Research on heat-driven hydrogen compression utilizing solar heat for next-generation hydrogen station

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14732
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 36020:Energy-related chemistry
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Goshome Kiyotaka 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, エネルギー・環境領域, 研究員 (70790476)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 水素 / 水素吸蔵合金 / 水素圧縮 / 太陽熱

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the evaluation of hydrogen ab-desorption characteristics of body-centered cubic type hydrogen storage alloys which could be non-hazardous materials, the BCC alloy which can compress hydrogen from 1.0MPa to 20MPa by cooling at 20℃ and heating at 150℃ were found. In the heat collection experiment by using solar heat collector with vacuum heat-insulation tube, it was confirmed that maximum heat-medium temperature up to 150℃ can be achieved in the fine weather. Finally, demonstration of heat-driven hydrogen compression was conducted by supplying the heat medium from the solar heat collector to the hydrogen alloy container. It was confirmed that 1.0 MPa of hydrogen can be compressed into the hydrogen cylinder at 6 MPa by supplying 120 ℃ of heat medium. Although the target pressure of 20 MPa was not achieved, the thermal-driven hydrogen compression by using the BCC alloy and the solar heat panels was successful demonstrated.

Free Research Field

エネルギー分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

熱駆動水素圧縮機は未利用熱の低質なエネルギーを回収し水素を圧縮することが可能である。熱駆動水素圧縮技術が確立されれば、機械式圧縮機からの排熱、工場排熱、太陽熱等を利用することで水素圧縮の省エネルギー化が期待される。
熱駆動水素圧縮の研究報告は合金の開発を目的とした小スケールでの合金特性評価に留まる事がほとんどであり、実証試験事例は世界的にみても多くない。これは高圧水素を取り扱う実証試験設備構築の難しさが一因と考えられるが、本研究では国内法規を遵守した安全な設備を構築した上で、太陽熱を利用したベンチスケールでの実証試験に成功しており、貴重な成果が得られたと考えている。