DEVELOPMENTAL TRENDS OF HYDROGEN VEHICLES USING HYDRIDE STORAGE TANKS

The utilization of hydrogen-driven vehicles was not practical until quite recently owing to the voluminous, dangerous and energy-consuming hydrogen storage in gaseous or liquid form. only owing to the development of suitable metallic hydride storage tanks, i.e., with the help of alloys in which gaseous hydrogen is bound metallically in the lattice, does hydrogen propulsion make gains chiefly under the viewpoints of sparing petroleum reserves and its rising significance with respect to environmental pollution. For the last two years, hydrogen propulsion has been tested in connection with hydride storage tanks at Daimler-Benz in practical operation with small transport vehicles. A discussion is given of the Mercedes-Benz experimental hydride vehicle and the refueling of the tank with gaseous hydrogen. The results of the program show that hydrogen storage in metal hydrides demonstrates a series of system-specific advantages for practical propulsion of automobiles without harmful materials and that the relatively unfavorable weight ratio of the storage tank can be at least partially compensated in comparison to liquid hydrocarbons. The hydride tank takes on the following four functions simultaneously with a suitable hydride selection: (1) fuel supply; (2) air conditioning system; (3) heat storage for engine exhaust heat; and (4) water condensation. At the same time, the hydrogen vehicle with the hydride storage tank represents an extremely environmentally favorable transportation resource with operating ranges between 200 km and 400 km. (ERA citation 02:025002)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Translation of German report.
• Corporate Authors:

  Energy Research and Development Administration

  20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Buchner, H
  • Saeufferer, H
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Pagination: 21 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air conditioning systems; Automobiles; Energy; Environmental impacts; Fuel systems; Fuels; Handling and storage; Heat; Heat storage; Hydrides; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogen; Hydrogen fuels; Hydrogen storage; Iron; Motor vehicles; Performance tests; Propulsion; Storage facilities; Storage tanks; Tanks (Containers); Titanium; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Iron hydrides; Performance testing; Titanium hydrides; Uses
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00159156
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1978 12:00AM