【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】New magnesium-based solid hydrogen storage materials developed between 1960 and 2024 have been approved for use

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Happy May Day 2024! Safety first. **********************[A Decade of Progress in Chemical Processing Equipment] Continuous updates and summaries available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum) ***************** On April 24th, the China Industrial Gases Association held a meeting in Beijing to evaluate the new product \"nano-carbon-magnesium-based solid hydrogen storage materials\". The appraisal expert committee, chaired by Fu Chungan, vice president of the China Industrial Gases Industry Association, unanimously agreed that the performance of this product exceeds that of commonly used hydrogen storage materials both in China and abroad; it can meet the needs for the healthy and high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry, brings substantial social and economic benefits, and thus approved its appraisal. 　　Developed by Shanghai Rien Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., this new product is a material for storing solid hydrogen at low pressures (hydrogen storage pressure of 0.3–0.7 MPa) and at room temperature; it boasts advantages in terms of high safety and high capacity. According to Lai Qingrong, the company’s chairman, this product is a reversible solid-state hydrogen storage nanocarbon-magnesium metal composite material. It utilizes ultra-fine particle manufacturing technology, and based on the principle of electronic interaction and transition between metal particles and hydrogen particles, it converts hydrogen molecules into solid-state hydrogen particles, thereby significantly reducing the volume of these molecules. The volume density of hydrogen storage in this material reaches 116 kgH₂/m³ (on a per-volume basis equivalent to that of water). As tested by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the hydrogen absorption and release properties of this product are as follows: at a pressure of 0.6–0.67 MPag and a temperature of 360°C, the hydrogen storage capacity is 4.868 wt%, and the hydrogen absorption time is 16.7 minutes ； Under conditions of a pressure of 0.5–0.6 MPag and a temperature of 360°C, the hydrogen evolution time is 6.08 minutes, with a self-consumption rate of 0.205%. 　　“The new product features innovations in principle, manufacturing process, architecture, and formulation, effectively addressing the four major technical challenges associated with traditional solid hydrogen storage. ”Lai Qingrong explained. The first is the challenge of selecting raw materials. In the past, expensive rare earth materials were often added to hydrogen storage materials, increasing the cost of hydrogen storage; however, the materials used in new products do not require rare earth resources. The second is the problem of particle loss. This new product contains an adhesive that can reassemble ultra-fine particles into lumps, preventing the loss of these tiny particles during the hydrogen release process. Third is the problem of slow hydrogen absorption and release rates. By incorporating different materials into magnesium, the hydrogen absorption and release rate of the new product was reduced from 8–10 hours to 6–17 minutes. Fourth is the major problem of high energy consumption during the hydrogen absorption process. The hydrogen absorption self-consumption of the new product stems from the energy required for electron orbital transitions; this energy is extremely small, resulting in a very minimal level of self-consumption. 　　In the entire hydrogen industry chain, hydrogen storage and transportation account for 30% to 50% of the total costs. The level of technology involved in hydrogen storage and transportation plays a crucial role in determining the feasibility of large-scale utilization of hydrogen. To address the limitations of traditional hydrogen storage methods, such as low storage and transportation capacity, poor safety, and limited transmission distances, Rien Hydrogen Energy launched a research project on solid-state hydrogen storage materials in July 2017. Over the years, through efforts in formula development, structural design, sample production, and performance optimization, this new hydrogen storage material was successfully developed in January 2024; it passed the preliminary patent review by the Intellectual Property Office on April 3. 　　The expert appraisal committee believes that this product integrates multiple innovations; it uses magnesium metal, which is abundant in our country, to create nanoparticles as hydrogen storage materials, thereby successfully converting gaseous hydrogen into a solid form stored within this new type of hydrogen storage material. Compared with the current world’s advanced hydrogen storage materials, this product features low pressure required for hydrogen absorption and release, fast speed, low energy consumption, and a high volume density for hydrogen storage. It can significantly reduce the costs associated with hydrogen storage and transportation, while also enhancing the safety of hydrogen use.