High energy density (8.4 MJ/L), suitable for transport. | Requires significant energy for liquefaction, long loading/unloading times. |
| Compressed Hydrogen | Hydrogen stored in high-pressure tanks (350-700 bar). | Established technology, relatively lower costs. | Requires large volumes, lower energy density compared to liquefied hydrogen. |
| Materials-Based Storage | Utilizes materials (e.g., metal hydrides, ammonia) to absorb or react with hydrogen. | Potential for high energy density, versatile applications. | Still under development, may have complex handling and release mechanisms. |
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