Reduction of Transport Impact on Air Quality due to New Conception of Hydrogen Storage

The new conception of hydrogen production on the board of transport vehicles was due to the reaction of metallic Al powder produced by the developed high productive electroerosion dispersion (EED) method with slightly alkaline water [1]. The developed EED method allows production of Al powder of 98% purity with spherical shape 0.05 - 3-5 microns particles (with near 8 vol.% of 0.05-0.1 microns particles), specific surface up to 120 m2/gr (determined in accordance with the ISO 10076). The poly-dispersed nature of the Al powder permits its dense packing qua PAS. The presence of a nanofraction enables a short reaction induction period. It is mainly due to the presence of nanoparticles that the reaction response time is lowered from 7 to 2 s, which in the case of a transport vehicle will enable the essential volume minimization of the intermediate container. As a result of the reaction of one kilogram of aluminum powder, more than 111 grams of hydrogen are released, which is equivalent to 1.23 m3 of gaseous hydrogen (taking the hydrogen density to be 0.09 kg/m3 at 18°C and 0.1 MPa). The packed density of the aluminium powder was determined with the help of a Scott volumeter according to ISO 3923-2, and was found to be 1240 kg/m3. From a volume of one litre filled with this powder, 1.52 m3 of gaseous hydrogen can be obtained. Further, the systematic approach to reduce heat dissipation and increase efficiency will be realized due to the use of advanced thermoelectrical transformation systems and new type of propulsion engine.