Can Hydrogen Be Efficiently Stored as a Solid for Vehicle Use?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of efficiently storing hydrogen as a solid for vehicle use, particularly in the context of a science fair project. Participants explore the theoretical and practical challenges associated with achieving solid hydrogen at extremely high pressures and the materials required for such storage.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, macfan, suggests that hydrogen can become a solid at 3,500,000 psi, potentially offering more power in less space for vehicle efficiency.
  • Another participant argues that achieving such high pressures requires a diamond anvil cell and questions the practicality of storing solid hydrogen in useful quantities.
  • macfan references a source claiming to solidify hydrogen and questions the validity of the initial skepticism.
  • A participant clarifies that the term "solid" in the referenced source may refer to hydrogen being absorbed in a solid lattice rather than being in a true solid state.
  • macfan inquires about the methods for pumping high pressure into a storage unit while maintaining low temperatures.
  • Another participant questions the advantages of solid hydrogen over liquid hydrogen, suggesting that the solid form may not be denser.
  • macfan reiterates their project question about creating solid hydrogen on a 1/10 scale.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of solid hydrogen storage, with some questioning the practicality and others exploring theoretical possibilities. No consensus is reached regarding the viability of the proposed project.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to the extreme pressures required, the materials capable of containing solid hydrogen, and the definitions of "solid" in the context of hydrogen storage.

macfan
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As part of my Intel Science Fair project "How to make Hydrogen a viable alliterative" I read that at 3,500,000 psi Hydrogen will become a "Solid" so that you can have more power in less space which will make the car much more efficient. I am doing this on a 1/10 scale. My question is what material can hold the Hydrogen at those levels, how do I create the "solid' and is my previous statements correct.

Thanks,
macfan
 
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Pick a different project since there is no way you'll be able to accomplish what you're trying to do. In order to reach 3,500,000 PSI a diamond anvil cell is required and even 350,000 PSI would require one. On top of that even if you could produce the solid hydrogen there is no material capable of containing it and storing it in quantities that would make it useful as a vehicular fuel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_anvil_cell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_hydrogen
 
Well how did they accomplish it here?

http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/hobby_rc.htm

Am I missing something?

macfan
 
Last edited by a moderator:
They do not claim to solidify hydrogen at low temperature and high pressure.
They use the term "solid" but it has a different meaning: the hydrogen is somehow absorbed in a solid lattice (made from a different material). Similar maybe to a gas trapped in the active filter of a gas mask.
 
How would one pump high pressure into an empty storage unit and keep it at low temperatures?

macfan
 
What's wrong with liquid hydrogen? I doubt the solid form is much denser, perhaps even less so (like water-ice).
 
macfan said:
As part of my Intel Science Fair project "How to make Hydrogen a viable alliterative" I read that at 3,500,000 psi Hydrogen will become a "Solid" so that you can have more power in less space which will make the car much more efficient. I am doing this on a 1/10 scale.

How do you make something solid, on a 1/10 scale?
 

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