Flexible hydrogen delivery mechanism for storage and recovery of hydrogen

Abstract

A conduit passage for use in transfer of hydrogen gas within a hydride system, including tubular members semi-permeable to hydrogen gas, permit hydrogen gas to pass through but not oxygen or other gases. The tubular members may comprise a flexible elastic polymeric material, such as polysulfone, polypropylene or polyethylene, including a central conduit passage, for providing hydrogen gas flow, the direction of the hydrogen flow depending on whether hydrogen is being absorbed or desorbed by the metal hydride. Simultaneously, the tube material, acting as a flexible spine, essentially fixes the hydride powder and prevents it from shifting about within the container, as well as being carried away in the hydrogen flow. Sections of the tubular member material may be interspersed throughout the hydride material to provide for peripheral hydrogen dispersion and to accommodate compressive stress forces that may develop as a result of the expansion of the hydride material during hydrogen absorption.

1 . A hydrogen storage unit comprising: 
 a) an enclosed container including encasement walls and having at least one opening for receiving and discharging gaseous hydrogen;    b) a flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism including at least one elongated passage for evenly distributing hydrogen essentially throughout the enclosed container, each such elongated passage being defined by at least one tubular structural element comprising an inert semi-permeable membrane; and    c) metal hydride material packed within said enclosed container and between said hydrogen dispersion mechanism and said encasement walls.    
   
   
       2 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism further comprises an elongated tube having a predetermined thickness capable of providing structural integrity comprising an elastic flexible material that is selectively permeable to hydrogen and is impermeable to oxygen and other gases.  
   
   
       3 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism further comprises a plurality of elongated tubes having a predetermined thickness capable of providing structural integrity comprising an elastic flexible material that is selectively permeable to hydrogen and impermeable to oxygen and other gases.  
   
   
       4 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism further comprises an ionically treated membrane.  
   
   
       5 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 2  wherein said elongated tube further comprises an ionically treated membrane.  
   
   
       6 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 3  wherein each said elongated tube further comprises an ionically treated membrane.  
   
   
       7 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism comprise a material taken from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polysulfone and polypropylene.  
   
   
       8 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 2  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism comprise a material taken from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polysulfone and polypropylene.  
   
   
       9 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 3  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism comprise a material taken from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polysulfone and polypropylene.  
   
   
       10 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible hydrogen dispersion mechanism further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
   
   
       11 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 2  wherein said elongated tube further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
   
   
       12 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 3  wherein each said elongated tube further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
   
   
       13 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said hydrogen storage unit further comprises a plurality of tubular structural sections being randomly dispersed within the hydride material.  
   
   
       14 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 11  wherein said plurality of tubular structural sections dispersed within the hydride material comprise polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
   
   
       15 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated passage further comprises a plurality of tubular structural members dispersed within the hydride material.  
   
   
       16 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 15  wherein hydride material essentially surrounds each of the plurality of tubular structural members.  
   
   
       17 . A hydrogen storage unit according to  claim 3  wherein said plurality of tubular structural sections dispersed within the hydride material comprise two groups, a first group of tubular structural members which are free of hydride material from their internal tubular enclosure and a second group of tubular structural members which include a predetermined amount of hydride material within their internal tubular enclosure.