Hydrogen Store Comprising a Hydrogenable Material and a Polymer Matrix

Abstract

The present invention concerns a hydrogen store comprising a hydrogenable material, a method for producing the hydrogen store and a device for producing the hydrogen store.

Claims

1. A hydrogen storage means comprising a hydrogenatable material and a matrix comprising at least one polymer.

2. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogenatable material preferably has a proportion of greater than 50% to 98% by volume and the matrix preferably has a proportion of at least 2% to 50% by volume of the composite material.

3. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymer has a density in the range from 0.7 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.3 g/cm.sup.3, especially of 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.25 g/cm.sup.3.

4. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymer has a tensile strength in the range from 10 MPa to 100 MPa, especially from 15 MPa to 90 MPa.

5. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group comprising EVA, PMMA, EEAMA and mixtures of these polymers.

6. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matrix further includes different carbon polymorphs, the matrix further including expanded natural graphite and/or unexpanded graphite.

7. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matrix includes a heat-conducting metallic material for formation of a heat-dissipating compound.

8. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proportion of the respective components varies over the length of the composite material comprising the matrix and the hydrogenatable material.

9. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composite material has been compacted.

10. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composite material has been compacted by at least 20% of its maximum compaction up to a maximum of 92.36% of its maximum compaction.

11. The hydrogen storage means as claimed in claim 1, wherein it has regions having a different principal function, comprising each of at least a gas-permeable region, a heat-conducting region and/or a hydrogen-storing region.

12. A process for producing a hydrogen storage means comprising a hydrogenatable material and a matrix, wherein the matrix comprises a polymer and the hydrogenatable material is incorporated into this matrix, and then a composite material that stores hydrogen is formed.

13. The process as claimed in claim 12, wherein a controlled arrangement of matrix and hydrogenatable material is effected in a pressing apparatus for formation of principally gas-permeable regions, heat-conducting regions and hydrogen-storing regions in the hydrogen storage means.

14. The process as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hydrogenatable material has already at least once absorbed hydrogen for storage before it is incorporated into the matrix.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogenatable material, firmly incorporated in the matrix, decreases in size on storage of hydrogen, especially with breakup of particles of the hydrogenatable material, while the matrix remains at least predominantly undestroyed.

16. An apparatus for producing a hydrogen storage means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises a polymer and the hydrogenatable material is incorporated into this matrix, and then a composite material that stores hydrogen is formed, wherein the apparatus has a cavity into which at least one individualized material of the hydrogen storage means is introduced in the form of a pourable pulverulent material, with provision of a mixer, by means of which a first and a different, second carbon polymorph are miscible, and additionally a first feed for the first carbon polymorph and a second feed for the second carbon polymorph and a feed for the hydrogenatable metal and for a polymer.

17. An apparatus for producing a hydrogen storage means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogenatable material, firmly incorporated in the matrix, decreases in size on storage of hydrogen, especially with breakup of particles of the hydrogenatable material, while the matrix remains at least predominantly undestroyed, wherein the apparatus has a cavity into which at least one individualized material of the hydrogen storage means is introduced in the form of a pourable pulverulent material, with provision of a mixer, by means of which a first and a different, second carbon polymorph are miscible, and additionally a first feed for the first carbon polymorph and a second feed for the second carbon polymorph and a feed for the hydrogenatable metal and for a polymer.

Description

[0095] The FIGURE shows:

[0096] FIG. 1 a detail from a hydrogen storage means.

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a hydrogen storage means 10. The hydrogen storage means 10 has two outer walls 12, 14 between which a multitude of matrices 16 are arranged. The hydrogenatable material is embedded in the matrices 16. The matrices 16 together with the hydrogenatable material form a composite material. The hydrogenatable material is a metal alloy and has a proportion in the composite material of 50% to 98% by volume. The matrix 16 includes various carbon polymorphs, for example expanded natural graphite and unexpanded graphite, and has a proportion in the composite material of 20% to 50% by volume. The expanded natural graphite of the matrix 16 has a proportion by weight of 1% to 20% by weight of the composite material. The proportion of the respective component varies over the length of the composite material. The hydrogenatable material is embedded in the matrix 16. The composite material has been compacted, for example, to an extent of 70% of its maximum compaction by compression.

[0098] The following points 1 to 14 summarize further essential features of the present invention:

[0099] 1. A hydrogen storage means comprising a hydrogenatable material and a matrix into which the hydrogenatable material has been embedded and forms a composite material with the matrix.

[0100] 2. The hydrogen storage means according to point 1, wherein the hydrogenatable material preferably has a proportion of greater than 50% to 98% by volume and the matrix preferably has a proportion of at least 2% to 50% by volume of the composite material, the matrix comprising different carbon polymorphs.

[0101] 3. The hydrogen storage means according to point 1 or 2, characterized in that the matrix comprises expanded natural graphite.

[0102] 4. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the matrix comprises unexpanded graphite.

[0103] 5. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the matrix comprises expanded natural graphite with a proportion by weight of 1% to 20% by weight of the composite material.

[0104] 6. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the proportion of the particular components varies over the length of the composite material.

[0105] 7. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the composite material has a porous matrix essentially composed of carbon into which the hydrogenatable material has been embedded.

[0106] 8. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the composite material has been compacted, the composite material preferably comprising a matrix composed of polymer combined with graphite.

[0107] 9. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that the composite material has been compacted by at least 20% of its maximum compaction up to a maximum of 92.36% of its maximum compaction.

[0108] 10. The hydrogen storage means according to any of the preceding points, characterized in that it has regions having a different principal function, comprising each of at least a gas-permeable region, a heat-conducting region and a hydrogen-storing region.

[0109] 11. A process for producing a hydrogen storage means comprising a hydrogenatable material and a matrix, wherein the matrix is produced by means of different carbon polymorphs and the hydrogenatable material is incorporated into this matrix, and then a composite material that stores hydrogen is formed.

[0110] 12. The process according to point 11, characterized in that the hydrogenatable material and also the particular carbon are each supplied in individualized form, especially as particles or flakes, and compressed to give the composite material.

[0111] 13. The process according to point 11 or 12, characterized in that a controlled arrangement of matrix and hydrogenatable material is effected in a pressing apparatus for formation of principally gas-permeable regions, heat-conducting regions and hydrogen-storing regions in the hydrogen storage means.

[0112] 14. An apparatus for producing a hydrogen storage means, preferably a hydrogen storage means according to any of points 1 to 10, more preferably by a process with the features of points 11 to 13, wherein the apparatus has a cavity into which at least one individualized material of the hydrogen storage means is introduced, preferably in the form of a pourable pulverulent material, with provision of a mixer, by means of which a first and a different, second carbon polymorph are miscible, and additionally a first feed for the first carbon polymorph and a second feed for the second carbon polymorph and a feed for the hydrogenatable metal.